Gigeiten
Minor Japanese Buddhist goddess of the arts
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gigeiten (Japanese: 伎芸天) is a minor goddess (deva, ten-nyo) associated with the arts in Japanese Buddhism.[1][2] In addition to the arts, she is also believed to govern fortune and talent.[2]
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Gigeiten is also known by several other names, including Gigei Tennyo (ぎげいてんにょ), Daijizaitennyo (大自在天女), and Makeishura Chōshō Tennyo (摩醯首羅頂生天女, lit. "heavenly maiden born from the crown of Maheshvara").[1][2] The latter two names are patronymic in origin, as she is said to have been born from the hair of the deity Daijizaiten (Maheshvara in Sanskrit) while he was playing a musical instrument.[2]
Her original Sanskrit name is unknown.[2] Among the various celestial maidens (tennyo), Gigeiten is said to be the most skilled in music.[2]
Iconography
Gigeiten is depicted as a beautiful young goddess, dressed in white garments, a yoraku garland and bracelets. She holds celestial flowers or a basket of flowers in her raised left hand around her chest, while her right hand fingers the hem of her kimono waist robes.[2][3]
Gigeiten's famous statue is located in Akishinodera temple.[1][3] The statue is listed as "Wooden standing statue of Gigeiten (head made of dry lacquer)" in the Important Cultural Properties of Japan.[4] A Nara era (8th century) dry lacquer head is fitted to the wooden carved body from the Kamakura period (13th century).[3][5] Gigeiten is depicted as a bodhisattva (bosatsu), with the right hand raised and her left hand clinging her garments.[1] Some scholars have questioned the identification of the statue as Gigeiten.[1]
Another notable sculpture of the goddess was made by Takeuchi Kyuichi for the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 and is now preserved at Tokyo University of the Arts.[6][3]
Worship
Gigeiten is regarded as a minor goddess.[1] In esoteric Buddhism, the ritual of Gigei Tennyo-hō is said to grant her favour as mastery in the arts and good fortune; the ritual is prescribed to be performed only if the Shoten-ku in honour of Kangiten has failed to produce the desired benefits.[2][3] Her seed syllable is हुं (huṃ).[2] Her Samaya symbol is a celestial flower or a jewel. Her mudra involves intertwining the ring and middle fingers with hands together; other fingers are curved like a jewel. Her mantra is: "nǎng mó Ma xī shī mó Ra No wēn Sasō Ma mào shì qū No yì xī xì suō mó Ga".[2]
