Bishamonten

This article is about the Demon. For Chie Satonaka's weapon in Persona, see Bishamonten (Weapon).

Bishamonten is a Demon in the Megami Tensei franchise.

Profile

Origin

Design

Gameplay

For complete gameplay information, see Gameplay:Bishamonten.

Compendium

Compendium Entries
Shin Megami Tensei (A-Mode DDS)	Origin: India One of the eight Hindu protector gods. Originally a leader of evil spirits, he was adopted into Buddhism as a god of fortune. Eventually he became one of the Four Heavenly Kings. With a spear in one hand and a pagoda in the other, he protects the north of Mt. Meru. As the strongest of the Four Kings, many warriors worshipped him. He is also the king of the yaksa and one of the Seven Lucky Gods.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne	The strongest of the Four Heavenly Kings, also known as Tamonten and in Buddhist mythology, Vaishravana. He protects the North and is the god of war.
Shin Megami Tensei V	The strongest of the Four Heavenly Kings, also known as Tamonten, and in Buddhist mythology, Vaishravana. He protects the North and is recognized as the god of war. Similarly to his fellow kings, he is often depicted as a fierce warrior, clad in armor and wielding a great spear. Bishamonten is also well known as a bringer of fortune, being one of the Shichi Fukujin, the seven gods of fortune.
Devil Summoner (Akuma Zensho; PSP)	出身地：インド須弥山を中心とする仏教世界の、北方を守護する武神。漢字では「毘沙門天」. インドではクベーラと呼ばれる富の神で、ヤクシャとラクシャーサの王でもあった。スリランカに宮殿を持ち住んでいたが、異母弟である魔王ラーヴァナに追い出され、ヒマラヤに移り住んだ。仏教に入ってからは、仏法の守護者である武神とされ、四天王になる。一方、富の神であった起源から、七福神の一人にもなっている。 Translation: Place of origin: India A martial deity who protects the north of the Buddhist world centered on Mount Sumeru. In kanji, it is "毘沙門天". In India he was a god of wealth called Kubera who was also the king of the yakshas and rakshasas. He lived in a palace in Sri Lanka, but was driven out by his half-brother the demon king Ravana and moved to the Himalayas. After entering Buddhism, he became regarded as a martial deity guarding Buddhist teachings and a member of the Four Heavenly Kings. On the other hand, due to his origin as a god of wealth, he also become one of the Seven Lucky Gods.
Persona 2: Innocent Sin	One of the Four Devas and Seven Lucky Gods of Buddhism.
Persona 3 Reload	Also known as Tamonten and Vaishravana in Buddhist lore, he is the strongest of the Heavenly Kings. He protects the North and is the god of war.
Persona 5	Also known as Tamonten and Vaishravana in Buddhist lore, he is the strongest of the Heavenly Kings. He protects the North and is the god of war.

Game Appearances

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Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

Bishamonten is one of the five Kishin that guard the Fudo temples located around Tokyo. He can be found in the Ryukokuji temple with the black jar which draws the essence of Wrath. He faces Nanashi and the party in battle when they arrive to seal the jar he guards but is defeated.

Nomenclature

Bishamonten is borrowed from Literary Chinese 毗沙門 Píshāmén, itself a phonetic transcription of the Sanskrit वैश्रवण Vaiśravaṇa. Tamonten is borrowed from the Chinese 多聞天 Duōwéntiān, "much-hearing deva", which is a translation of the Sanskrit वैश्रवण Vaiśravaṇa, "hearing in many directions".

Names in Other Languages
Language	Name	Meaning
Japanese	タモンテン TamontenDigital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II Kyūyaku Megami Tensei ビシャモンテン Bishamonten 毘沙門天 BishamontenShin Megami Tensei (Mega-CD)	Tamonten. Katakana rendering of 多聞天 Tamonten (lit. "much-hearing deva"). Bishamonten. Katakana rendering of 毘沙門天 Bishamonten. Bishamonten (lit. "Vaiśravaṇa deva")
Simplified Chinese	毘沙门天 Píshāmén Tiān	Pishamen Tian (lit. "Vaiśravaṇa deva")
Traditional Chinese	毘沙門天 Píshāmén Tiān	Pishamen Tian (lit. "Vaiśravaṇa deva")
Korean	비사문천 Bisamun-cheon	Bisamun-cheon (lit. "Vaiśravaṇa deva")

Gallery

Render for Persona 5
Model of Bishamonten from Persona 3 Reload
Sprite of Tamonten from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Animated sprite of Tamonten from Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II
Sprite of Bishamonten from the PlayStation version of Shin Megami Tensei
Animated sprite of Bishamonten from the PlayStation version of Shin Megami Tensei
Sprite of Bishamonten's statue from the PlayStation version of Shin Megami Tensei
Animated sprite of Bishamonten's statue from the PlayStation version of Shin Megami Tensei
Sprite of Bishamonten from the Mega-CD version of Shin Megami Tensei