Shoten

(East Asian mythology)

The Japanese version of Ganesa, the elephant-headed Hindu god of enterprise, who removes obstacles and vouchsafes wisdom. Incorporated into Buddhist mythology, the cult of this divinity flourished within various esoteric sects, arriving in Japan at the beginning of the ninth century. Shoten was associated with Tantric practices, one of his images being ‘double-bodied’, the sexual union of male and female. Shoten and Kwannon are thus joined in non-duality: they are the divine couple, the living image of the realization of enlightenment.

Shoten, or Binayākya, or Daisho-kangiten, is esoteric Japanese Buddhism's (See Japanese Buddhism) version of the Indian elephant-headed god Gaṇeśa or Vināyaka (See Gaṇeśa). As in India he came to be thought of as the son of Śiva (See Śiva), or Daijizaiten in Japan. The cult of Shoten was brought to Japan from China and Tantric Buddhism (See Vajrayāna) by the founder of the Shingon sect (See Shingon Sect) early in the ninth century and was also taken up by the Tendai sect (See Tendai Sect). Shoten is depicted as a double figure: a powerful male god in an embrace with a gentle goddess or bodhisattva (See Bodhisattva). The connection between this dual image and the embracing Śiva and his śakti (See śakti) is obvious. In both cases the embrace has symbolic importance, conveying wholeness. The Japanese esoteric Buddhist figure also signifies the union of the individual with the Buddha (See Japanese Buddhas, See Gautama Buddha). With Enlightenment the two images become one.