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A tutelary spirit serves as the animistic guardian, patron or protector of a particular place, geographic feature, person, lineage, nation, culture or occupation.
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By culture
Near East and Mediterranean
In Greek polytheism, Athena was the patron goddess of the city of Athens.
The Roman religion had dozens of tutelary spirits, such as Diana of Aricia, who watched over a sacred grove at Aricia, or the goddess Levana, who watched over young children. The Lares and Penates were local tutelary deities, as was the genius loci, a spirit said to be present in certain places. A person's own individual guardian spirit was a genius.
Asia
In Shinto, the many spirits, or kami, can be seen as tutelaries.
Chinese folk religion, both past and present, includes a myriad of tutelary deities. Exceptional individuals may become deified after death. Guan Yu is a well-known tutelary from the Three Kingdoms period.
In Korean shamanism, jangseung and sotdae were placed at the edge of villages to frighten off demons. They were also worshipped as deities.
Religions
Catholicism and Orthodox Christianities each have many tutelaries, most of which are shared. For example, there is Saint Christopher who is said to have carried Jesus across a stream, although Christopher lived a full three centuries after the Resurrection had taken place; and there is Fiacre, patron saint of gardeners and haemorrhoid sufferers [1]. The legend that when Saint Veronica gave Jesus her veil to wipe his forehead, the image of His face miraculously impressed upon it, made the nineteenth century Church declare her the patron saint of photographers. Occasionally, patron saints are called tutelary saints and so reflect their origin.
In Islam, tutelary deities exist as djinns, or "genies". It is notable, however, that the Arabic word is of a completely different origin, although it has similarities with genius both phonetically and by meaning.
Tibetan Buddhism has yidams as tutelaries. Dakini is the patron of those who seek knowledge.
In the Sanatana Dharma, tutelary deities are known as ishta-devata. Devas can also be seen as tutelaries. Shiva is patron of yogis and renunciants.
Americas
Native American religion, (see also Animism, Shamanism) has extensive and varied systems of zoomorphic tutelaries, (also known as power animals). In Mesoamerica these tutelary power animals are called Nagual.
Africa
In many of the animistic African religions, tutelaries in a variety of forms. The Binou cult of the Dogon people of Mali have totems around their villages.
See also
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