Benzaiten with Fifteen Attendants
Overview
Section titled “Overview”Canonical entry drawn from a single source layer in 12_ILLUSTRATED_DEITY_MATERIAL_DHARANI_v2_0.md.
Research layers
Section titled “Research layers”Layer 1: Benzaiten with Fifteen Attendants
Section titled “Layer 1: Benzaiten with Fifteen Attendants”Source file:
12_ILLUSTRATED_DEITY_MATERIAL_DHARANI_v2_0.md
Japanese: 弁財天十五童子
Visual source: Met object 45623, 13th century, Public Domain.
Research significance
Section titled “Research significance”The Kamakura-period image preserves Benzaiten as the center of a fifteen-attendant assembly. Such retinue images should be cross-checked against the corresponding ritual/manual tradition.
Practice architecture
Section titled “Practice architecture”- Identify the exact Benzaiten form.
- Purify altar and practitioner.
- Install image/mandala.
- Invoke Benzaiten.
- Establish attendants according to the manual.
- Present water, incense, flowers, light, food/music or other offerings prescribed.
- Recite the deity’s dhāraṇī/mantra/sūtra section.
- State the authorized aspiration.
- Complete offering and merit dedication.
- Dismiss/close.