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Name: Kangiten
Monster No.: 117
Description: This represents the Indian deity Ganesa, who came to be revered in China and Japan under the name of Daishoukangiten. Kangiten is an abbreviation of the full name. He is still worshipped as a deity who foils obstacles and grants good fortune to new beginnings. He signifies conjugal harmony and long life.
Texts mention forms of up to six arms, but the Japanese depiction of Kangiten is usually shown as a pair of two-armed, elephant-headed deities in embrace. Images of Kangiten are rare and many are kept as secret images in temples and shrines. Many are small, and made of metal because his ritual involves pouring oil over the images. The ritual associated with Kangiten was secret and part of other ritual observances.
