Skanda (Buddhism)

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Skanda (Chinese: 塞建陀, 室建陀), also known as Weituo (Chinese: 韋馱) and Idaten (Japanese: 韋駄天), is a Mahayana bodhisattva regarded as a devoted guardian of Buddhist monasteries who protects the teachings of Buddhism. He is also sometimes called in the Chinese tradition "Hufa Weituo Zuntian Pusa", meaning "Honored Dharma Protector Weituo Bodhisattva", because he is one of the twenty-four celestial guardian deities mentioned in the Golden Light Sutra. In Chinese temples, Weituo faces the statue of the Buddha in the main shrine, traditionally unarmed and with his hands in anjali. In others, he is on the far right of the main shrine with weapon in hand, whereas on the left is his counterpart, Qielan (personified as the historical general Guan Yu). In Chinese sutras, his image is found at the end of the sutra, a reminder of his vow to protect and preserve the teachings.