In Japanese Buddhism, the heavenly gods and benevolent deities (J. shoten zenjin), are the guardian deities (J. shugojin) who protect the practitioners of Buddhism. The calligraphic mandala that Nichiren inscribed to represent the “focus of devotion” (J. honzon) of the Origin Gate of the Lotus Sūtra includes representatives of different types of guardian deities. There are the four leaders of the Bodhisattvas of the Earth from chapter fifteen and who are given the specific transmission to spread the Lotus Sūtra in the Latter Age in chapter twenty-one; there are the bodhisattvas who represent the provisional teachings such as Medicine King, Beautiful Lord (S. Mañjuśrī), Universal Good (S. Samantabhadra), and Loving One (S. Maitreya); there are the two Knowledge Kings (S. vidyā-rājas) Immovable Lord (S. Acalanātha, J. Fudō) and Desire King (S. Rāgāraja; J. Aizen); there are the arhats who have received predictions of buddhahood like Śāriputra and Mahākāśyapa; there are the Vedic deities (S. deva) Brahmā, Indra, Sūrya (the sun god), Candra (the moon god), and Aruna (the morning star), and the four heavenly kings who guard the four quarters of the world; and there are even the two major Shintō gods (J. kamo Tenshō Daijiin (aka Amaterasu Ōmikami) and Hachiman (called the “Great Bodhisattva”). In addition, other beings that are not as exalted as celestial bodhisattvas or gods can also be considered guardians. In Kaimoku-shō, Nichiren specifically mentions the ten rākṣasas (vampire like women of Indian mythology) who appear in chapter twenty-six of the Lotus Sūtra. In that chapter, these rākṣasas and their mother, Hāriti (J. Kishimojin) bestow dhārāṇis for the protection of the practitioner of the Lotus Sūtra. On the calligraphic mandala, Nichiren also included the asura (a kind of titan or demon) and nāga (the dragons of Indian mythology) kings who appear in chapter one of the Lotus Sūtra among the congregation gathered to hear the Buddha’s teaching. Traditionally in Buddhism there are eight kinds of supernatural beings that are considered to be disciples of the Buddha and guardians of the Dharma. These eight are devas, nāgas, garudas (giant birds who prey on the nāgas), asuras, yakṣas (nature spirits), gandharvas (anthropomorphic equines), mahorāgas (pythons), and kiṃnaras (anthropomorphic avians). This group of eight is mentioned throughout the Lotus Sūtra. These are the beings that Nichiren is thinking of when he asks why he has not received divine protection.