Aizen Myo-o

In Japanese Buddhism, Aizen Myo-o (愛染明王) is the god of love and lust. Originally a Hindu deity, Aizen Myo-o became part of Buddhism, and Kobo Daishi Kukai transmitted the teaching of him to Japan.

He is portrayed as a red-skinned, frowning man, his appearance representing suppressed lust and passion. He variously has two, four or six arms; in the latter form, his hands bear a bell, a stick, a thunderbolt, a lotus, a bow and an arrow. Similarly, he sometimes has two heads, with a lion's head in his wild hair. According to legend, he represents the state at which sexual excitement or agitation becomes enlightenment and passionate love becomes compassion for all living things. In Buddhism, he manifests as a vajrasattva .