Virà «pÃÂká¹£a (Sanskrit; Pali: Virà «pakkha; traditional Chinese: 廣ç®天çÂÂ; simplified Chinese: 广ç®天çÂÂ; pinyin: GuÃÂngmù TiÃÂnwáng; Japanese: åºÂç®天 Kà Âmokuten) is a major deity in Buddhism. He is one of the Four Heavenly Kings and a dharmapala.
The name Virà «pÃÂká¹£a is a Sanskrit compound of the words virà «pa (ugly; deformed) and aká¹£a (eyes). Buddhaghosa interpreted virà «pa as also meaning "various", which lends to the understanding that Virà «pÃÂká¹£a is endowed with clairvoyance. Other names include:
Virà «pÃÂká¹£a is the guardian of the western direction. He lives on the western part of Sumeru. He is leader of the nÃÂgas.
He possesses the divine eye (Skt. divyena caká¹£uá¹£ÃÂ), which allows him to see great distances as well as the karma of sentient beings.
In the PÃÂli Canon of TheravÃÂda Buddhism, Virà «pÃÂká¹£a is called Virà «pakkha. Virà «pakkha is one of the CÃÂtummahÃÂrÃÂjÃÂno, or "Four Great Kings," each of whom rules over a specific direction.
He has a daughter named KÃÂlakannë.
In China, GuÃÂngmù TiÃÂnwáng (廣ç®天çÂÂ) is commonly depicted as having red skin and clad in armor. He is often depicted as gripping a red naga or a red lasso in his hands, which he uses to snare people into the Buddhist faith. In Chinese temples, he is often enshrined within the Hall of the Heavenly Kings (天çÂÂ殿) with the other three Heavenly Kings. He is also regarded as one of the Twenty Devas (äºÂÃ¥ÂÂ諸天 ÃÂrshàZhà «tiÃÂn) or the Twenty-Four Devas (äºÂÃ¥ÂÂÃ¥ÂÂ諸天 ÃÂrshÃÂsì zhà «tiÃÂn), a group of Buddhist dharmapalas who manifest to protect the Dharma.
In Japan, Kà Âmokuten (åºÂç®天) is commonly depicted holding a brush in his right hand and a scroll in his left hand. This iconography was used primarily in the Tempyà  period, and variations appeared after the Heian period. He is commonly seen wearing Tang period military armor while trampling a jaki (æª鬼).
In the Womb Realm Mandala of the esoteric tradition, KÃ Âmokuten is depicted as having red skin, holding a trident in his right hand while holding a fist with his left hand. One variation includes him wielding a snare.