From here on out, people with wicked hearts may not enter.

On the Deva Gate, you can see two Devas. The Agyō has his mouth open (Nara’en Kongō) and the Ungyō’s mouth is closed (Misshaku Kongō). They act as gatekeepers, keeping out evil things from entering.

Their glaring eyes are starting at you. If they can sense any evil within you, passing through this gate will force it to run away.

On the back side of this gate are the statues of Kōmoku-ten and Tamon-ten. It is said that Kōmoku-ten heals your eye problems whereas Tamon-ten takes care of your ears. And this isn’t just about sickness. They also aid you in seeing Budōmyō’ō’s form and hearing his words; they open the eyes and ears of your heart.

By the way, after passing through the gate, you will come across a pond. You might see some people throwing coins into it. In the pond, there is a tortoise-shaped rock and these people are trying to land a coin on its back. However, this is not a tradition of the temple. Don’t question it, but maybe it’s wiser to observe rather than participate.