Saint Seiya: The Man Closest to God in the Underworld – Also a Buddha Reincarnation? Virgo Would Disagree

In the vast army of Hades, where 108 Specters serve under the command of the God of the Underworld, powerful warriors are never in short supply. Yet, among these formidable fighters, one stands out as truly extraordinary: Myō-ō Dākinī, the Star of Earthly Fiend. This complex antagonist, who appears in the spin-off Saint Seiya: The Lost Canvas – Anecdotes of Asmita, is not merely an outlier among the 108 Demon Stars but a character of profound depth, blending immense power with grand ambition. His identity, abilities, and aspirations weave together threads of Buddhist mythology, presenting a figure of rare independence and rebellion within the ranks of Hades’ forces. Intriguingly, much like Virgo Gold Saint Shaka, who is revered as the reincarnation of Buddha, Myō-ō Dākinī also claims this divine heritage and is hailed as the man closest to god within the underworld.

A Contradiction in Identity: The Fusion of Buddhism and the Underworld

The creation of Myō-ō Dākinī draws inspiration from the Buddhist deity Daishōgun Myō-ō, a wrathful protector god. His character artfully merges mythological and religious elements, resulting in a unique and compelling figure. Within The Lost Canvas narrative, he is depicted as the reincarnation of Shakyamuni Buddha, the present Buddha in Buddhist cosmology. This sets the stage for his intense rivalry with Virgo Gold Saint Asmita, creating a powerful dichotomy: the man closest to god on earth versus his counterpart in the underworld.

His Surplice design is rich with Buddhist symbolism. The demonic visage on his helmet and the Sanskrit mantras etched into his armor echo the majestic authority of Daishōgun Myō-ō, who commands legions of deities and demons. This design not only amplifies his intimidating presence as an underworld general but also subtly hints at the source of his formidable power.

However, Dākinī’s interpretation of Buddha-nature starkly contrasts with traditional compassion. He strengthens himself by devouring the souls of hundreds of millions of the deceased and even seeks to reshape the world order using the power of the dead. This inherent contradiction forms the core tension of his character—a Buddha reincarnate who embodies (compassion) yet acts as a Specter who consumes souls; an entity striving for selflessness while being consumed by a desire to defeat the Saints.

Peak Power: The Strongest Force Surpassing the Three Judges

Within the hierarchy of Hades’ army, Dākinī occupies a uniquely independent position. He answers neither to Pandora nor to the underworld’s Three Judges. Through sheer power, he broke free from the underworld’s binding laws, awakened his Eighth Sense, and established his own autonomous faction, making him the only Specter to operate with such sovereignty. His combat prowess is evaluated as superior to that of the Three Judges, surpassing even the might of the god-blood-infused Radamanthys, cementing his status as the pinnacle of power just below the deities themselves.

One of his signature techniques, the Maten no Hōrin (Demon Heaven Treasure Ring), allows him to sever an opponent’s Eight Senses. This stands in direct contrast to the Virgo Gold Saint’s classic technique, the Tenbu Hōrin (Heavenly Dance Treasure Ring). While the Heavenly Dance begins by the five physical senses, the Demon Heaven technique directly severs all senses from the first to the eighth, representing a more advanced and devastating evolution of the original.

His other ultimate technique is the Konpaku no Tate (Soul Shield). This is formed from the condensed souls he has consumed, with each layer of souls granting him what is essentially an extra life. Its defensive capability is said to exceed that of Radamanthys’s god-blood-enhanced defenses, requiring an attacker to destroy it hundreds of millions of times to break through. This ability not only highlights Dākinī’s immense power but also underscores the brutal and cruel nature of his methods as a Specter.

The Grand Ambition: To Overthrow Hades

With such tremendous power at his disposal, Dākinī’s ultimate goal extends far beyond mere loyalty to Hades. He aspires to create an absolute realm inhabited solely by the dead, seeking to subjugate all gods, including Hades himself, under his rule. Within an army defined by absolute fealty to the God of the Underworld, this ambition is nothing short of heretical, even more than the god-slaying intentions of the Star of Heavenly Vanquisher, Alone.

Dākinī methodically builds his own army of the dead by resurrecting fallen Specters and absorbing wandering lost souls. The world of spirits he seeks to establish is, in essence, a negation of the natural cycle of death and rebirth. He views the mortal world as a place of suffering, believing that only a kingdom of the dead can achieve eternal peace. While this philosophy superficially resonates with Buddhist teachings—a nod to his status as a Buddha reincarnate—it deviates into extremism. He seeks to replace natural reincarnation with forced assimilation and supplant universal equality with absolute dominion. This fundamental perversion of core Buddhist principles is perhaps the greatest distinction between a corrupted practitioner like Dākinī and an orthodox Buddhist like Asmita.

Hades, aware of Dākinī’s power-building and rebellious actions, tacitly allows them to continue. The reasons are twofold: firstly, Dākinī’s strength, while immense, is not yet sufficient to pose a genuine threat to Hades himself. Secondly, his formidable power serves as a significant asset to the underworld army, effectively wearing down the forces of the Sanctuary during the Holy War.

A Clash of Destiny: The Buddhist Schism

The confrontation between Myō-ō Dākinī and Virgo Gold Saint Asmita represents one of the most philosophically profound battles in The Lost Canvas. Both are reincarnations of Buddha, yet their opposing alignments lead them down vastly divergent paths.

During the Holy War, Asmita sacrifices his own life to forge the Mala beads, which seal the immortality of the 108 Specters. Dākinī, in their final battle, employs his Soul Shield to defend against attacks and his Demon Heaven technique to dismantle Asmita’s sensory perception. Their conflict transcends a mere contest of strength; it becomes a battle for the very soul of Buddha-nature itself. Asmita embodies sacrifice and redemption, while Dākinī symbolizes control and annihilation.

The duel concludes with Asmita’s victory. He successfully severs Dākinī’s Eight Senses, casting him into the cycle of reincarnation with no possibility of resurrection. This outcome not Dākinī’s ambitions but also aligns with the Buddhist teaching of karma. Dākinī’s failure stems from a fundamental misinterpretation of Buddhist doctrine; in his pursuit of absolute power, he lost sight of the Buddha’s original intention: to seek liberation for all sentient beings.

Conclusion: A Character of Mythological Depth

The character design of Myō-ō Dākinī exemplifies The Lost Canvas‘s masterful fusion of diverse mythological traditions. The concept of an internal Buddhist conflict between the Earthly Fiend Star and the Virgo Gold Saint is not only innovative but also adds significant cultural depth and gravitas to the narrative.

Reflecting on the tragedy of Myō-ō Dākinī’s existence, we see a being who is both a reincarnation of Buddha and a betrayer of his core teachings; a figure who reached the pinnacle of power closest to godhood in the underworld, yet was destined to be mirrored by an equal power residing within the Sanctuary.

What are your thoughts on the Earthly Fiend Star, Myō-ō Dākinī? As fellow Buddha reincarnates and men hailed as the closest to godhood, who do you believe was stronger between him and Asmita? And how would he fare against the renowned Virgo Saint, Shaka? We welcome your insights and discussions below.