Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sukuna: A closer comparison to Shiva than Buddha in his ultimate form

In the anime series Jujutsu Kaisen, Ryomen Sukuna, also known as the King of Curses, bears a striking resemblance to Buddha and Shiva, the Dancer of Destruction from Hindu mythology. Both Sukuna’s ultimate form and Shiva possess distinct characteristics, including four arms and a connection to destruction.

Upon examination, it can be seen that Sukuna’s ultimate form draws more inspiration from Shiva rather than Buddha, as evidenced by his cursed tool Hiten resembling Shiva’s trident and his fire attack mirroring Shiva’s cosmic dance and divine flames. These similarities listed in the article point towards Shiva as the main source of inspiration for Sukuna’s final form.

Comparing Ryomen Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen to Shiva: Similarities and Connections

Ryomen Sukuna's Hiten as shown (Image via Shueisha) — Ryomen Sukuna’s Hiten as shown (Image via Shueisha)

Many theories exist regarding the similarities between Sukuna and Buddha. Although these comparisons are valid, it appears that Shiva from Indian mythology shares even more similarities with Sukuna.

Sukuna’s four hands are reminiscent of the Devas, Asuras, and Gods in Indian mythology, making it a significant resemblance. In addition, Sukuna’s association with chaos mirrors that of Shiva, who is famously referred to as the God of Destruction. Sukuna’s weapon, the cursed tool called Hiten, bears a striking resemblance to Shiva’s trident, known as the Trishul.

Ryomen Sukuna uses Divine Flame during the Shibuya Incident arc (Image via MAPPA)

Furthermore, Sukuna’s Divine Flame, a formidable fire attack that obliterates everything in its path, is reminiscent of Shiva’s ferocious use of flames. It is said that Shiva unleashes absolute devastation with his divine flames when he opens his third eye or performs his cosmic dance.

Despite drawing inspiration from multiple sources, the strong parallels between Sukuna and Shiva in the series are undeniable. Despite their opposing moral alignments, it is clear that Sukuna is heavily influenced by Shiva’s character.

Additionally, Sukuna wields a bow and arrow to summon holy fires from the furnace, resulting in extensive destruction. This aspect bears resemblance to a tale from Shiva’s mythology, in which he obliterated “Tripura,”a triad of cities situated in three different realms: Swargalok (Heaven), Martayalok (Earthly realm), and Patalalok (Underworld).

Shiva used his divine bow and arrow to completely destroy these cities, a feat that is in line with Sukuna’s remarkable destructive powers.

Jujutsu Kaisen: The Inspiration Behind Ryomen Sukuna

Ryomen Sukuna as shown in the anime series (Image via MAPPA)

Gege Akutami is influenced by Japanese Mythology as well. Ryomen Sukuna, a historical figure in Japan, is a major source of inspiration. Sukuna was a highly respected leader in Japan, but eventually became a legendary figure. The Yamato family took control of Japan from him through a hostile takeover.

The ancient book of classical Japanese history, Nihon Shoki, also known as The Chronicles of Japan, contains accounts of Sukuna. According to these tales, Ryomen Sukuna was portrayed as a powerful being with two sets of arms and legs, each positioned on the front and back of his body, much like his counterpart in Jujutsu Kaisen.

Ryomen Sukuna is the King of Curses (Image via MAPPA)

In the universe of Jujutsu Kaisen, Sukuna is revered as the unrivaled ruler of curses, possessing unmatched strength and devastating abilities. Despite being considered a mythical demon in folklore, Sukuna was once a human Jujutsu sorcerer who lived during Japan’s Heian Era, over a thousand years ago. According to Gegge Akutami, Sukuna is less of a sorcerer and more of a walking catastrophe.

According to Satoru Gojo, Sukuna’s immense power during the golden age of Jujutsu sorcery required sorcerers to unite their powers in order to defeat him. Despite their efforts, Sukuna could not be fully eradicated and fragments of his power still exist today. In order to contain him, the sorcerers of that era had to sever Sukuna’s fingers and seal them away as cursed objects.

Sukuna's fingers were sealed for over a millennium before Yuji Itadori ate it (Image via MAPPA) — Sukuna’s fingers were sealed for over a millennium before Yuji Itadori ate it (Image via MAPPA)

Over a thousand years later, the 20 fingers have become scattered throughout Japan. These fingers are considered special-grade cursed objects, possessing enough strength to withstand a direct attack from Gojo. When consumed by ordinary curses, each of Sukuna’s fingers grants a significant increase in power.

Conclusion

Despite being compared to Buddha, Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen displays striking similarities to Shiva, including his four arms, immense destructive abilities, trident-like weapon, and ultimate move utilizing divine flames. These parallels further emphasize Sukuna’s portrayal as a chaotic and immensely powerful entity in the series.

10 Jujutsu Kaisen characters who will be nearly unbeatable with a Devil Fruit
“Know your place”- One Piece fanart sees Jujutsu Kaisen’s Sukuna meet his greatest foe yet
Jujutsu Kaisen: Kenjaku might have used a Binding Vow to succeed where Yuta failed