Gandhara

In Shaman King, Gandhara is a Buddhist pacifist organization that is participating in the Shaman Fight. Led by Lady Sati, they are the third great faction in the current Tournament, and aim to prevent Asakura Hao from becoming the Shaman King.

History
Gandhara is arguably the oldest organization in Shaman King (excepting the Patch themselves), with a history dating well before the birth of Christ. They rose to prominence 2500 years before the current tournament, when their chosen candidate won the Shaman Tournament of that era. This explains why they have no interest in having one of their group become king again.

In the current Shaman Tournament, Gandhara has participated to save all of humanity and prevent Hao from becoming the Shaman King, who plans to rid the world of all non-shamans. To this end, they have fielded three teams, all of which have made the top 8. Their current goal is to train 5 Elemental Warriors, who will wield the 5 Elemental Spirits to defeat Hao while he is integrating with the Great Spirit, and is thus at his most vulnerable.

Ideologies
As a Buddhist organization, Gandhara are pacifist by nature. They are completely neutral in outlook, and is described as the 'middle way' between the two extremes of the X-Laws and Asakura Hao. However, they also will not hesitate to use force when needed, which they use only as a last resort, and even then just enough to meet their objectives.

Lady Sati

 * See More: Lady Sati


 * Spirit: Dainichi Nyorai (or Tathagata Nyorai)

The leader of Gandhara and accessory also of the Tathagata, Lady Sati is a princess, somewhere in her mid-thirties (born on December 31st 1963), of Japanese origin. She wears an orange dress with a crown, and holding a staff (she is represented like this in the cover of Book 26 of the Manga; in typical attire of a high monk or priestess of the Nyorai order) which most likely serves as a medium for her spirit partner. Her blood type is A, and her favorite pass-time is traveling.

She has the power to resurrect the dead. Her furyoku level is very high, almost reaching that of Hao's, most likely explaining why she has such powers. She briefly appears in the Manga (e.g. Books 13, 19) and then in Book 22, where Lady Sati (mounted on an elephant) and most of the other shamans from the group were represented when they save Ryu from certain death, by interfering against Team Tsukigumi. Again the Thatagata is seen in Book 24, when they defeated, apparently with ease, Thaiti-800 during the Shaman Fight. Later on in the Manga, Lady Sati travels to hell and fights Enma Daioh, one of the four Kings of Hell and the Guardian of the Spirit of Earth.

Daiei

 * Spirit: Probably the Bodhisattva Manjusri or Samantabhadra

Daiei is a senior priest, of Chinese origin, who might be the oldest member of Gandhara. He was born on October 6th 1923. He fancies toofu ryoori and his favorite pass-time is to mimic Buddhist sutras. Due to his wisdom, it appears that he is Sati's adviser. He is short, bold, and accompanies Lady Sati wherever she goes. His spirit is similar to Komeri's, but is not seen in the Manga.

Komeri

 * Spirit: Probably the Bodhisattva Manjusri or Samantabhadra

Komeri is a young girl of Indian origin. She is born on February 1 1994, making her the youngest shaman affiliated to the Gandhara. her blood type is B, and her favorite pass-time is to make chains (with beads), as she is seen to always wear one. She is the final member of the Tathagata, also following Lady Sati wherever she goes, and her spirit is similar to Daiei's but is not seen in the Manga.

Yainage

 * Spirit: Kundali (Gundari)

Yainage is a Buddhist monk of Indian origin who was born on October 29th 1963 (making him slightly older than Lady Sati). His favorite pass-time is bird watching.

He is the weakest member of Team "Myooh", even though shamans affiliated to Gandhara have special powers (later Pascal Avaf explains that to team "The Ren") enabling them to block all sorts of shamanic attacks (or negate them). He is defeated by Tao Ren in the battle against Team "The Ren" when his Furoku level bypassed his. He later travels to hell and defeats the King of Hell responsible for guarding the Spirit of Rain.

Jackson

 * See More: Jackson


 * Spirit: Acala (Fudo). Ironically, in the Anime, Fudou is the name of the red haired Shaman representing the spirit robber group affiliated to the Gandhara.

Jackson, a monk of Chinese origin, is born on August 20th 1970. His blood type is B, he fancies Amaguri, and also seems to be good at Tai Chi. He is tougher than Yainage, making him one of the strongest members of Team Myo-o. He would do almost anything for Lady Sati, and really got angry at Yainage, when he lost against Tao Ren.

Despite of being a strong member of "Myooh", he was defeated by Horohoro in the battle against Team "The Ren". He later travels to hell and defeats the King of Hell responsible for guarding the Spirit of Thunder.

Cado

 * Spirit: Ragaraja (Aizen)

Cado is a Buddhist monk of Indian origin. He is one of the oldest members of the Gandhara, as he is born on December 12 1953. He fancies chicken curry, and his favorite pass-time is to create new fighting techniques, while dancing. Due to his temperament, he appears to be the calmest of the three members of Team Myo-o.

He is defeated by Horohoro in the battle against Team "The Ren". He later travels to hell and defeats Mephistopheles, one of the four Kings of Hell and the Guardian of the Spirit of Wind.

Seikyou
A bald monk. Nothing but his name is known at this point.

Ian Li
Ian Li is a business man, and is the only shaman affiliated to the Gandhara to wear a suit and tie. He is seen riding an elephant. Nothing but his name is known at this point.

Mami
A young girl with freckles. Nothing but her name is known at this point.

Abilities and Powers
All the members of the Gandhara are Kami-class Shamans, and are as such incredibly powerful. All their guardian spirits are those of Bodhisattvas (Bosatsu), in a strict adherence to their faith. As pacifists, they all possess furyoku-nullification abilities, which enable them to defeat most opponents without using violence.

Anime/Manga Difference
In the Manga, the team is composed of 11 or 12 shamans, including Lady Sati, Daiei, Komeri, Cado, Jackson, Yainage, Mami, Seikyou, and Ian Li. However, in the Anime, only a girl looking strangely like Lady Sati and three shamans (maybe from Myo-o) were identified (e.g. Fudou (a young red haired shaman), Gekkou (a lady looking more like Lady Sati than the Little Girl in Episode 50) and Nikkou (an old man)) properly. Although, in the Manga, at least, all of their spirits are Buddhas based on the four "Satori" of thir religion (actually a Hellenic form of Buddhism) only the shamans the Team Myo-o had their spirits properly identified (e.g. Fudou, Aizen and Gundari). However, in the Anime, Fudou is the name of the Shaman composing the team of the spirit robbers (and not like in the Manga who is Jackson's Ghost). Note that in the Anime, the Gandhara Shamans are also representing existing deities from the Buddhist religion. In the Manga, all, or most members from Team Gandhara die in the docks by the hands of Team Tsukigumi, but are thankfully brought back to life. Lady Sati and Team Myo-o go to hell to fight against the gods protecting the remaining Spirits with hope to seize them. However, in the Anime, no mention of what happens to the girl in Episode 50, but apparently Team Tsukigumi kill single-handedly Gekkou and Nikkou in front of a powerless Fudou. moments later, Hao kills Fudou in turn by feeding his soul to his ghost.

Trivia

 * All of their spirits are based upon Buddhist gods.