It is deeply related to the mountain god, and sacred mountains are always supposed to have Tengu (thus they are considered to be in the shape of a Yamabushi monk); moreover, various regions in fact have Tengu (daiba) as mountain gods.
また、山神との関係も深く、霊峰とされる山々には、必ず天狗がいるとされ（それゆえ山伏の姿をしていると考えられる）、実際に山神を天狗（ダイバ）とする地方は多い。