As the "gon" of Gongen means "provisional" or "temporary," as shown in "Gon-dainagon (an acting chief councilor of state), Gongen indicates a Buddha that has tentatively appeared in the form of a god.
また権現の権とは「権大納言」などと同じく「臨時の」「仮の」という意味で、仏が神の形を取って仮に現れたことを示す。