Benzaiten: The Japanese Saraswati

[Guest guest]

Benzaiten: The Japanese Saraswati

By Achyut Railkar

The Organizer,

December 9, 2007

 

In 1832, there were 131 shrines dedicated to the Goddess

Saraswati and 100 to Lord Ganesha in Tokyo itself. A 12th

century temple of Ganesha in Asa Kusa suburb of Tokyo

has been declared a national treasure of Japan. [....] Hindu

deities reached Japan through the Mantrayana sect of

Buddhism, which emphasises mantras and rituals. Indian

Saraswati reached Japan in 538 AD.

 

The Japanese Cultural Counsellor Shigeyuki Shimamuri

desires to encourage the study of Hindu deities Saraswati,

Laxmi, Brahma and Ganesha, under other names, which are

among the many Indian deities revered in Japan. [....]

 

Japan has three very famous temples of Benzaiten

[saraswati] - Chikubushima at Shinga, Itsukushima at

Hiroshima and Enoshima at Kanagava-and all are in the

vicinity of water bodies. Chikubushima temple is situated in

the central location of Bivako Lake. It has entry through the

lake with rectangular-shaped Tori gate little similar to the

gates of 'Sanchi Stoop' of India. The sacred Tori gate with

pillars and beams erected in the crystal-clear lake water has

religious and mythological importance.

 

The power and virtues of Benzaiten, an inspirer of

knowledge and arts, are similar to that of Saraswati as found

in Puranas. Saraswati carries veena while Benzaiten has

stringed musical instrument biba. She is known in Japan by

various descriptive names like that in Sanskrit literature:

Myoownten means goddess of sweet voice; Daibenzaiten

means goddess of talent; another form found in Japan is the

deity holding weapons in her eight arms like Saraswati as

Vritra-Hantri or slayer of demons in the Rig Veda. Many

Japanese generals prayed with chant " May Goddess protect

us in the field of war " . Sa-raswati is the goddess of the

kitchen, since raswati is related to rasoi in Hindi. Sketches

of Saraswati, or Benzaiten in Japanese, sanctify many

kitchens in rural areas. [....] The Goddess's favorite lakes

abundant in lotus flowers are preserved everywhere. Indian

Saraswati sits on a peacock or a white goose but Benzaiten

sits on a snake. [....]

 

Benzaiten is one of the seven lucky deities (Shichi-fuku-jin)

and blesses every home. Couples desiring beautiful

daughters pray to her. She is also known as the patroness of

writers, composers, musicians and painters. [....]

 

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?

name=Content & pa=showpage & pid=213 & page=25

[Guest guest]

Interesting news, and puzzled to know the worship in Japan.

Please post such news for the benefit of our group members

Pdmahri Sampathkumar

 

msbauju <msbauju wrote:

Benzaiten: The Japanese Saraswati

By Achyut Railkar

The Organizer,

December 9, 2007

 

In 1832, there were 131 shrines dedicated to the Goddess

Saraswati and 100 to Lord Ganesha in Tokyo itself. A 12th

century temple of Ganesha in Asa Kusa suburb of Tokyo

has been declared a national treasure of Japan. [....] Hindu

deities reached Japan through the Mantrayana sect of

Buddhism, which emphasises mantras and rituals. Indian

Saraswati reached Japan in 538 AD.

 

The Japanese Cultural Counsellor Shigeyuki Shimamuri

desires to encourage the study of Hindu deities Saraswati,

Laxmi, Brahma and Ganesha, under other names, which are

among the many Indian deities revered in Japan. [....]

 

Japan has three very famous temples of Benzaiten

[saraswati] - Chikubushima at Shinga, Itsukushima at

Hiroshima and Enoshima at Kanagava-and all are in the

vicinity of water bodies. Chikubushima temple is situated in

the central location of Bivako Lake. It has entry through the

lake with rectangular-shaped Tori gate little similar to the

gates of 'Sanchi Stoop' of India. The sacred Tori gate with

pillars and beams erected in the crystal-clear lake water has

religious and mythological importance.

 

The power and virtues of Benzaiten, an inspirer of

knowledge and arts, are similar to that of Saraswati as found

in Puranas. Saraswati carries veena while Benzaiten has

stringed musical instrument biba. She is known in Japan by

various descriptive names like that in Sanskrit literature:

Myoownten means goddess of sweet voice; Daibenzaiten

means goddess of talent; another form found in Japan is the

deity holding weapons in her eight arms like Saraswati as

Vritra-Hantri or slayer of demons in the Rig Veda. Many

Japanese generals prayed with chant " May Goddess protect

us in the field of war " . Sa-raswati is the goddess of the

kitchen, since raswati is related to rasoi in Hindi. Sketches

of Saraswati, or Benzaiten in Japanese, sanctify many

kitchens in rural areas. [....] The Goddess's favorite lakes

abundant in lotus flowers are preserved everywhere. Indian

Saraswati sits on a peacock or a white goose but Benzaiten

sits on a snake. [....]

 

Benzaiten is one of the seven lucky deities (Shichi-fuku-jin)

and blesses every home. Couples desiring beautiful

daughters pray to her. She is also known as the patroness of

writers, composers, musicians and painters. [....]

 

http://www.organiser.org/dynamic/modules.php?

name=Content & pa=showpage & pid=213 & page=25

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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