|
With well over 1,300 Sengen Shrines in Japan, it is evident that Princess Konohanasakuya, to whom Sengen Shrines are consecrated, holds a prominent place amongst the galaxy of deities in Shintoism. Princess Konohanasakuya is the goddess of Mount Fuji. Princess Konohanasakuya was a daughter of the mountain god Ohoyamatsumi. She is symbolized by cherry blossom and is considered the incarnation of Japanese life. Konohanasakuya married Ninigi who is an important Shinto god and also believed to be the ancestor of the emperors of Japan. Konohanasakuya was known for her mesmerizing beauty and there were not a few who were ensnared by her charms. When she became pregnant on the first night of marriage, it was a suitable inducement for Ninigi to suspect her fidelity. Infuriated by the shadow of suspicion cast on her morality by her husband, Konohanasakuya entered a doorless hut and set it on fire. She declared that she will remain unharmed by the flames of the fire if she has been faithful to her husband. Remaining unscathed by the hungry flames, the goddess gave birth to three sons- Hoderi, Hosuseri, and Hoori. Sengen Shrines in Japan are frequented mostly by women who come praying for complications free pregnancy. The advent of Buddhism in Japan saw the Goddess Konohanasakuya being ousted by other Buddhist goddess like Koyasu Kishibojin, Koyasu Kannon, and Koyasu Jizo. Sengen Shrines are well dispersed all over Japan. The head shrines are placed at the base and the top of Mount Fuji. One of the most famous of the Sengen Shrines in Japan is Fuji Sengen Jinja. Built by the Emperor Keiko, Fuji Sengen Shrine is situated at the foot of the magnificent Mount Fuji and is placed amidst a dense conglomeration of tall cedar trees. However, it should be noted that Fuji Shengen Shrine was not originally dedicated to Goddess Konohanasakuya. The deity who kept abode of the shrine was replaced by the Goddess because he was unable to contain the sacred yet volcanic Mount Fuji. Myths are rife as well as contradictory over Goddess Konohanasakuya's attributes as a gentle heavenly being. While many vouch by her motherly traits and approach her for normal child birth, others regard her as a goddess who enamored by her own beauty often leashes disasters if she glimpses anyone more beautiful than her. This is the reason why she is kept shielded from the eyes of her devotees during the Fujiyoshida's Fire Festival. Shinto Shrines and their plethora of deities, consigned to the realms of myths as they might be at this juncture of time, provide a redoubtable understanding of Japan's distant past and the evolution of religion in the country. Also worth visiting would be the Tenjin Shrines in Japan.
|
