hindu influence on japan
TRANSCRIPT
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Hindu Contributions toJapanese Religion
January 2005Rajesh Verma
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Japanese Names for Some Hindu
Gods/Godesses
Bishukatsuma ()Vishvakarma8. Divine Architect
Daikoku( Great Black
One ) ()
Shiva7. Mahesh
Kichijoten / Kisshoten()
Lakshmi / Shridevi6. Goddess of Fortune
Benten ()Sarasvati5. Goddess of Learning
Bishamon ( )Kuvera4. God of Wealth
Shoten ()Ganesha3. God of Success
Taishakuten ()Indira2. King of Gods
Suiten ()Varuna1. Seagod
Japanese NameIndian NameGod
*Boldfaced deities represent the Shichifukujin () Japanese deities.
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Shoten
From:http://www.z-shoten.or.jp/ Shoten ()
Ganesh (Shoten)
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Shichifukujin
(Seven Lucky Gods of Japan)
3 of the 7 have Hindu origins
Daikoku-ten (Mahakala / Maheshvara)
Benten / Benzai-ten (Saraswati)
Bishamon-ten (Kuber / Kuvera)
Even though these gods have Japanese names,each of them is associated with a seed mantra
that is the first letter of their original Sanskrit name.
The -ten suffix in Japanese is an epithet for
a god/goddess.
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Maheshwar/Mahakala (Daikoku)
Daikokuten
Siddham Script:Ma Seed Mantra
Maheshwar
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Benten (Benzaiten)
Saraswati (Benten)
Siddham Script: Sa Seed Mantra
Saraswati (also with aswan & instrument)
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Kuber/Kuvera
(Bishamon / Tamon-Ten)(aka Vaisravana)
Bishamon Kuvera (Vaishravana)
Siddham Script:Vai Seed Mantra
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Kichijoten
Lakshmi (Kichijoten)
Kichijoten holds a wish-granting jewel in her left hand.
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Lakshmi (Kichijoten)
Kichijoten
Lakshmi
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Brahma (Bonten)
Bonten Brahma
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Brahma (Bonten)
Bonten Brahma
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4 Lokapalas (Shitenno)
Kuber (Vaishravana)(North)
Yama (Virudhaka)
(South) Indra (Dhritarashtra)
(East)
Varuna (Virupaksha)(West)
Japanese Name
Taishakuten (Indra)
Tamon-ten (Bishamon) ()Zouchoten (Zochoten)
Jikokuten (Dhritarashtra)
Koumokuten (Komokuten)
Hindu (Sanskrit Buddhist) Name
Some of the Hindu deities with multiple roles are split into multipleJapanese deities, each having a specific role.
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Indra (Taishakuten)
On website of Japanese embassy in Nepal:http://www.np.emb-japan.go.jp/history/diet.html
Indra
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Indra (Taishakuten)
Taishakuten (riding an elephant like Indra)From:http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/taishakuten.shtml
Siddham Script:
Ee Seed Mantra
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Kuber/Kuvera
(Bishamon / Tamon-Ten)(aka Vaisravana): North
BishamonKuvera (Vaishravana)
Siddham: Vai
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Zouchoten/Zochoten (Virudhaka):South
Siddham Script:Vi Seed Mantra
Virudhaka (Sanskrit Buddhist)
Zouchoten (Japanese)
Yama (Hindu)
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Varuna: God of the Sea (Suiten)(Varuna is also Lokapala of West)
From:
http://www.dharmakshetra.com/demigods/demigods%201.html
VarunaSuiten
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Yama (Enmaten)
Enmaten(riding a bull like Yama) Yama
*In Hindu belief, Yama has the dual role of guardingthe Southern direction and of being the Lord of Death.
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Bodhidharma (Daruma)
Modern Daruma dolls
11th century portrait of Bodhidharma15th century painting of Bodhidharma
All pictures from http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/daruma.shtml
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Garuda (Karura )
Noh mask of Karura
Karura
Garuda
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Vishvakarma (Bishukatsuma)
Vishvakarma
Bishukatsuma
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Traditional Fire CeremonyAGomado () is a small smoky shrine where the sacred fire is prepared in anancient round hearth. Cypress wood is burned and the flame is used to light the tip ofa three-meter-long bamboo pole. (Similar to Hindu ceremony of havan.)Source: http://www.shambhalasun.com/Archives/Features/1998/May98/simpson.htm
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Called Bonsho () in Japanese, meaning Indian bell, this temple bellsdeep gong at Buddhist temples especially in the evenings gave people asense of rest after their days toil.It is struck 108 times on New Years Eve to ring in the New Year and drive outthe 108 evil desires that man is heir to. (Joya-no-kane)Sources: http://www.hilobetsuin.org/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=3
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/illustrated/culture/e.html
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Siddham Script in Japan
*Descendant of Brahmi and ancestor of Devnagiri script
*Mainly used by Shingon Buddhists in Japan for Sanskrit mantras/sutras
* Bonji characters means Indian characters
*Introduced to Japan by Kukai
in 806 C.E.From http://www.omniglot.com/writing/siddham.htm
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http://www.salagram.net/VWHChinaJapanKorea.html
Hindu Gods and Goddesses in Japan/Saroj Kumar Chaudhuri. NewDelhi, Vedams, 2003, xviii, 184 p., ills., $40. ISBN 81-7936-009-1.https://www.vedamsbooks.com/no30775.htm
Acknowledgments:
Grateful acknowledgments to Mr. Kazuo Nakayama for his insights,
expert translations of Japanese terms and websites, and for adding
the Japanese characters in this presentation.
Primary Sources Used:
http://www.onmarkproductions.com/html/buddhism.shtml
Helpful Readings (Not used):
http://www.esamskriti.com/html/
new_inside.asp?cat_name=cultphil&cid=541&sid=9007&count1=3