Hindu Influence on Japan

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Hindu Contributions toJapanese Religion

January 2005Rajesh Verma

([email protected])


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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

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Hindu Influence on Japan