The Kyoto Shimbun
  • Home
  • Shiga
  • News
  • Pray to Flames for World Peace and Recovery
    Great Goma Ceremony at Enryakuji Temple, Mt. Hiei, Shiga

    22 March 2017 - Shiga//Temples/Shrines
    Photo= Chief Abbot Morikawa prays for world peace and the recovery of disaster areas in front of the fireplace, in which Gomaki wooden sticks are burned (March 13, Enryakuji Temple, Saito, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture)

    Photo= Chief Abbot Morikawa prays for world peace and the recovery of disaster areas in front of the fireplace, in which Gomaki wooden sticks are burned (March 13, Enryakuji Temple, Saito, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture)

    In order to pray for world peace and the recovery of afflicted areas after disaster such as the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Kumamoto earthquake and others, a great "Goma" ceremony, or a Buddhist rite of burning small wooden sticks on Mt. Hiei, took place at Enryakuji Temple, the head temple of the Tendai Buddhist Sect in Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture, on March 13. Approximately 150,000 Gomaki wooden sticks contributed by followers were burned in a huge hearth.

    This ritual began in 1990 with the aim of praying for world peace, continuing the spirit of "The Religious Summit Meeting on Mt. Hiei" which was held 30 years ago. A fireplace, approximately 5 meters in diameter, was specially arranged in front of the Saicho statue, which is also known as Dengyo Daishi, in the Saito district of Mt. Hiei. Gomaki wooden sticks were burned by a flame taken from "Fumetsu no Hoto," or the eternal light, which has remained lit for 1,200 years.

    The ceremony was held six times on this day. High priests called "Daigyoman Dai Ajari," who completed the challenging "Sennichi-Kaiho-Gyo," or 1,000-day marathon pilgrimage on Mt. Hiei, threw Gomaki wooden sticks into the fireplace one after another. At 11:00 a.m., Kouei Morikawa, the chief abbot of the Tendai Buddhist Sect, prayed silently and then read out a written address to the deities, saying "I pray for human peace and world peace," and so on. Followers crowding around the place chanted sutras with their palms together and offered prayers.

    (translated by Galileo, Inc.)
  • Also in Shiga//Temples/Shrines:

    12 injured as "mikoshi" portable shrines topple at local festival in Shiga Pref.
    25 April 2023

    Bad Manners at Fantastic Mine Ruins, "Laputa of Shiga"
    Series of Trespassing Incidents Leads to Fence Installation
    6 December 2022

    Man Who Left Yahoo! to Become a Ninja
    What He Wanted Even at the Cost of His Career
    31 October 2022

    110,000 Visitors Cheer the Blue Impulse Soaring in the Blue Sky
    "Self-Defense Force Festa" in Takashima City, Shiga
    30 August 2022

    Gold Medal Swimmer Yui Ohashi Takes Photo with Hikonyan
    Reports Her Achievement to Her Home City Hall
    3 January 2022

News Archive
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • August 2022
  • More...
Categories
  • Sightseeing/Events
  • Temples/Shrines
  • Tradition/Culture
  • Local topics
  • Education/University
  • Business/Company
  • Traffic
  • Gourmet
  • 1min Kyoto
  • Kyoto
  • Shiga
Web site
Introducing Privacy Policy Japanese Site
Copyright © 1995-2023 The Kyoto Shimbun Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
We use cookies for a number of reasons, such as keeping our websites reliable and secure, providing social media features and to analyze the performance of ads. Accept & continueReject Read More
Privacy Policy