Tenkawa
You may have heard of Mt Shasta. What about Tenkawa in Japan? Maybe you’ve read the book Tenkawa : Super Psychic Spot (1986). Located in this comparatively remote village of Tenkawa is a power spot. Many people head up here, to the Dai-Benzaiten-sha Shrine to pay homage and respects to the Goddess of creative arts. Writers, artists, actors, musicians. Come to think of it, everyone in our group is a creative.
Others come to the Tenkawa shrine, hoping to spot a UFO. It’s got a rep for that! Or to check out the meteorites on the grounds.
It’s said that only those invited by Benzaiten can visit the Tenkawa shrine.
Tenkawa was one of the first stops on a mystical 10/10 tour. I had no idea about its reputation or its offerings. I felt called to join this gathering. I’m not even sure I knew the itinerary. It was one of those experiences.
We stayed in a dark old inn, paired off with roommates. There was definitely something going on there in this old inn, in this old village. As the group settled in, I was called to this room in the back, where I found a piano. I sat down to play, despite not having played for years. It was very odd, though not surprising, and only one of the many happenings on this trip. Spirits abound, especially at the Fire Ceremony, where we gathered and did a cleansing.
Getting to Tenkawa
Take the Kintentsu Kyoto line from Kyoto and disembark 17 stops later at Kashihara Jingu Mae station to switch to the Kintetsu Yoshino line. At the Shimoichiguchi station, take the Nara Kotsu bus. Your stop is the Tenkawa Kawai.
Tenkawa Dai-Benzaiten-sha Shrine
Benzaiten is the Buddhist Goddess of art, music, performing arts, water, harvests, fortune, and all that flows. Goddess of Eloquence. She came to Japan through the Sutra of the Golden Light.
Many people see her as Saraswati. She is Saraswati.
Tenkawa Dai-Benzaiten-sha Shrine, nestled in the foothills of the Ominesan south of Kyoto, is a beautiful and fascinating place surrounded by nature. It was built in 700 by the founder of the Shugendo religion, En-no-Ozunu, after the goddess Benzaiten appeared to him.
This is one of the mother shrines of the goddess and one of the few Shinto-Buddhist shrines in Japan. This shrine is also linked by pilgrimage routes to three other sacred sites, together a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2004) known as “Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in the Kii Mountain Range.”
One of the most curious things about this shrine is the UFO-shaped bell. (Oh, also the three meteorites.) Instead of tolling it by pulling the rope up and down, you swing this one. This is the sacred treasure that has been passed down, that gifts all who hear this amazing sound. If you love your omamori charm, you can get one in the shape of the bell. I have one, and is special to me. Very special.
The Purification Fountain or Chozuya
Near a shrine’s entrance, we find purification fountains, lined with wooden and metal ladles. A dragon water spout is commonly seen, bringing together the fire and water elements. Here we cleanse our mouths and hands. Fill a ladle and rinse your left hand, then right. Pour some into your cupped hand and rinse your mouth. Spit the water out and dispose what remains in the ladle beside the fountain.
You will also see an offering box, maybe with a bell or gong. This helps the attendant to get the gods’ attention. Throw some coins into the box, bow twice, clap your hands twice, and bow once more before your prayers.
Tea Ceremony
Was it a special day that we were at the Tenkawa Shrine? It sure felt that way. There seemed to be a lot happening. We were there in October, celebrating 10/10/10 ourselves.
A special treat, a tea ceremony. Precise and specific movements, in deep reverence. The traditional clothing added even more weight to what was happening, witnessing an unbroken lineage. Most of the women we saw came in their formal wear, in a range of colours and patterns.
It’s the summer that its annual festival is held. If you do go, be sure to catch the Noh performance. This art dates back to the 14th century, centering around music and dance, with actors donning masks representing spirits.
Fire Ceremony
That night we walked into Tenkawa village, where we stumbled onto a fire ceremony. We watched as they built the wooden walk with logs and planks and as the crowd of locals and tourists gathered. The fire growing, the smoke rising into the heaven. Solemnity and excitement.
And there was another energy. As human eyes focused centre stage of the fire, non visible beings were also emerging from the depths of the forests around us. It was palpable. Wordless, after we walked across the fire, our group gathered at the edge of the stream and the trees and did some release work, helping ready spirits to return to the fold.
Other Stops
Ishibutai Kofun
Dating back to the Asuka period, the Ishibutai (石舞台) Kofun (古墳) is a stone tomb. The largest known megalithic structure in Japan at 177 feet, it is located in the Nara Prefecture and believed to be the tomb of Soga no Umako. This feudal lord was instrumental in introducing Buddhism to the country and also ignited a religious war.
It was during the Asuka period that Japan changed its oldest recorded name of Wa (倭) to the one we are familiar with today, Nihon (日本). According to the website Exploring the Footsteps of Heroines of Asuka, women, including five empresses, played important roles as Japan transformed into a nation. We often forget the impact of women, so much documentation and stories now emerging with the rising of the feminine.
We arrived in the beautiful light of day and disappeared into the cavern space of the rock structure. If you didn’t know what this was, you may have thought it was interesting, and kept on walking. Yet the energy within and the light filtering through was pure magic.
Photos : Canon 5D MKI
