Sanskrit and Kana

Sanskrit Beejakshara, Inoji Yama temple, Kyoto.

Sanskrit prayers and pronunciation in Japanese, Gokokuji, Tokyo. The mantras are in Sanskrit as the Japanese feel that translating them will destroy their effectiveness. The pronunciation given in Japanese helps the priests to chant the mantras. The Japanese wrote Sanskrit through simplified Chinese characters, which developed into the Japanese alphabet Kana. Accordingly, the structure of sounds of Sanskrit and Japanese Kana are almost exactly the same.

Sanskrit Beejakshara, Sensoji, Tokyo.

Esoteric Ganesha, or Shoten, Unryun, Sennyuji, Kyoto. Ganesha is an important part of the Esoteric, or Tantric, tradition of Japan. The Japanese pray to him in Sanskrit, with the mantra Om Kri Gyaku Un Swaka.

Beejakshara of Amitabha, Sanboin Hall, Daigoji, Shiga Prefecture. In Japan, they also use the Sanskrit letters for writing the sacred syllables or Beejakshras, which have the power of mantras. Every Buddhist monastery in Japan has a seal with a Beejakshara to use as a short name of the monastery.

Esoteric Ganesha, or Shoten, National Treasure Museum, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura.

Matsuchiyama Shoten, Ganesha Temple, Tokyo. This may be the oldest temple to Ganesha in the world that has been in continuous use. Ganesha has been worshipped here for the last one thousand years.

Ganesha, or Shoten, temple near Tsurugaoka Hachimangu, Kamakura.

Lakshmi, or Kichijoten, Bishamonten or Kubera group, Heian period, 8th-12th century, Kurumadera Temple Museum, Kyoto prefecture.

Lakshmi, or Kichijoten, Horinji Temple, Nara prefecture.

Hariti Onjoji Museum, Shiga prefecture.

Lakshmi, or Kichijoten, 12th century, Daigoji, Shiga prefecture.

Lakshmi, or Kichijoten, Ninnaji Museum, Kyoto. In 768 C.E., the office of the Prime Minister decided that the worship of Sri, or Lakshmi, would be carried out in every temple in the country. Scrolls of Lakshmi were distributed for worship to all temples.

Lakshmi, or Kichijoten, Onjoji Museum, Shiga prefecture, national treasure. Worship of Lakshmi is done in Japan to ensure the peace of the land, wind and rain in good season, good harvests, joy of the people, and the good of all sentient beings.

Agni, or Katen, 12th century, National Treasure from Toji, courtesy Kyoto National Museum.

Agni, or Katen, Meguro Ryusenji, Tokyo.

Agni, or Katen, screen painting, Daigoji, Shiga prefecture.

Brahma, or Bonten, Kofokuji Museum, Nara.

Indra, or Taishakuten, Kofokuji Museum, Nara.

Indra, or Taishakuten, 8th century, Koonji Museum, Saijo, Ehime.

Indra, or Taishakuten, Tsumyoji, Kyoto.

Indra, or Taishakuten, Shibamata Taishakuten Indra Temple, Daikyoji, Tokyo. About two million people visit the temple every year.

Brahma, or Bonten, Todaiji Temple, Hokkedo Hall, Nara.

Mahakala, or Daikokuten Unryun, Sennyuji, Kyoto. The appearance of Mahakala is transformed in Japan, where he is presented as a deity of abundance.

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Siddham, 5th century Sanskrit script, Gokokuji, Tokyo. On Japanese tombs you find the Sanskrit alphabet. The Japanese cannot read this alphabet but still use it to respect the dead. The 5th century Siddham script, which has disappeared in India, is still in use in Japan. At Koyasan, they still have a school where Sanskrit is taught with Siddham.