Though Hinduism is a minority religion in Japan it has played a somewhat significant role in Japanese culture. People have written books on the worship of Hindu gods in the land of the rising sun. Even today, it is claimed, Japan encourages a deeper study of Hindu gods. Though Hinduism is a little-practised religion in the country it still had a significant, although indirect role, in the formation of Japanese culture.
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It may seem strange but a number of Hindu deities are worshipped in Japan. This is mostly because many Buddhist beliefs and traditions that share a common spiritual root with Hinduism spread to that country long ago. All the three Gods of the Hindu Trinity, Ganapati, giver of education, Goddess Saraswati, Kuber and some other gods and goddesses are worshipped in Japan, albeit in different names.
Origin
The Japanese “Seven Gods of Fortune” include three Hindu Gods Benzaiten (Sarasvati), Bishamon ( Kubera), and Daikoku (Shiva). As per reports Benzaiten arrived in Japan in between the 6th and 8th centuries mainly via the Chinese translations of the Sutra of Golden Light, which has a section devoted to her. She is also mentioned in the Lotus Sutra. “These Indian deities were introduced from China into Japan as Buddhist deities with Chinese names,” writes Sengaku Mayeda of Japan’s Eastern Institute.
Hinduism in Japan
Though Hinduism is a minority religion in Japan it has played a somewhat significant role in Japanese culture. People have written books on the worship of Hindu gods in Japan. Even today it is claimed Japan encourages a deeper study of Hindu gods. Though Hinduism is a little-practiced religion in the country it still had a significant, although indirect role, in the formation of Japanese culture. Examples of Hindu influence in Japan include the belief in “six schools” or “six doctrines” as well as the use of Yoga and pagodas. Many of the facets of Hindu culture which have influenced Japan have also influenced Chinese culture.
Gods
Brahma
In Japan, Brahma, the ‘creator’ of the world, is known as Bonten. He is one of the Twelve Devas often shown together with Taishakuten or Indra.
Vishnu
Visnu, the ‘Preserver’ appears in Japan in the names Bichuten, Mishichiju and Ungyo. His mount Garuda is known as Karua, an enormous, fire-breathing creature. It has the body of a human and the face or beak of an eagle. His consort Goddess Lakshmi is known as Kichijoten or Kudokuten, the goddess of fortune and merit.
Shiva
Siva, the ‘Destroyer’ is known as Makeishura in Japan. This term can be seen as being transliterated from the word Maheswara, one of the many names of Lord Shiva. The god is also known in the names Daikokuten, Daijizaiten and Ishanaten in Japan.
Ganapati
Ganapati or Ganesh ji is known as Kangiten in Japanese. He is displayed larger tha the Buddha in a temple at Futako Tamagawa in Tokyo.
Sarasvati
Goddess Sarasvati, the giver of education and learning is worshipped in the name Benzaiten in Japan. She is worshipped as the goddess of music, poetry, learning, and art and is regarded as one of Japan’s ‘Seven Lucky Gods’.
Indra
Indradev, the king of devas, is known as Taishakuten in Japan. He is believed to abode atop the Sumeru Mountain that is known by the name Shumisen in Japan. Taishakuten is worshipped as one of the ‘Twelve Devas’ and often shown together with Bonten or Brahma.
Devas
Described in esoteric Buddhism, the Japanese also worship the Twelve Devas as the guardians of the 12 directions including the four directions and four semi-directions, up and down, and the sun and moon. The Sanskrit word Deva, which means a celestial being, is rendered as ‘Ten” in Japanese. Devas are deities borrowed from Hindu mythology and adapted to Chinese and Japanese Buddhism as guardians of the monasteries of esoteric Buddhism. Among the 12, Bonten (Brahma) and Taishakuten (Indra) serve in the highest positions.
Svastikah
The Hindu sacred symbol Swastik that forms the Japanese character for “field” is known as Ky?ji in Japan. The sanskrit word ‘Svastikah’ means ‘fortunate’. The symbol was incorporated by Buddhism and often appears on statues of the Buddha or Nyorai and Bodhisattva or Bosatsu. It is also one of the 32 Marks of the Buddha. In Japan it represents the “possession of all virtues” and is used as a symbol of Buddhist faith. The symbol, when duplicated, turning one clockwise and the other counterclockwise, combines to form the Japanese character for ‘Field’, which symbolises the “robe of the formless field of merit” – a robe that is still sewn and worn by the Japanese Buddhist clergy.
Myo-o
Myo-o or Mantra Kings are a class of Hindu deities incorporated into Buddhism. They can be compared with the 64 yoginis. They appear in wrathful forms with furious faces and multiple heads and arms to frighten non-believers into accepting the teachings of Dainichi or Buddha. The Hindu god of death, Yama is known in his Buddhist form as ‘Enma’ in Japan.
Temples
Temples to Brahma, Kubera and other Hindu-derived deities are scattered all over Japan. The Shibamata and Katsushika wards of Tokyo have Indra temples. Idols of these gods are available on either side of a Buddha image. The Shoten-cho part of the Japanese capital is famous for its many temples and shrines. And there are temples dedicated to Sarasvati and Shiva to be found amid these crowded streets. In the 1830s, say scholars, over 100 Ganapati temples were found in Japan.
These striking parallels between two of the richest among Oriental cultures and religions point to the possibility of sustained cross-cultural interaction between India and Japan forming a stable basis for diplomatic and economic co-operation.
