Japan Promotes Hinduism studies

New Delhi: Japan wants to encourage studies of Hindu Gods and Goddesses found in their country. Saraswati, Laxmi, Brahma, Ganesha among a large number of other Deities are still prayed to there though under different names. Saraswati’s sketches (Benzaiten in Japanese) sanctify kitchens in rural areas of Japan even now, says Director International Academy of Indian Culture Lokesh Chandra. Japanese understood her as sa-rasavati or the Goddess of the kitchen. Rasavati is ‘rasoi’ in Hindi. Talking to the Hindustan Times the Japanese Cultural Counsellor Shigeyuki Shimamori said, "We would like to encourage more studies by scholars on the Hindu deities found in Japan."

It is the Mantrayana sect of Buddhism emphasizing mantras and rituals through which Hindu Deities reached Japan, Dr. Chandra said. The Japanese also perform homa known as "goma" to their Deities. Sarasvati or Benzaiten in Japanese is one of the Seven Lucky Deities (Shichi-fuk u-jin) blessing every home. Couples who desire to have beautiful daughters pray to Her. She is known as the patroness of writers, composers, musicians and painters. German scholar Philipp Franz von Siebold has written that in 1832 there were 131 shrines dedicated to Goddess Sarasvati and 100 to Lord Ganesha in Tokyo itself. A 12th century temple to Ganesha in Asa Kusa suburb of Tokyo is a National Treasure of Japan. Hindu Gods and Goddesses were introduced into Japan in 806 ADE by Kobodaishi a Japanese saint who went to China and brought with him Mantrayana text, scrolls and images.

Source: Hindustan Times

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