Which country does the Pagoda originate from, asked our Spanish-speaking Peruvian tour guide who immigrated to Japan 23 years back and spoke fluent Japanese (to our ears) and not so fluent English? Tourists from many nationalities guessed China, Thailand, Bhutan, etc. My guess was Nepal. When all guesses proved wrong, the guide gave the answer – India!
Feeling admonished, I googled to read that the Stupas erected by Ashoka in the 3rd Century BCE were the precursors to the Pagodas.
This set the tone for what was to become an enjoyable journey into the Japanese religion and culture.
To the common person, there are no visible similarities between Shintoism (Japan’s main religion) and Hinduism. But, as they say, do not judge a book by its cover.
A trip to a Shinto Shrine and nuggets of knowledge shared by our guides changed our view. You are welcomed to a Shrine by a Tori gate (Is Tori’s etymology “Toran” remains unanswered) which is not very dissimilar to the arch of many Indian temples. Massive gates with Dwarapalas (mythical gatekeepers), further strengthen the link.
You are expected to cleanse yourself before entering a shrine. To aid that, there are either wells or water sources outside every shrine. We were advised to use a spoon, wash our left hand first, then the right hand, then sprinkle water on the head and feet. All of this to signal your journey from the temporal to the spiritual.
The similarities don’t end there - We saw beautifully calligraphed sake (local Japanese wine) casks in the temple premises – some devotees had placed them there for blessings.
Something even more interesting - neatly folded papers strung on an abacus-like frame. These chits were written prayers seeking divine intervention – like passing an exam, getting a job etc. If God showers benevolence, the believer comes back to the shrine and thanks God. Not very dissimilar in many Indian temples.
The Shinto Gods are called Kami – they are sacred spirits that take the form of things like rivers, wind, rain and mountains. And, San is a suffix Japanese add for respect – much like Ji or Garu in India.
Interesting trivia – In Japanese lore, Mount Fuji is a female and reverentially called. Fuji San. Does Ganga Maiyya strike a chord?
Another trivia – a standard pagoda is supposed to have 5 floors, why? They represent the Pancha Bhutas (Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Sky)!
