Burning off worldly desires, praying for health and peace of mind/Odawara

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1312060021/

December 7, 2013

During their ceremony, Yamabushi Priests use torches to draw Sanskrit characters through the air.

To burn off this year's earthly desires and pray for abundance in the New Year, the annual Mount Akiba Fire Protection Festival was held on the 6th at Ryōgaku Temple in Mount Akiba, Itabashi, Odawara City.

Amidst the darkness, a pile of firewood inside the temple grounds was ignited. 30 fully dressed Yamabushi Buddhist priests gathered from all over the country began to perform a cleansing ceremony, drawing Sanskrit characters with their torches. As they continued, visitors to the shrine crossed barefoot over a charcoal fire, praying for health and peace of mind.

Original text: 

煩悩焼き払い、無病息災祈願／小田原

2013年12月7日

たいまつで梵字を書く儀式を披露した山伏

今年１年の煩悩を焼き払い、新年の繁栄を願う恒例の「秋葉山火防（ひぶせ）祭」が６日、小田原市板橋の秋葉山量覚院で行われた。

暗闇の中、境内に積み上げられたまきに点火。全国から集まった約３０人の修験者装束の山伏が登場し「法剣作法」で場を清め、たいまつで梵字（ぼんじ）を書く儀式を披露した。山伏に続いて、参拝者がおき火の上を素足で渡り歩き、無病息災を祈願した。

Shrine Maidens quietly craft evil warding arrows. The final rush of production for January begins at the Hachimanguu Temple/Kamakura

Translated from the original article at: http://news.kanaloco.jp/localnews/article/1312020024/

December 3, 2013

'Mikoshi' (shrine maidens) silently continue their work of creating evil-warding arrows=Hachimanguu Temple

At the Hachimanguu Temple (Yuki No Shita, Kamakura City), the production of evil warding arrows, a lucky amulet for New Years, enters it's final rush. Using bamboo and the feathers of waterfowl within Japan, 245,000 arrows of various sizes are being produced until Mid-December.

As the mikoshi quietly continued their work, the banging of kabura whistles and the sound of decorative bells being attached to the arrows could be heard echoing through the silent temple.

To celebrate the occasion of Minomoto no Yoriyoshi using the arrows of Hachimanguu Temple to end the Zenkunen War, Kyōtō's Iwashimizu-Kachimanguu Shrine sent over their bow(s) and arrow(s) as an offering.


Original text:
巫女が黙々と破魔矢作り　正月控えて鶴岡八幡宮で追い込み／鎌倉
2013年12月3日

黙々と破魔矢作りの作業を続ける巫女たち＝鶴岡八幡宮

鶴岡八幡宮（鎌倉市雪ノ下）で正月の縁起物の破魔矢作りが追い込みに入っている。国産の竹や水鳥の羽根を使用し、今月中旬までに、大小合わせて２４万５千本を製作する。

巫女（みこ）らは、「コンコン」と矢の先端に鏑（かぶら）を付ける音や飾りの鈴の音が静かに響く中、黙々と作業を続けていた。

同八幡宮の破魔矢は源頼義が前九年の役を平定した際に、京都の石清水八幡宮から授かった弓矢を奉納したことにちなむという。