母公堂 Hahakodou Hahakodo
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Hahakodo located in Dorogawa, Tenkawa-murs, Nara Pref. is a Shingon sect temple. The principal object of worship is Shiratome, En no Ozuno’s mother. Legend has it that Shiratome, worrying about her son devoted to a hard training in Mt. Ominesan, tried to climb the mountain accompanied by Ozuno’s apprentice. When they were going down the valley, they saw a large snake. Feeling danger, they gave up going ahead and returned to the village. She made a hermitage there and prayed for her son’s safety. Then Amida Nyorai appeared and told her not to hinder Ozuno from performing his ascetic practice and to wait for his return. Since then the valley was called “Hebigatani (snake’s valley)” and “Off Limits to Women Gate” for Mt. Ominesan has been set at this valley. The villagers later built a temple where the hermitage was located and called it “Hahakodo (the hall of mother and son).” The stone monument with the engraved words “Off Limits to Women” is still erected in the precinct of Hahakodo now. The temple is now worshipped for bringing safe childbirth.
- address
- Dorogawa, Tenkawa-mura, Yoshino-gun, Nara Prefecture, Japan 638-0431
- name
- Hahakodo