Goma Kuyo is one of the most important Buddhist ceremonies in Esoteric Buddhism including the Singon sect, Tendai sect and Shugen sect, and is a ceremony in which gomadan (a fire altar) made of green cypress is lit up, and offerings and then gomagi (firewood chips on which a wish is written) are thrown into the fire while sutras are recited to burn up evil passions, thereby praying for wishes. The origin of the Japanese word goma is the Sanskrit word “homa” meaning burning something. The Esoteric Buddhism was influenced by Hinduism.
I’d like to introduce the Goma Kuyo performed in Ryuanji Temple in Minoo, Hyogo and in Hojuji Temple in Kyoto to you below.
Ryuanji Temple
The sect of Ryuanji Temple in Minoo is the Honzan Shugendo, which is one sect in the Japanese mountain asceticism based on the teachings of the Tendai sect, and the principal image is Benzaiten (Saraswati). It is said that the temple opened in 658.
In the temple, “Saito Daigomaku” is performed by yamabushi (mountain monks) all around the Kansai area in April, July, and November every year. The Saito Daigomaku is a large-scale purification fire ceremony performed outside in the Shugendo in which Yamabushi monks burn gomagi chips in the domagan to make flame and smoke, thereby praying for the peace and security of the world and the nation, and people’s better fortune, realization of dreams, and warding off evil. During the ceremony, the Ogoma dojo (the place where the ceremony is performed) echoed with the sound of conch shells and the voice of Yamabushi monks chanting the sutras in the billowing smoke and blazing fire.
Precinct Map of Ryuanji Temple
1. The main temple, Bentendo Hall
3. Gyojado Hall
4. Ogoma Dojo where the Goma Kuyo ceremony is performed
5. Kannondo Hall
At 11:00 am, Yamabushi monks went to the main temple, the Bentendo Hall (1) with the sound of conch shells, and the Buddhist memorial service was performed in front of the hall, and then the Gyojado Hall (3).
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Yamabushi Monks Entering
Going up to Main Temple
Line-up at Main Temple
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at Gyojado Hall
at Gyojado Hall
Going down to Ogoma Dojo
The memorial service performed in front of the Gyojado Hall is called the “Toake” service performed in April, and the “Tojime” service in November. The Japanese word Toake means opening the door, and Tojime means closing the door, that is, the door of the Gyojado Hall is opened and is closed, respectively. It means that the Yamabushi monks practice asceticism from April to November. I went there in November, so I saw the Tojime service.
After finishing the memorial services, the Goma Kuyo ceremony finally began in the Ogoma Dojo. The gomadan was already made in the dojo.
Gomadan
The sound of the conch shell told the beginning of the Goma Kuyo ceremony. First, Yamabushi Mondo (Q & A sessions by Yamabushi monks) in which the discussion developed between the Yamabushi monk of this temple and a stranger Yamabushi monk, whereby we could know the history of the ascetic practices and the meanings of the costume of the yamabushi.
Q & A by Yamabushi monks
After that, a Yamabushi monk shot arrows (Hokyu (bow) ceremony) and swung a sword (Hoken (sword) ceremony) around the gomadan to remove evil, and a monk brought a hatchet against the gomadan (Hofu (hatchet) ceremony) to renounce worldly desires.
Hokyu ceremony
A Yamabushi monk shot an arrow.
Hofu ceremony
The hatchet is real.
After the senior priest chanted an optative sentence, the gomadan was finally ignited. Many Yamabushi monks and general visitors chanted the Heart Sutra in loud voices while the smoke rolled up into the sky, a peculiar atmosphere hanging over there. After the ignition, water was sprinkled on the gomadan to make smoke.
The offerings and then gomagi chips were thrown into the gomadan from which the smoke went up. I offered the gomagi chips on which the safety of my family was prayed too.
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First, the offerings were thrown.
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Then, gomagi sticks were thrown.
After that, the memorial service was performed in front of Kannondo Hall and the Yamabushi monks returned.
The Goma Kuyo ceremony was performed for about one hour. It seemed that I went into a kind of trance in the loud voices of the Heart Sutra by many Yamabushi monks and general worshippers, and the sounds of conch shells and Japanese music instruments, in addition to the smoke and fire. It was so rhythmic that I wanted to memorize the Heart Sutra and sing it with everyone. When I looked behind after the all ceremonies were finished and I took my time in the precincts, I saw that the smoke still went up from the Ogoma Dojo.
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