Changes

*''Japanese'': 弁財天 ''(Benzaiten)''

*''Japanese'': 弁財天 ''(Benzaiten)''

Benzaiten, or Benten, is a [[Shinto]]/[[Buddhism|Buddhist]] goddess associated with music, snakes, and bodies of water; her most prominent shrines are located on islands such as [[Enoshima]] (in the sea near [[Kamakura]]) and [[Chikubushima]] (in the center of [[Lake Biwa]]), and many small shrines to Benzaiten are also located on tiny islands in manmade ponds. She is one of the [[Seven Lucky Gods]].

Benzaiten, or Benten, is a [[Shinto]]/[[Buddhism|Buddhist]] goddess associated with music, snakes (esp. white snakes) and [[dragon]]s, and bodies of water; her most prominent shrines are located on islands such as [[Enoshima]] (in the sea near [[Kamakura]]) and [[Chikubushima]] (in the center of [[Lake Biwa]]), and many small shrines to Benzaiten are also located on tiny islands in manmade ponds. She is one of the [[Seven Lucky Gods]].

Originally developing out of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, Benten was adopted as a deity in many parts of China before being transmitted to Japan, where she merged with a local serpent [[kami|deity]], Ugajin. She is often worshiped as a protector deity, and is often depicted as a figure sharing much iconography with Buddhist entities, including a fiery halo, lotus blossom seat, crown with a smaller deity's head or face, and a variety of objects held in her six or eight hands. Benzaiten is also often associated with a concept of three-in-one, and an emblem of three triangles arranged into one larger triangle is frequently emblazoned on banners and elsewhere at Benten shrines.

Originally developing out of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, Benten was adopted as a deity in many parts of China before being transmitted to Japan, where she merged with a local serpent [[kami|deity]], Ugajin. According to the founding myth of Enoshima Shrine, a dragon menaced the local population until one day an island (Enoshima) appeared, along with the goddess Benten; the dragon fell in love with Benten and agreed to become peaceful and benevolent in exchange for her favor. The goddess thus came to be associated with serpents and dragons, and the shrine at Enoshima came to be established.<ref>Plaques on-site at Enoshima.</ref>

 

She is often worshiped as a protector deity, and is often depicted as a figure sharing much iconography with Buddhist entities, including a fiery halo, lotus blossom seat, crown with a smaller deity's head or face, and a variety of objects held in her six or eight hands. Benzaiten is also often associated with a concept of three-in-one, and an emblem of three triangles arranged into one larger triangle (also said to represent the scales of a snake or dragon) is frequently emblazoned on banners and elsewhere at Benten shrines.

Worship of Benzaiten in Japan dates back at least to the 10th century; statues of Benzaiten and other deities were already present at [[Todai-ji|Tôdai-ji]] in [[Nara]] at that time.<ref>"Tôdai-ji Temple, Sangatsu-dô: Hokke-dô," pamphlet available on-site at Tôdai-ji.</ref>

Worship of Benzaiten in Japan dates back at least to the 10th century; statues of Benzaiten and other deities were already present at [[Todai-ji|Tôdai-ji]] in [[Nara]] at that time.<ref>"Tôdai-ji Temple, Sangatsu-dô: Hokke-dô," pamphlet available on-site at Tôdai-ji.</ref>

*[[Tsukubushima Shrine]] (Chikubushima, Lake Biwa)

*[[Tsukubushima Shrine]] (Chikubushima, Lake Biwa)

*[[Itsukushima Shrine]] ([[Miyajima]], [[Hiroshima prefecture]])

*[[Itsukushima Shrine]] ([[Miyajima]], [[Hiroshima prefecture]])

*[[Zeniarai Benten]] (Kamakura)

*[[Zeniarai Benten]] (Kamakura)

*Benten-dô (Benten Hall) at [[Senso-ji|Sensô-ji]] (Tokyo)

*Benten Shrine at [[Tsurugaoka Hachimangu|Tsurugaoka Hachimangû]] (Kamakura)

*Benten-dô at Enkanchi/[[Ryutan|Ryûtan]] ([[Shuri]], [[Okinawa prefecture]])

 

*Benten-dô at Enkanchi/[[Ryutan|Ryûtan]] ([[Shuri]])

==References==

==References==