Thursday, March 5, 2020

Shurin-ji Temple 35 on the Sasaguri Pilgrimage


Shurin-ji is a small temple in Sasaguri, but it was the largest temple so far on my first day walking the Sasaguri Pilgrimage. It was the only one so far that was big enough to have a priest's home. It belongs to the Jodo, Pure Land,  sect, and its honzon is Amida


However, the part of the temple that is the site for the pilgrimage is a small shrine in the grounds called Yakushi-do, which houses this statue of Yakushi Nyorai, commonly known as the Medicine Buddha. Temple 35 on the Shikoku pilgrimage has Yakushi as its honzon, so the corresponding number 35 here in Sasaguri is the same.


There is also a small Kannon-do housing a nice Kannon statue and several other statues in the grounds.


This one has been adorned with a traditional pilgrim hat.


I have no idea who this statue represents but it could be a rakan, a disciple of the historical Buddha.

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