Musashi Dairokuten Shrine

Author: Richard Perkins
Photos/Videos Taken: 2021/02/22
Address: 1752 Oto, Iwatsuki-ku,
Saitama-shi, Saitama,【339-0014】

武蔵第六天神社 (musashi dairokuten jinja) is a Shintō shrine that was built in 1782 in the city of Saitama, Saitama prefecture. There are other Shintō shrines across Japan too that are referred to as a 第六天 (dairokuten) shrine. These particular shrines go back to when 神仏習合 (shinbutsu-shūgō) took place. This was a time in Japan when both the Shintō religion and the Buddhist religion were fused into one. It was at this time that the dairokuten shrine emerged as a shrine worshipping 第六天魔王 (dairokuten maō) or Satan. However, it was when 神仏分離 (shinbutsu bunri), the separation of the Shintō religion and Buddhist religion after the Meiji restoration, took effect that the prime gods of the dairokuten shrines became 面足尊 (omadaru-no-mikoto) and 吾屋惶根尊 (ayakashikone-no-mikoto). Along with these gods the 家宅六神 (kataku rokushin), which are six gods that protect one’s home, are also worshipped here.

What makes this shrine particularly special are the divine favors that are answered here. Along with divine favors for the removal of epidemics and the safety of one’s family found at many other shrines across Japan, there is a divine favor for helping any illness to one’s ears, along with a divine favor for helping those who suffer from headaches recover. These are two divine favors that aren't found too often at other shrines. For those with not very good ears, maybe those that suffer from some sort of ear infection, or those who may suffer constant headaches, visiting this particular shrine just might help to relieve any of those symptoms.