Skip to content
Encyclopaedia of Ancient, Obscure and Esoteric East Asian Religious Practices

Benzaiten-Ugajin Syncretism

Overview

Section titled “Overview”

Canonical entry drawn from a single source layer in 12_ILLUSTRATED_DEITY_MATERIAL_DHARANI_v2_0.md.

Research layers

Section titled “Research layers”

Layer 1: Benzaiten-Ugajin Syncretism

Section titled “Layer 1: Benzaiten-Ugajin Syncretism”

Source file: 12_ILLUSTRATED_DEITY_MATERIAL_DHARANI_v2_0.md

Visual source: Met object 45632, Public Domain.

Meaning

Section titled “Meaning”

The image joins Benzaiten with Ugajin, demonstrating a specifically Japanese combinatory religious development.

Research procedure

Section titled “Research procedure”
  1. Do not retroject Ugajin into Indian Sarasvatī worship.
  2. Date the particular syncretic form.
  3. Identify shrine/temple lineage.
  4. Compare iconography with liturgical texts.
  5. Record serpent/rice/agricultural/prosperity associations separately from earlier Sarasvatī functions.
  6. Reconstruct the rite only from the local manual.