Shōten / Kangiten Yokuyuku — Oil-Bath Offering
Overview
Section titled “Overview”Canonical entry drawn from a single source layer in 16_AGGRESSIVE_ARCHIVE_SWEEP_I_v2_4.md.
Research layers
Section titled “Research layers”Layer 1: Shōten / Kangiten Yokuyuku — Oil-Bath Offering
Section titled “Layer 1: Shōten / Kangiten Yokuyuku — Oil-Bath Offering”Source file:
16_AGGRESSIVE_ARCHIVE_SWEEP_I_v2_4.md
Japanese: 聖天浴油供 / 歓喜天浴油供
Class: HIGHLY RESTRICTED ESOTERIC OFFERING
Source state: MULTIPLE LIVING TEMPLE DESCRIPTIONS LOCATED
Living Tendai/Shingon temple sources independently describe a distinctive rite in which the Kangiten/Shōten image is ritually bathed with warmed fragrant oil.
Publicly documented architecture
Section titled “Publicly documented architecture”- special offerings are prepared;
- fragrant oil is warmed;
- the image is placed in/over a dedicated vessel;
- a ladle is used to pour oil over the image;
- mantra/prayer accompanies the bathing;
- the rite is directed toward the petitioner’s aspiration;
- offerings such as kangidan may accompany the rite.
Secrecy status
Section titled “Secrecy status”Living temples explicitly call this a secret/very secret rite, and some state that ordinary visitors may not attend while it is being performed.
Research rule
Section titled “Research rule”Record the public architecture, material culture, temple schedules and textual history, but distinguish them from priest-only transmitted liturgy.