Virtual Kawabe 33 Kannon Pilgrimage #2 Senryu-ji Temple

 

     Long ago, during the Nara Period 710-794), Priest Tokudo of Hase-dera Temple was selecting the member temples of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.  He picked Seiganto-ji Temple in Kumano, Ki Province, as the first temple.  He went on a pilgrimage to the temples with Avalokitesvara images from one province to another.

     The Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha of Senryu-ji Temple, which was located north of Yamamoto Village and south of the foot of Mount Nagao, heard of the rumor about Tokudo's choosing 33 temples with Avalokitesvara images, and was excited, thinking, "I'm sure I'll be included," and eagerly awaited Tokudo's coming.

     When Ekadasamukha heard that Tokudo had arrived at Katsuo-ji Temple in Mino and chose it as the 23rd temple, he thought, "Finally, his next stop will be mine."  As soon as he thought this, he became tired of waiting and became very sleepy.  Ekadasamukha could not bear it any longer and fell asleep.

     When Tokudo arrived at Senryu-ji Temple, he found the Ekadasamukha sleeping and shake Ekadasamukha repeatedly, saying, "Please wake up," but Ekadasamukha would not wake up.

     "Ekadasamukha must be dozing off because he doesn't want to become a member of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage," he thought.  He decided to visit the Eleven-Faced Ekadasamukha in Nakayama-dera Temple to choose it as the 24th member, and set off on his journey.

     When the Ekadasamukha at Senryu-ji Temple woke up a while later to find Tokudo already left, Ekadasamukha stomped the head in frustration, but could do nothing.

     Ekadasamukha at Senryu-ji Temple regretted this terrible careless mistake, and, from then on, never fell into a deep sleep.  Instead, day and night, the Ekadasamukha listened to the prayers of people who visited the temple.

     Since the blessings she bestowed on people who fell asleep were particularly great, the people of nearby villages became fond of the Ekadasamukha, calling it "Sleeping Kannon."

     Anyway, it was during the Edo Period that today’s order of the Saigoku 33 Kannon Pilgrimage was decided due to the convenience for people from Edo to visit the member temples according to the order.

     Senryu-ji Temple is also the #3 member temple of the North Settsu 33 Kannon Pilgrimage.

Address: 1 Chome−5−18, Yamamotodai, Takarazuka, Hyogo 665-0885

Phone: 0797-84-2334

Hase-dera Temple

Address: 731-1 Hase, Sakurai, Nara 633-0112

Phone: 0744-47-7001

Seiganto-ji Temple

Address: 8 Nachisan, Nachikatsuura, Higashimuro District, Wakayama 649-5301

Phone: 0735-55-0001

Nakayama-dera Temple

Address: 2 Chome-11-1 Nakayamadera, Takarazuka, Hyogo 665-8588

Phone: 0797-87-0024