Minoh Ryuanji Temple Yamabushi Grand Procession and Great Rituel Goma Ceremony
July 7th, The Yamabushi Grand Parade is a ceremony where ascetics and yamabushi gather from all over the Kansai region before going up the mountain to 'open the sacred boundary.' The event involves walking from Hankyu Minoh Station to Minoh San Ryuanji Temple while blowing conch shells, giving off an atmosphere that feels like the ancient world of yamabushi has come alive in the modern day. The Saitō Daisan Goma Ritual is a secret Shugen-do practice where yamabushi burn 'gomagi' (wooden sticks on which visitors write their wishes) on a large goma altar, sending the wishes to Fudo Myoo through smoke and flames. This is a traditional event that has continued for over 1,300 years.
Minoh Ryuanji Temple is the main training center of Shugendo founded by En no Gyoja, and it's a special place for Shugendo practitioners.
En no Gyōja was the founder of Shugendo, a practitioner who trained mainly around Mount Yoshino and Mount Ōmine in Nara during the Asuka period (7th century). He tried to use the spiritual power of the mountains to help people and is also called En no Ozunu. Later on, he came to be revered as the founder of Shugendo.
🏔️ A Shugendo practitioner is a religious ascetic who trains in the mountains.
They are followers of Shugendo, which is a blend of Buddhism (esoteric), Shinto, and ancient mountain worship.
They blow conch shells, wear ceremonial robes, and strengthen their mind and body while walking through the mountains.
They perform prayers through rituals, fire offerings (goma), and spiritual power (genriki).
🧘The Role of a Shugendo Practitioner
Prayers and Blessings: For family safety, warding off evil, healing from illness, world peace, and more
A link between nature and people: Delivering the mountain's spiritual power to people
Protecting local festivals: Taking part in traditional events like the Great Lantern Fire Ritual and yamabushi processions
Embodiment of training: Doing fasting, waterfall practices, and walking training in the mountains
👣The training of a Shugendo practitioner
Mountain walking practice (mineiri) – Training both body and mind while walking in the mountains, becoming one with nature.
Waterfall practice – Being struck by a waterfall to purify body and mind.
Goma ritual – A ceremony to deliver wishes to Fudo Myo-o through the power of fire.
Conch shell (horagai) – Blown to ward off evil, purify the place, and signal to companions.
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