Yesterday I went shopping and got some things for myself.
I bought a Kamadan Shrine and a desk at Wesrose’s. And they
both rock. I can honestly say I got a deal and I love both of things.
First - the shrine:
The shrine I bought because it used to belong to someone who used
it to honor a dead person, and it made me vaguely sad to think of
someone going potentially forgotten. Plus it had things in it. And
I couldn’t resist the urge to open the contents at my leisure and
you know, discover stuff and stuff…so I went home and set it up
and did some research.
From the shrine’s contents I assume it was
either a father or a brother being honored because the deity that is represented is
a prosperity and agricultural god, however, he is also known as a diety of cooking.
So perhaps it was for a she.
The diety stands on two bales of rice and carries a magic hammer. It’s sort of
like the cornucopia for the Greek gods, Here’s info/pictures on him:
“Male. Since the 17th century, Daikoku has been most widely known as the Japanese god of wealth and farmers, although in earlier centuries he was considered a fierce protector deity. In Japan, artwork of this deity usually shows him wearing a hood and standing on bales of rice (tawara 俵), carrying a large sack of treasure slung over his shoulder and holding a small magic mallet. There are other forms, including a female form, but in Japan, the god is invariably shown standing on two bales of rice holding his magic mallet and treasure sack. In some traditions, Daikoku is also considered a deity of the kitchen and a provider of food, and images of him can still be found in monastery kitchens and in the kitchens of private homes.
Daikoku imagery in Japan is identified with the mythic Shinto figure Oo-kuninushi-no-Mikoto (or Okuninushi-no-Kami, 大国主命, translated as “Prince Plenty”). The lucky mallet in his right hand (uchide nokozuchi) is similar to the Greek cornucopia. This horn of plenty can magically produce anything desired when struck. Some Japanese say that coins fall out when he shakes his mallet. Others say that believers are granted their desires by tapping a symbolic mallet on the ground three times and making a wish. Daikoku is often depicted together with Ebisu (see below), as the two are considered father (Daikoku) and son (Ebisu), although sometimes the two are thought to be brothers. The symbol of the Precious Buddhist Jewel (Skt. cintamani; the “wish-granting jewel”), sometimes found on Daikoku’s mallet or belt, represents the themes of wealth and unfolding possibility; said to give its holder the ability to see all things (like a crystal ball). The precious jewel is one of the seven symbols of royal power in Buddhism.
So the shrine has all of these things wrapped in paper inside of it:
a stick of wood with writing on it,
and some pieces of paper - one looks like it could be a japanese
obituary -but no photo.
and this gold coin which is wrapped in tissue paper, then wrapped in
thicker paper with japanese writing that I can’t read on it. Pretty cool.
I didn’t realize that I’d get a magic hammer and future telling coin when
I bought it! So that’s a plus! Hee haw.
Anyway, on the
left side of the shrine, I started making space for myself. So far that
consists of a magazine ad depicting Tina Fey, a Jacob’s Ladder magic trick,
and a linen sack my sunglasses from anthropologie came in.
I’m not sure that says much about me, but maybe it does. Maybe if you
have an idea for what I should put in my shrine you can leave a comment
for me to read and post.
I think perhaps it is my coolest purchase to date.
And I feel like if someone did die and their shrine ends up in an antique store,
then I’m gonna buy it. It sort of made me sad. Lucky for me, it just so happens it’s super
cool/magical/lucky:
I think the coin is possibly a man-made representation of the:
Cintamani mentioned above
(also spelled as Chintamani or called the Chintamani Stone) is a wish-fulfilling jewel within both Hindu and Buddhist traditions. In Buddhism it is held by Avalokiteshvara, one of the Bodhisattvas or representations of Buddha. It is also seen carried upon the back of the Lung ta (wind horse). Within Hinduism it is connected with the gods, Vishnu and Ganesha.
By reciting the Dharani of Cintamani, Buddhist tradition maintains that one attains the Wisdom of Buddha, able to understand the truth of the Buddha, and turn afflictions into Bodhi. It is said to allow one to see the Holy Retinue of Amitabha and assembly upon one’s deathbed.
Right on! So here it is:
I’ll have to post some pictures of the contents later
The desk is also from Wesrose’s and has a million pidgeonholes in it which is awesome
for me. So now I know where all my stuff is.
I give Wesrose’s two thumbs up for coolness.
Best,
Laura
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