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SPEAKER_05: Hello. From Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan, and this is Womanica. This month we're talking about goddesses, mythical figures who've shaped culture, history, and imagination around the world. Today we're talking about a Japanese goddess of good fortune who provides favor to those who pray to her. Let's talk about Benzaiten. Benzaiten is part of the Shichi Fukujin, or the Seven Lucky Gods. These deities travel throughout Japan during the year and reunite at the New Year to celebrate the holiday and a lavish feast. If the gods are so inclined, they might also go sailing on the Takarabune, a grand ship filled with treasures that symbolizes the New Year. Although the Seven Lucky Gods are mainly celebrated in Japan, they aren't native to the country. Most have origins in China or India as Hindu gods and goddesses, sages, imperiors, or Buddhas. Representations of the deities as a unified force began to appear in art and folk tales in the 15th century. There are several shrines to the Seven Lucky Gods across Japan. Benzaiten is an incarnation of the Hindu goddess Saraswati, who's heavily associated with water. Many of Benzaiten's temples in Japan reflect these origins. They're built in coastal caverns and on islands. Benzaiten's arrival in Japan can be traced back to at least 552 CE, the same year a comet blazed across the night sky. It symbolized the luck and prosperity Benzaiten brought with her. Benzaiten is also known as a goddess of love, and she's associated with music, financial security, beauty, and talent. She's praised for her voice and musical ability. She usually appears with a glowing halo, carrying a biwa, a kind of Japanese lute. She's often depicted with eight hands, many of which hold weapons, a sword, an axe, a rope, and a bow and arrow. She's also often accompanied by a great white serpent, which symbolizes good fortune and divinity. Because of Benzaiten's many talents and domains, a wide variety of people have sought her blessing. Farmers might pray to Benzaiten for a fruitful harvest. Jealous lovers pray to her to gain an advantage over romantic rivals. And if a Japanese woman wanted beautiful daughters, she would travel to a temple dedicated to Benzaiten. There, the woman would stay in a room by herself, praying to the goddess for seven-ish days. She knew her wish would be fulfilled if Benzaiten chose to appear to her in a dream. In one well-known story, Buncho, the daughter of a seven-faced dragon deity, prayed to Benzaiten to grant her male heirs. When Buncho laid 500 eggs, she was afraid of what monsters might be born from them. So she put them in a basket and floated them down the river. Downstream, a fisherman plucked the basket from the rushing water and brought it safely to the riverbank. He gently lowered the eggs into the warm sand to hatch. A few days later, he found not birds, but human boys had hatched from the broken shells. The crowd of boys returned to Buncho, who was pleased to have her wish for heirs granted by Benzaiten. Benzaiten's shrine on Inoshima Island is said to have been built at the site where she tamed the ferocious and bloodthirsty five-headed dragon that used to terrorize the island villages. When Benzaiten appeared and offered the island inhabitants help, the dragon was overcome with love for the goddess. He pledged his loyalty and vowed to follow her teachings of compassion. His reign of terror ended forever, and the island has been associated with the goodness and beauty of the goddess ever since. Today Benzaiten remains a respected goddess in Japanese folklore. She sometimes appears in more modern pop culture, showing up as a character in manga and video games. One of her shrines on the island of Itsukushima remains a favorite destination for tourists and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. All month we're talking about goddesses. For more information, find us on Facebook and Instagram at Womanaka Podcast. Special thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator. Talk to you tomorrow!
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