Prayer for ancestors...

These two photos were taken at Shitennoji Temple on the 15th of August where a ceremony of 盂蘭盆会 (Urabonekai) was taking place. During this event, many people were visiting the temple to light candles for the spirits related to them such as ancestors.

お盆 (Obon) period is an once in a year opportunity for those spirits to visit their families at home from the Afterlife which is literately the land of the dead.  Many families prepare themselves at home to welcome the spirits decorating their family Buddhist alter. Also they visit the family graves, or the temples they entrust the regular memorial service for the spirits.

I visited the Shitennoji Temple to take photos of the ceremony which was my initial intention, but I decided to light candles for my ancestors as the other visitors were doing. I bought 2 big candles (700 yen/1 candle) for both of my father and mother's family trees, and wrote a wish on the candles for them.

How many candles were there in the temple? Probably more than one thousand in total surrounding the mail temple and five storied Pagoda. The frames of candles were so beautiful which was a wondrous moment.

I asked one staff to light my candles. When they were lit, the sky was not dark yet. However sometime later, the frames were brightening so dramatically in the darkness when the length of the candles reached the half.

Through the amplifiers, the voices of monks who chanting 般若心経 (Hannyashingyo)/Heart Sutra was echoing in the temple. Many people were putting their hands together to make a prayer. I also chanted the Heart Sutra following the monks.

I'm very satisfied the time spent there, and the photos I took, especially the second one. When I look at it carefully, I find a burning frame with an interesting shape which looks like a dragon or leo.

What do you think?


Masami