Wishing upon Orion...?

今日は住吉大社に行ってきた。天王寺から阪堺電車に乗って住吉大社前で降りる。七夕を数日後に控え、住吉大社では参拝者が願いを込めた短冊が境内に飾られていた。七夕の神事があり、星の宮という末社があるということは全く知らなかった。いつもは４つの本殿とお参りして帰っていたからだ。

I went to Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine today. I took a tram in Hankai railway line from Tannoji station to Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine station. We are celebrating "Tanabata" a few day later. In the shrine, wishing strips are now being decorated on portable bamboo trees. I didn't know that they have a "Tanabata" ritual ceremony and a subordinate shrine worshiping for stars, "Hoshinomiya". I always visited the 4 main shrine alters every time I went there.  

考えてみれば、七夕の神事が行われ、星の社があってもおかしくない。住吉大社の主祭神は四柱。底筒男命、中筒男命、表筒男命、そして神宮皇后だ。底筒男命、中筒男命、表筒男命の三柱の神は、伊邪那岐命が黄泉の国から戻ってきた時に禊ぎをした時に生まれた神で、冬の空に輝くオリオン座の３つの星を表していると言われている。「筒」という文字は星を指すらしい。

この三柱の神々は航海の神々として崇められているが、オリオン座の三ツ星が古の時代に、海の航海の羅針盤代わりになり、そして大方の時刻を知るすべになっていたのかもしれない。自分が大好きな星座だから、余計に興味が増す。

Come to think of it, no doubt that they have a Tanabata ritual ceremony and a subordinate shrine for it. Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine worship mainly for 3 Gods and 1 Goddess. And it is said that the 3 Gods are a symbol of "Orion" which has 3 stars lining up in the middle. 

They are worshiped as the Gods of Sea Navigation. In ancient times, those 3 stars were used to know directions and time. "Orion" is one of my favorite star signs, and that's why I've got interested more in the origin. 

３００円の初穂料を払い短冊を頂く。折角だし金の短冊が欲しかったが、銀と他の色しか残っていなかったので銀を選んだ。家族へのご加護をしたため、星の宮でお願いをする。お宮の側に短冊を飾る笹があったが、本殿側の方が良いかなと思って、そちらの笹に取り付けた。

案外、短冊の数が少なかったので、意外と周知されていない行事なのかたと思った。街中のあちらこちらに七夕の笹が飾られているが、七夕後はきっとそのまま破棄されてるかもしれないが、住吉大社では７日に星の神事でお焚き上げがなされて、星に願いが届けられるそうだ。

住吉祭までもう少しだ！今年も８月１日は、町を行く大神輿とそれを担ぐ氏子衆の姿を、カメラを持って追いかけていることだろう。

楽しみだ！

I paid 300 yen for one wishing strip. I wanted to get the Golden one, but sold out. There were Silver and a few other colors left, and I chose the Silver. After writing down one wish for my family, I brought it to "Hoshinomiya" shrine to prayed for it. There was a portable bamboo tree next to it for attaching wishing strips, but I decided to attach it to the ones around the main shrine alters. 

Not many wishing strips attached on the bamboo trees yet, and I thought that many people maybe don't know about this ceremony. Also in the towns, we see portable bamboo trees to celebrate "Tanabata", but the wishing strips will be normally disposed once it finishes. In Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, however, the shrine priests conduct a ritual ceremony putting them into the fire to let the Gods know our wishes. 

Less than one month until this year's Sumiyoshi Festival. On the 1st of August, I must be chasing the huge potable shrine and the carriers strolling in the town for my photography. 

Just can't wait for it...