Amaterasu

As my blog completes a year of existence, I have learnt about many cultures , religious beliefs, myths and legends. I have seen how the mythologies around the world are different, yet similar at the same time..... It has broadened my horizons and kindled my passion and thirst for knowledge. In celebration of 1 year of mythonova, I share with you one of my favourite myths from the 'land of the rising sun", of Samurais and Sushi, of Anime, Haiku and Ikebana....

Like many of the myths I write about, the myth of the Japanese Sun goddess found its way to me while I was browsing on the internet. Before researching for the goddess, I didn't know much about Japanese mythology, but just understanding and studying her story, I learnt a lot about Shinto culture.

Amaterasu is the daughter of the deities of creation, Izanagi and Izanami. Her name, Amaterasu is derived from "Amateru", which means 'shining in heaven'. Amaterasu is the goddess of the Sun and Universe. She has 2 brothers Tsukoyomi, the Moon god and Susanoo, the god of the sea and storms. It is said that together, the three divinities painted a beautiful landscape which we know as present day Earth.

The Sun goddess lived in a sacred cave with a few maids. Amaterasu along with her maids wove the most exquisite cloaks for all the gods. Every night the maids would weave a new cloak for her which she would wear the next morning. The colours they used for her cloaks held great importance. Vibrant colours meant that it would be a clear and sunny day. On the other hand, if the colours were dull it would forecast a dark, cloudy day. Many a time she is represented with a solar disk or as a wolf.. the sun goddess's powers kept the flora verdant and colourful.

The world was peaceful, until one day, Susanoo, the god of the sea and the storm, destroyed everything in his path. Wiping out crops with strong wind, sending lightning fires to many houses. A furious Izanami ordered that Susanoo be banished to 'the kingdom of the dead'.

Susanoo

Before leaving, Susanoo ascended to Takamahagahara - "The Plain of High Heaven" ( the Shinto equivalent of heaven) to bid his sister farewell. This caused the land to quake and the mountains quivered. Alarmed by the vibrations and suspicious of her brother's motives, Amaterasu came out, fully clad in armour. To prove his innocence, Susanoo proposed a trial ukehi (an ancient Japanese Shinto divination ritual).

In the ritual, the two gods each chewed and spat out an object carried by the other (in some variants, an item they each possessed). Amaterasu broke Susanoo's ten-span sword (totsuka no tsurugi) into three, chewed them and then spat them out. Three goddesses- Takiribime (Tagorihime), Ichikishimahime, and Tagitsuhime - were thus born.

Susanoo then took the strings of magatama beads Amaterasu entwined in her hair and round her wrists, and likewise chewed the beads and spat them out. Five male deities- Ame-no-Oshihomimi, Ame-no-Hohi, Amatsuhikone, Ikutsuhikone, and Kumano-no-Kusubi, then came into existence.

After proving his innocence to his sister, Susanoo requested his sister to let him stay in her realm for a days before he goes to the kingdom of the dead. Amaterasu granted his request.

The first few days were serene and Susanoo quite enjoyed himself, but after that he felt like he ought to have some fun around his sisters palace. So for fun, Susanoo released a "Reverse Flaying" (a heavenly piebald horse), near the maids who worked on Amaterasu's loom. One of them got scared by the creature and then tripped and fell on top of her spear, which resulted in a gruesome death.

Amaterasu, shocked and devastated by this tragedy, locked and hid herself inside the Ama-no-Iwata ("heavenly rock cave"), plunging the earth into darkness and chaos.

The gods tried many ways to lure Amaterasu out of her cave, but failed. Finally, they created a humongous magic mirror and many musical instruments were prepared. They placed the magical mirror right outside the entrance of the cave which was blocked with a boulder. They then proceeded to play many merry and cheerful songs.

Inside the cave, Amaterasu heard the songs and was curious as to what was happening outside.Before she knew it, Amaterasu was outside the cave and was greeted by her reflection and all the gods surrounding her, while smiling at her warmly.

As an apology Susanoo presented Amaterasu with a sword. Amaterasu accepted his apology and there was peace once again in all the realms.

This story in particular, really piqued my curiosity. In most mythologies, the deity who represents the Sun and its powers, is usually portrayed as a male. A few examples are - Surya Dev from Hindu mythology, Ra from Egyptian mythology, Apollo from Greek and Roman mythology. But, for the first time, i came across a female deity was associated with the Sun's powers.