Day 31: No.72 Mandara-ji (曼陀羅寺)

The main gate of No.72 Mandara-ji

The bell tower

Despite the rather small main gate, the precincts were quite spacious. The hanging plum trees were blooming nicely.

The main temple of No.72 Mandara-ji

Taishi-do

There used to be a very big pine tree called “Furo-no-matsu”

The old guides of the sacred temples of Shikoku mention the existence of the “Furo-no-matsu (Ageless pine tree)”, a pine tree planted by Kobo-Daishi that is over 1,200 years old. It is less than 4 meters high but 17 to 18 meters in diameter, and is designated as a natural monument by the prefecture for its impressive appearance, which looks like two sedge hats lying over together. However, it was killed by pine beetles and was cut down in 2002. The pine tree was used to carve the Kasamatsu Daishi.

Kasamatsu Daishi – carved from above “Furo-no-matsu” when it died

Kasamatsu-Daishi

The temple stamp of No.72 Mandara-ji

Dedicated toDainichi-Nyorai (大日如来)
Founded byGyoki-Bosatsu (行基菩薩)
DenominationShingon-sect Zentsuji-group (真言宗善通寺派)
Mantraおん あびらうんけん ばざらだどばん
On Abiraunken Bazaradadoban
Next templeNo.73 Shusshaka-ji (0.6 Km away)
Previous templeNo.71 Iyadani-ji (3.5 Km away)
No.72 Mandara-ji