Flames of Prayer to Sear the Heart – Experience Goma Prayer at Rinnoji Temple on Mt. Nikko and Special Breakfast Plan at TAIKOBO

Surrounded by beautiful nature in each of the four seasons, Nikko-zan Rinnoji Temple soothes the hearts of visitors, especially during the fall foliage season when the temple grounds are covered with colorful leaves. The sound of the goma flame ceremony echoes in the silence is as if it is burning away the troubles deep within the human heart.

The goma prayer at Rinnoji Temple on Mt. Nikko is a spiritual retreat for many worshippers who pray for the safety of their families and for prosperity in business. The image of Fudo Myoo shimmering in the flames makes a powerful impression on the supplicants and brings peace of mind. The daily ritual is open to all, and both tourists and locals can pray together. After the goma prayer, you will experience the morning service, followed by a specially arranged traditional Nikko vegetarian meal.

During the special tour, visitors can view the inner sanctuary of the Sanbutsudo Hall while admiring the “Kongo Cherry Blossom”, a natural monument estimated to be 500 years old, planted in front of the hall. The inner sanctuary houses three 7.5-meter-high Daibutsu statues of Senju Kannon, Amida Nyorai, and Matou Kannon, the three main Buddhas of Nikko Sanjo-gongen, and three hanging statues of Yakushi Nyorai, Amida Nyorai, and Shaka Nyorai, the three main Buddhas of Tousho Sanjo-gongen.

The goma prayer experience at Rinnoji Temple on Mt. Nikko is not just a sightseeing tour, but a precious time to give shape to the wishes in your heart. Please visit.

Significance and History of Prayer at Gomado on Mt. Nikko

Gomado is a special hall located on Mt. Nikko and is known as a place for traditional practices dating back to the Heian period. In this hall, five goma prayers are performed daily with Godai Myoo as the main deity. The Godai Myoo are important beings in esoteric Buddhism, each of them a deity with a different role.

By receiving the blessings of these Myoo, worshippers in the gomado hope to burn away their own afflictions, troubles, personal disasters, and purify their bodies and minds. Goma is an esoteric Buddhist practice with a history of over 1,200 years. In this ceremony, fire is made using kindled wood and incense, and prayers are offered over the flames. Fire is considered a symbol of purification, and it is believed that its power will burn away the bad elements in the hearts of the worshippers.

This ceremony is also considered an important event to pray not only for individual prayers, but also for the well-being of the community and society as a whole. Prayers offered at the gomado include a wide variety of worldly benefits. In addition to prayers to ward off bad luck and ill fortune dictated by the stars, specific benefits that many people seek, such as family safety and prosperous business, are also prayed for at the gomado. In particular, many local businesses and stores come to the temple to pray for their own prosperity. This background shows that gomado plays an important role in the local economy. 

In addition, many worshippers feel an emotional connection to the gomado because the participants themselves kindle the fire, allowing them to directly entrust their own vexations and worries to the flames. This experience provides a valuable opportunity to face oneself and often leads to a sense of inner peace and liberation. It is this kind of profound spiritual experience that is perhaps what attracts visitors to gomado.

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