The Kurama Temple was founded in 770, as the guardian of the northern quarter of the capital city (Heiankyo) is located halfway up the mountain. The Main Hall was last rebuilt in 1971. The original buildings were repeatedly destroyed by fire. The Temple formerly belonged to the Tendai sect of Buddhism, but since 1949, it has been included in the newly founded Kurama-Tokyo sect as its headquarters.

More than six million years ago, Mao-son (the Great King of the Conquerors of evil and the Spirit of the Earth), descended upon Mt. Kurama from Venus, with the great mission of the salvation of mankind. Since then, Mao-son's powerful spirit governing the development and the evolution not only of mankind but of all living things, has been emanating from Mt. Kurama, and a priest named Gantei received the spiritual transmission.

In the first year of Hoki (AD 770), Gantei, who was the best pupil of High Priest Ganjin, the founder of the Toshodaiji in Nara, led by a white, climbed up to this holy place. His soul was enlightened with the realisation of Bishamon-ten (the protector of the northern quarter of the Buddhist heaven and the spirit of the Sun) following, he founded the Buddhist temple on Mt. Kurama.

Later in the 15th year of Enryaku (AD 796), the chief officer in charge of the construction of the Toji Temple, saw a vision of Senju-kannon (the thousand armed Kannon and the spirit of the Moon) and built temples and pagodas on the mountain.

Mao-son, Bishamon-ten and Senju-kannon are the symbols of the universal soul, forming a Trinity known as 'Sonten' or the 'Supreme Deity'. Sonten is the 'Living Soul', the Supreme Soul of the Universe, the 'Glorious Light', and the 'Activity of the Soul'.

These three are the symbols of power, light and love. The Sonten Kuramayama:

The Spirit of the moon. (Love)

The Spirit of the Sun. (Light)

The Spirit of the Earth (power)

Prayer for happiness to the Sonten of Kuramayama

Oh, Sonten

Beautiful as the Moon

Warm as the Sun

Powerful as the Earth

Bestow your blessing upon to uplift mankind and increase our riches and glory.

In this holy place, grant that peace may defeat discord, unselfishness may conquer greed, sincere words may overcome deceit, and that respect may surmount insults.

Fill our hearts with joy, uplift our spirits, and fill our bodies with glory.

Sonten, Great Lord of the Universe, Great Light, Great Mover, bestow upon us who gather to worship you, upon those who strive to touch your heart, a new strength and glorious light.

We trust in Sonten for all things.

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