Dai-Gomadō
temple
大護摩堂
The Dai-Gomadō is used for the goma fire ritual, an esoteric Buddhist rite.
Built in 1998 from concrete to safely contain the daily goma fire ritual, the Dai-Gomado at Rinnoji Temple in Nikko holds the esoteric Buddhist practice of burning paper prayers and wooden tablets to send intentions skyward. The central deity, Fudo Myo-o, stands among more than 30 Buddhist statues. Heian-period carvings of the Five Great Wisdom Kings occupy the central dais. A golden dragon painted on the ceiling by Yoshihara Akio, who spent two and a half years completing it on cypress boards, is particularly notable for its vivid use of gold leaf, unusual for ceiling dragons typically rendered only in black ink. A hidden statue of Chinjo Yasha is displayed to the public once every nine years.
Remove shoes before entering any hall. Look for a shoe rack at the entrance. Carry a plastic bag for your shoes if none is provided.
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