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History

Osaka Shrine of Soul Salvation is located in the Naniwa area of ​​Osaka and is a shrine that protects financial luck and the salvation of souls. It once served as a place of refuge for villagers suffering from famine and chaos. The deity worshipped here is a golden snake, which symbolizes good fortune in terms of money, and is worshipped as the guardian of people's lives and souls.

The following legend remains about the history of the temple's founding.

The year was 1268 (the fifth year of the Bun'ei era), a desolate time of war and famine. The villages in this area were suffering from severe hunger and had lost all hope. It is said that one night, a giant golden snake appeared in the dream of the village elder and said the following.

"Cremate the girl alive along with the offerings, leaving only her bones. Pour the sacred liquid of the men onto her bones and wait for three days and three nights. Then she will be resurrected as a shrine maiden and will worship my spirit. I am the chief deity of this river."

Upon hearing this prophecy, the villagers, hoping to save their village, made the difficult decision to dedicate their daughter to God.

The first one chosen was a poor farmer's daughter.
His emaciated body was pushed into the narrow incinerator along with the rice offerings and was consumed in the flames.
After her ashes and skeleton emerged, the men of the village poured sacred liquid over her body and prayed for three days and nights, but she did not revive, and her tainted skeleton was cruelly discarded, like an old rope or torn sandals.
The villagers were deeply disappointed and cries of disappointment were widespread.

The next person chosen was the daughter of a wealthy farmer.
Having received the abundant blessings of the village, she also threw herself into the flames of the incinerator, bringing with her an offering of sake.
The men poured sacred liquid over the skull that was removed, and they waited for three days and three nights for her to be resurrected, but she also never revived.
The impure bones, along with broken bowls and pieces of old lacquerware, were abandoned on the outskirts of the village, and the village sank even deeper into despair.

Eventually, a woman who happened to visit the village during her travels was chosen as the final candidate.
It is said that she shared food with the starving villagers and nourished the hearts of everyone with her kindness and beauty.
People thought, "This merciful and beautiful woman is truly worthy to be a true shrine maiden."

The traveler woman takes some purifying salt and offers herself to the flames of the incinerator.
In the blazing flames, the desires and sins he had acquired in this life were cleansed, and eventually only white bones remained.
A Shinto ritual was held in which the men poured sacred liquid over the bones, and then they quietly waited for three days and three nights for the body to be resurrected.
And lo and behold -- she regained her life in a wonderful way.

Thus, after being resurrected, she regained her body through the sacred fluids of the men, and so she became a fellow villager, sharing the same blood as the villagers.
She inherited the will of the Golden Serpent God and became the guardian shrine maiden and leader of the village.
As a symbol of redemption and rebirth, she brought maternal mercy to this land and became a light that saved the people.

To celebrate this miracle, the villagers built a shrine to worship the golden serpent god and to house the soul of the shrine maiden.
This is the Naniwa Kyukon Shrine that exists today.
Since then, it has been revered as a spiritual anchor for people praying for financial luck and salvation, and continues to attract an unfailing faith as a symbol of overcoming memories of famine and tragedy.

Thus, under the divine power that has continued since ancient times, Naniwa Kyukon Shrine has been revered and passed down as a place that protects and guides many people, bringing them hope and prosperity.