[teholbeddict]

Section 4 - Courtship of the Deities The Male Who Invites and the Female Who Invites

Well if nothing else with the title of section four we can expect it to be inviting!!!

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Having descended from Heaven on to this island, they saw to the erection of a heavenly august pillar, they saw to the erection of a hall of eight fathoms. Then Izanagi, the Male-Who-Invites, said to Izanami, the Female-Who-Invites, "We should create children"; and he said, "Let us go around the heavenly august pillar, and when we meet on the other side let us be united. Do you go around from the left, and I will go from the right." When they met, Her Augustness, the Female-Who-Invites, spake first, exclaiming, "Ah, what a fair and lovable youth!" Then His Augustness said, "Ah what a fair and lovable maiden!" But afterward he said, " It was not well that the woman should speak first!" The child which was born to them was Hiruko (the leech-child), which when three years old was still unable to stand upright. So they placed the leech-child in a boat of reeds and let it float away. Next they gave birth to the island of Aha. This likewise is not reckoned among their children.

Hereupon the two deities took counsel, saying: "The children to whom we have now given birth are not good. It will be best to announce this in the august place of the Heavenly deities." They ascended forthwith to Heaven and inquired of Their Augustnesses the Heavenly deities. Then the Heavenly deities commanded and found out by grand divination, and ordered them, saying: "they were not good because the woman spoke first. Descend back again and amend your words." So thereupon descending back, they again went round the heavenly august pillar. Thereupon his Augustness the Male-who-Invites spoke first: " Ah! what a fair and lovely maiden!" Afterward his younger sister Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites spoke: " Ah! what a fair and lovely youth! " Next they gave birth to the Island of Futa-na in Iyo. This island has one body and four faces, and each face has a name. So the Land of Iyo is called Lovely-Princess; the Land of Sanuki is called Princess-Good-Boiled-Rice; the Land of Aha is called the Princess-of-Great-Food, the Land of Tosa is called Brave-Good-Youth. Next they gave birth to the islands of Mitsu-go near Oki, another name for which islands is Heavenly-Great-Heart-Youth. This island likewise has one body and four faces, and each face has a name. So the Land of Tsukushi is called White-Sun-Youth; the Land of Toyo is called Luxuriant-Sun-Youth; the Land of Hi is called Brave-Sun-Confronting-Luxuriant-Wondrous-Lord-Youth; the Land of Kumaso is called Brave-Sun-Youth. Next they gave birth to the Island of Iki, another name for which is Heaven's One-Pillar. Next they gave birth to the Island of Tsu, another name for which is Heavenly-Hand-Net-Good-Princess. Next they gave birth to the Island of Sado. Next they gave birth to Great-Yamato-the-Luxuriant-Island-of-the-Dragon-fly, another name for which is Heavenly-August-Sky-Luxuriant-Dragon-fly-Lord-Youth. The name of "Land-of-the-Eight-Great-Islands" therefore originated in these eight islands having been born first. After that, when they had returned, they gave birth to the Island of Koo-zhima in Kibi, another name for which island is Brave-Sun-Direction-Youth. Next they gave birth to the Island of Adzuki, another name for which is Oho-Nu-De-Hime. Next they gave birth to the Island of Oho-shima, another name for which is Oho-Tamaru-Wake. -Next they gave birth to the Island of Hime, another name for which is Heaven's-One-Root. Next they gave birth to the Island of Chika, another name for which is Heavenly-Great-Male. Next they gave birth to the islands of Futa-go, another name for which is Heaven's Two-Houses. (Six islands in all from the Island of Ko in Kibi to the Island of Heaven's-Two-Houses.)

I'm not really liking this whole woman shouldn't speak first idea! Not to mention it seems rather harsh that you would just float your child off in some reed boat just because they don't meet expectations (or "not good" as they put it)! But I guess it doesn't matter that they threw away the first couple kids now that they repeated the whole courtship process and let the man speak first! Well ladies I thnk that explains all of the problems with the world today, some egotistical male spoke first and this is what we end up with!

This post has been edited by teholbeddict: 26 November 2008 - 02:09 AM

[frookenhauer]

A reed boat? Reminds me of Moses...But the kids three years old and cannot walk...I think that would qualify them for some serious disability benefits and they may have made a mistake...Then they give birth to an Island?!?...And finally they give birth to a four headed kid...They must be reeeally closely related .

[teholbeddict]

Well I guess this just goes to show that the "spear" mentioned in section one was really just ancient speak for jewell encrusted penis! Plus you were obviously correct about the frothy brine! They are supposed to be brother and sister so I guess the mistakes could be as a result of inbreeding. It's too bad there's no time line here, we have no way of knowing how long it's taking them to create all of these things. But they are very busy getting it on at the moment.

[teholbeddict]

Section 5 - Birth of Various Deities

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When they had finished giving birth to countries, they began afresh giving birth to Deities. So the name of the Deity they gave birth to was the Deity Great-Male-of-the-Great-Thing; 1 next they gave birth to the Deity Rock-Earth-Prince; 2 next they gave birth to the Deity Rock-Nest-Princess; 3 next they gave birth to the Deity Great-Door-Sun-Youth; 4 next they gave birth to the Deity Heavenly-Blowing-Male; 5 next they gave birth to the Deity Great-House-Prince; 6 next they gave birth to the Deity Youth-of-the-Wind-Breath-the-Great-Male; 7 next they gave birth to the Sea-Deity, whose name is the Deity Great-Ocean-Possessor; 8 next they gave birth to the Deity of the Water-Gates, 9 whose name is the Deity Prince-of-Swift-Autumn; 10 next they gave birth to his younger sister the Deity Princess-of-Swift-Autumn. (Ten Deities in all from the Deity-Great-Male-of-the-Great-Thing to the Deity Princess-of-Autumn.) 11 The names of the Deities given birth to by these two Deities Prince-of-Swift-Autumn and Princess-of-Swift-Autumn from their separate dominions of river and sea were: the Deity Foam-Calm; 12 next the Deity Foam-Waves; next the Deity Bubble-Calm; next the Deity Bubble-Waves; next the Deity Heavenly-Water-Divider; 13 next the Deity Earthly-Water-Divider; next the Deity Heavenly-Water-Drawing-Gourd-Possessor; 14 next the Deity Earthly-Water-Drawing-Gourd-Possessor. (Eight Deities in all from the Deity Foam-Prince to the Deity Earthly-Water-Drawing-Gourd-Possessor.) Next they gave birth to the Deity of Wind, whose name is the Deity Prince-of-Long-Wind. 15 Next they gave birth to the Deity of Trees, whose name is Deity Stem-Elder, 16 next they gave birth to the Deity of Mountains, whose name is the Deity Great-Mountain-Possessor. 17 Next they gave birth to the Deity of Moors, whose name is the Deity Thatch-Moor-Princess, 18 another name for whom is the Deity Moor-Elder. (Four Deities in all from the Deity Prince-of Long-Wind to Moor-Elder.) The names of the Deities given birth to by these two Deities, the Deity Great-Mountain-Possessor and the Deity Moor-Elder from their separate dominions of mountain and moor were: the Deity Heavenly-Elder-of-the-Passes; next the Deity Earthly-Elder-of-the-Passes; 19 next the Deity Heavenly-Pass-Boundary, next the Deity Earthly-Pass-Boundary; 20 next the Deity Heavenly-Dark-Door; next the Deity Earthly Dark-Door; 21 next the Deity Great-Vale-Prince; next the Deity Great-Vale-Princess. 22 (Eight Deities in all from the Deity Heavenly-Elder-of-the-Passes to the Deity Great-Vale-Princess.) The name of the Deity they 23 next gave birth to was the Deity Bird's-Rock-Camphor-tree-Boat, 24 another name for whom is the Heavenly-Bird-Boat. Next they gave birth to the Deity Princess-of-Great-Food. 25 Next they gave birth to the Fire-Burning-Swift-Male-Deity, 26 another name for whom is the Deity Fire-Shining-Prince, and another name is the Deity Fire-Shining-Elder.

So it looks like the Deities Who Invite, are done with creating land masses. If nothing else this creation story gets the best named deity award hands down. It seems they have a deity for everything and everyone! Lots to choose from! Although I'm not sure what the Buble Calm deity would be responsible for.

This post has been edited by teholbeddict: 26 November 2008 - 08:24 PM

[frookenhauer]

Its almost farsical these names, the great male of the great male thing is just rude. Its a good thing they have started using the jewel encrusted spear for something other than stirring islands into existance. One thing I spotted was the deity that divided the water. it reminded me of Genesis where god separated the waters to form heaven and earth.

Bubble calm? Bubble wave? what? These people are just crazy man!

[teholbeddict]

Yes I was wondering if Deity who separates water would do anything akin to Moses parting the sea. We'll have to see if it comes up, I'm thinking there will be some comparitive events happening soon now that all of the deities are born.

[teholbeddict]

Section 6- Retirement of Her Augustness the Princess Who Invites

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Through giving birth to this child her august private parts were burnt, and she sickened and lay down. 1 The names of the Deities born from her vomit were the Deity Metal-Mountain-Prince and next the Deity Metal-Mountain-Princess. 2 The names of the Deities that were born from her faeces were the Deity Clay-Viscid-Prince and next the Deity Clay-Viscid-Princess. 3 The names of the Deities that were next born from her urine were the Deity Mitsuhanome 4 and next the Young-Wondrous-Producing-Deity. The child of this Deity was called the Deity Luxuriant-Food-Princess. 5 So the Deity the Female-Who-Invites, through giving birth to the Deity-of-Fire, at length divinely retired. 6 (Eight Deities in all from the Heavenly-Bird-Boat to the Deity Luxuriant-Food-Princess.) 7 The total number of islands given birth to jointly by the two Deities the Male-Who-Invites and the Female-Who-Invites was fourteen, and of Deities thirty-five. (These are such as were given birth to before the Deity Princess-Who-Invites divinely retired. Only the Island of Onogoro, was not given birth to. 8 Moreover the Leech-Child 9 and the Island of Aha are not reckoned among the children).
So then His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites said: Oh! Thine Augustness my lovely younger sister! Oh that I should have exchanged thee for this single child!" 10 And as he crept round her august pillow, and as he crept round her august feet and wept, there was born from his august tears the Deity that dwells at Konomoto near Unewo on Mount Kagu, 11 and whose name is the Crying-Weeping-Female-Deity. 12 So he buried the divinely retired 13 Deity the Female-Who-Invites on Mount Hiba 14 at the boundary of the Land of Idzumo and the Land of Hahaki.

Oh my so Lady Who invites isn't feeling so hot. This is getting crazy! She's now giving birth to new deities via vomit, urine and feces! The poor woman is so worn out from giving birth to all of these deities that she dies! This is quite interesting that we have the death of a goddess. Definitely not something we would find in the Bible.

This post has been edited by teholbeddict: 27 November 2008 - 10:01 PM

[frookenhauer]

Hahahahahah! Faeces and vomit and urine! Whatever will these guys think of next? No wonder a lot of Japanese are non believers these days! And I wonder how some of the stories relating to those gods come out...

The potter is moulding his clay pot, when suddenly he smells something. "I smell shit!" And a fowl smelling wind blows through his workshop and he has to cover his face. The wind dies down, but the smell doesn't. He looks down onto his worktop and looks at his clay pot...Its been transformed into a beautiful vase with intricate designs on it. "Wow!" says Ming as he bends down to inspect it. But as he gets closer the smell of shit gets too powerful. No matter how much he washes it the smell of poo never fades...The End

[teholbeddict]

frookenhauer, on Nov 27 2008, 08:14 PM, said:

Hahahahahah! Faeces and vomit and urine! Whatever will these guys think of next? No wonder a lot of Japanese are non believers these days! And I wonder how some of the stories relating to those gods come out...

The potter is moulding his clay pot, when suddenly he smells something. "I smell shit!" And a fowl smelling wind blows through his workshop and he has to cover his face. The wind dies down, but the smell doesn't. He looks down onto his worktop and looks at his clay pot...Its been transformed into a beautiful vase with intricate designs on it. "Wow!" says Ming as he bends down to inspect it. But as he gets closer the smell of shit gets too powerful. No matter how much he washes it the smell of poo never fades...The End

ROFL Thank you Frookie that response cheered me up imensely (I have one hell of a cold)

Well your little story seems much more plausible than anything else I've read in the Kojiki to date! They certainly weren't afraid of putting impleasentries or risky content in the holy book.

[teholbeddict]

Section 7 - The Slaying OF Fire Deity

So when last we met mother of all the Deities, Lady Who Invites had just met her untimely end. Well now dad Man Who Invites is pretty pissed and he's about to lose it...

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1 Then His Augustness the Male-Who-invites, drawing the ten-grasp sabre that was augustly girded on him, cut off the head of his child the Deity Shining-Elder. Hereupon the names of the Deities that were born from the blood that stuck to the point of the august sworf and bespattered the multitudinous rock-misses were: the Deity Rock-Splitter, 2 next the Deity Root-Splitter, next the Rock-Possessing-Male-Deity. 3 The names of the Deities that were next born from the blood that stuck to the upper part 4 of the august sword and again bespattered the multitudinous rock-masses were: the Awfully-Swift-Deity, 5 next the Fire-Swift-Deity, 6 next the Brave-Awful-Possessing-Male-Deity, 7 another name for whom is the Brave-Snapping-Deity, 8 and another name is the Luxuriant-Snapping Deity. The names of the Deities that were next born from the blood that collected on the hilt of the august sword and leaked out between his fingers were: the Deity Kura-okami and next the Deity Kura-mitsuha. 9 All the eight Deities in the above list, from the Deity Rock-Splitter to the Deity Kura-mitsuha, are Deities that were born from the august sword. The name of the Deity that was born from the head of the Deity Shining-Elder, who had been slain was the Deity Possessor-of-the-True-Pass-Mountains. 10 The name of the Deity that was next born from his chest was the Deity Possessor-of-Descent-Mountains. 11 The name of the Deity that was next born from his belly was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Innermost-Mountains. 12 The name of the Deity that was next born from his private parts was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Dark-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his left hand 13 was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Densely-Wooded-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his right hand 14 was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Outlying, Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his left foot was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Moorland-Mountains. The name of the Deity that was next born from his right foot 15 was the Deity Possessor-of-the-Outer-Mountains. (Eight Deities in all from the Deity Possessor-of-the-True-Pass-Mountains to the Deity Possessor-of-the-Outer-Mountains). So the name of the sword with which the Male-Who-Invites cut off [his son's head was Heavenly-Point-Blade-Extended, and another name was Majestic Point-Blade-Extended.

Alrighty then! So poppa deity's gone ape shit and just chopped off his son's head. :sabre: I guess this should come as no surprise as we're dealing with the same man who killed off his first three children by floating them off in reed boats. Oh, and we know he's not remorseful because he goes on to name his trusty sword Heavenly Point Blade Extended! You'd never find stuff like this in the bible! I guess the lesson here folks is don't piss off your father, he may just decapitate you and chop you to bits.

[frookenhauer]

Only if he is a Japanese creation Myth god with a silly name...Or a lunatic. Are these the same guys that made Samurais? Ninjas? Sony Walkmans?

This ten grasp saber...Kind of reminds me of Shiva, did Male who invites have ten hands...arms? No wonder his kids tended to be freaks...I am not one with This Japanese creation thingy

[Epiph]

Shinto is hard to compare to a monotheistic religion like the Judeo-Christian tradition. It is not even an organized religion as such, so there were no priests retroactively trying to make things cohesive, just collections of nonsensical primitive explanations of things all bundled together.

Like all animistic traditions, Shinto evolved from primitive people's belief that everything, every place, every rock, every mountain, every animal, has a spirit. And it never really evolved past that, as did the Judeo-Christian and Hindu traditions. Shinto, though now heavily influenced by Buddhism, is as much about worshiping multitudinous spirits as it was however many thousands of years ago. It translates literally to "The Path of Spirits," "Shin" meaning god or spirit and "To" (like the Chinese "Tao") meaning way or path.

It would be worthwhile for understanding the Kojiki in context to read the Wikipedia entry on Shinto.

As far as the Kojiki itself, so far it reminds me of the Greek creation myths, with Cronus killing Uranus, and Aphrodite being born from the loins of a dead Uranus.

Its is a common mythological theme for early man, called the "sacrificial king" by Frazer in The Golden Bough and illustrated to its best effect for Western understanding in the Arthurian myth of the Grail King or the Fisher King. A king was thought to be tied to the land such that, if he sickened, the land would sicken and die.

So while Izanagi doesn't appear to have a reason for killing Kagututi, it could be tied to this theme. It could also be symbolic; what does it mean that He-Who-Invites kills the incarnation of fire as it relates to the creation of the world? Maybe that the slaying of fire was the taming of fire, which was life to primitive peoples, and its taming gave birth to other aspects of creation.

Of course, it could just be that some kid went, "Hey, Dad, how did God X come to be?" and the dad replied, "Uh, he sprung from the dead body of God Y." "And how did God Y die?" "Because his dad killed him for asking too many questions." And then the kid grew up to be a shaman.

[teholbeddict]

Hey Epiph thanks for the interest I didn't think anyone was paying attention to the thread so I'd kind of given it up for dead.

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As far as the Kojiki itself, so far it reminds me of the Greek creation myths, with Cronus killing Uranus, and Aphrodite being born from the loins of a dead Uranus.

I think you're correct on this, in the next section of the Kojiki Man Who Invites goes to visit Woman who Invites in Hades. In some respects it reminds me of the Aeneid.

I'm actually in the process of reading through the whole of the Kojiki now as I find it really interesting. Once you get past the birth of the many deities it's a lot less dry than something like the bible.

This post has been edited by teholbeddict: 02 December 2008 - 08:53 PM

[Epiph]

teholbeddict, on Dec 2 2008, 02:52 PM, said:

Hey Epiph thanks for the interest I didn't think anyone was paying attention to the thread so I'd kind of given it up for dead.

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As far as the Kojiki itself, so far it reminds me of the Greek creation myths, with Cronus killing Uranus, and Aphrodite being born from the loins of a dead Uranus.

I think you're correct on this, in the next section of the Kojiki Man Who Invites goes to visit Woman who Invites in Hades. In some respects it reminds me of the Aeneid.

I'm actually in the process of reading through the whole of the Kojiki now as I find it really interesting. Once you get past the birth of the many deities it's a lot less dry than something like the bible.

Reminiscent of Orpheus and Euridice, but also (albeit with switched genders) of Inanna/Ishtar's descent into the underworld.

[frookenhauer]

Hey! I've been paying attention!

*Arms waving frantically*

[teholbeddict]

frookenhauer, on Dec 3 2008, 06:31 PM, said:

Hey! I've been paying attention!

*Arms waving frantically*

I know you have frookie that's why I love you! I just didn't think it was worthwhile continuing the topic with just the two of us commenting on it. Anyways I will be continuing with the Kojiki as I understand there are also some lurkers who are also interested in this topic. The next section will be coming up asap.

[frookenhauer]

Lurkers tend to get flushed eventually...

[teholbeddict]

Section 8 - The Land of Hades

When last we left off Man Who Invites had just finished decapitating one of his sons in grief over the death of Woman Who Invites. Well he's done with killing for the moment and decided to go after his woman!

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1 Thereupon His Augustness the Male Who-Invites, wishing to meet and see his younger sister Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites, followed after her to the Land of Hades. So when from the palace she raised the door and came out to meet him, 2 His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites spoke, saying: "Thine Augustness my lovely younger sister! The lands that I and thou made are not yet finished making; so come back!" Then Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites answered, saying: "Lamentable indeed that thou earnest not sooner! I have eaten of the furnace of Hades. Nevertheless, as I reverence 3 the entry here of Thine Augustness my lovely elder brother, I wish to return. 4 Moreover I will discuss it particularly with the Deities of Hades. 6 Look not at me!" Having thus spoken, she went back inside the palace; and as she tarried there very long, he could not wait. So having taken and broken off one of the end-teeth 7 of the multitudinous and close-toothed comb stuck in the august left bunch of his hair, he lit one light and went in and looked. 8 Maggots were swarming. and she was rotting, and in her head dwelt the Great-Thunder, in her breast dwelt the Fire-Thunder, in her left hand 9 dwelt the Young-Thunder, in her right hand dwelt the Earth-Thunder, in her left foot dwelt the Rumbling-Thunder, in her right foot 10 dwelt the Couchant-Thunder:--altogether eight Thunder-Deities had been born and dwelt there. 11 Hereupon His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites, overawed at the sight, fled back, whereupon his younger sister Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites said: "Thou hast put me to shame," and at once sent the Ugly-Female-of-Hades to pursue him. 12 So His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites took his black august head-dress and cast it down, and it instantly turned into grapes. While she picked them up and ate them, he fled on; but as she still pursued him, he took and broke the multitudinous and close-toothed comb in the right bunch of his hair and cast it down, and it instantly turned into bamboo-sprouts. While she pulled them up and ate them, he fled on. 13 Again later his Younger sister sent the eight Thunder-Deities with a thousand and five hundred warriors of Hades to pursue him. So he, drawing the ten-grasp sabre that was augustly girded on him, fled forward brandishing it in his back hand; 14 and as they still pursued, he took, on reaching the base of the Even Pass of Hades, 15 three peaches that were growing at its base, and waited and smote his pursuers therewith, so that they all fled back. 16 Then His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites announced to the peaches: "Like as ye have helped me, so must ye help all living people in the Central Land of Reed-Plains when they shall fall into troublous circumstances and be harassed!"-- 17 and he gave to the peaches the designation of Their Augustnesses Great-Divine-Fruit. 18 Last of all his younger sister Her Augustness the Princess-Who-Invites came out herself in pursuit. So he drew a thousand-draught rock, 19 and with it blocked up the Even Pass of Hades, and placed the rock in the middle; and they stood opposite to one another and exchanged leave-takings. 20 Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites said: "My lovely elder brother, thine Augustness! If thou do like this, I will in one day strangle to death a thousand of the folks of thy land." 21 Then His Augustness the Male-Who-Invites replied: "My lovely younger sister, Thine Augustness! If thou do this, I will in one day set up a thousand and five hundred parturition-houses. 22 In this manner each day a thousand people would surely be born." So Her Augustness the Female-Who-Invites is called the Great-Deity-of-Hades. 23 Again it is said that, owing to her having pursued and reached her elder brother, she is called the Road-Reaching-Great-Deity. 24 Again the rock with which he blocked up the Pass of Hades is called the Great-Deity-of-the-Road-Turning-back, 25 and again it is called the Blocking-Great-Deity-of-the-Door-of-Hades. 26 So what was called the Even-Pass-of-Hades is now called the Ifuya-Pass in the Land of Idzumo.

Well this section is a bit like a soap opera, it's so full of drama and lovers scorned! At first I was quite impressed with Man Who Invites going into fiery Hades to find his lady love. That was until I realized he was only interested in her because of her looks. Granted I can see how the swarming maggots and rotting head could be a bit off putting. The concept of a deity dying is quite interesting in and of its self, but I'd never considered the possibility of them being cast into the fiery depths of hell! Between the peaches and the grapes it seems there's enough fruit down there to make a salad! Oh and frookie I know you had wondered about the ten hand sword so I did some research. It turns out one hand or grasp is the length of four clenched fingers. So Man Who Invites has only two arms and hands. The sword is actually a big sabre that is ten hand breadths long.

[teholbeddict]

Section 9- The Purification of the August Person

Rolling right along....His Augustness (Man Who Invites) is grossed out by the fact that he journeyed to the land of the damned, full of rotting heads, maggots and other unmetionables. He's come to the conclusion that a cleansing of sorts is in order....

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1 Therefore the Great Deity the Male-Who-Invites said: "Nay! hideous! I have come to a hideous and polluted land,--I have! 2 So I will perform the purification of my august person." So he went out to a plain covered with ahagi 3 at a small river-mouth near Tachibana in Himuka in the island of Tsukushi, and purified and cleansed himself. 4 So the name of the Deity that was born from the august staff which he threw down was the Deity Thrust-Erect-Come-Not-Place. 5 The name of the Deity that was born from the august girdle which he next threw down was the Deity Road-Long-Space. 6 The name of the Deity that was born from the august skirt which he next threw down was the Deity Loosen-Put. 7 The name of the Deity that was born from the august upper garment which he next threw down was the Deity Master-of-Trouble. 8 The name of the Deity that was born from the august trousers which he next threw down was the Road-Fork-Deity. 9 The name of the Deity that was born from the august hat which he next threw down was the Deity Master-of-the-Open-Mouth. 10 The names of the Deities that were born from the bracelet of his august left hand which he next threw down were the Deities Offing-Distant 11 next the Deity Wash-Prince-of-the-Offing, next the Deity Intermediate-Direction-of-the-Offing. 12 The names of the Deities that were born from the bracelet of his august right hand which he next threw down were: 13 the Deity Shore-Distant, next the Deity Wash-Prince-of-the-Shore, next the Deity Intermediate-Direction-of-the-Shore. 14 The twelve Deities mentioned in the foregoing list from the Deity Come-Not-Place down to the Deity Intermediate-Direction-of-the-Shore are Deities that were born from his taking off the things that were on his person.

15 Thereupon saying: "The water in the upper reach is too rapid; the water in the lower reach is too sluggish," he went down and plunged in the middle reach; and, as he washed, there was first born the Wondrous-Deity-of-Eighty-Evils, and next the Wondrous-Deity-of-Great-Evils. 16 These two Deities are the Deities that were born from the filth he contracted when he went to that polluted, hideous land. 17 The names of the Deities that were next born to rectify those evils were: 18 the Divine-Rectifying-Wondrous Deity, next the Great-Rectifying-Wondrous-Deity, next the Female-Deity-Idzu. 19 The names of the Deities that were next born, as he bathed at the bottom of the water, were: the Deity Possessor-of-the-Ocean-Bottom, and next His Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Bottom. 20 The names of the Deities that were born as he bathed in the middle of the water were: the Deity Possessor-of-the-Ocean-Middle, and next His Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Middle. The names of the Deities that were born as he bathed at the top of the water were the Deity Possessor-of-the-Ocean-Surface, and next His Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Surface. These three Ocean-Possessing Deities are the Deities held in reverence as their ancestral Deities by the Chiefs of Adzumi. 21 So the Chiefs of Adzumi are the descendants of His Augustness Utsushi-hi-gana-saku, a child of these Ocean-Possessing Deities. 22 These three Deities His Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Bottom, His Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Middle, and His Augustness Elder-Male-of-the-Surface are the three Great Deities of the Inlet of Sumi. 23 The name of the Deity that was born as he thereupon washed his left august eye was the Heaven-Shining-Great-August-Deity. 24 The name of the Deity that was next born as he washed his right august eye was His Augustness, Moon-Night Possessor. 25 The name of the Deity that was next born as he washed his august nose was His Brave-Swift-impetuous-Male-Augustness. 26 The fourteen Deities in the foregoing list from the Wondrous-Deity-of-Eighty-Evils down to His Swift-Impetuous-Male-Augustness are Deities born from the bathing of his august person.

So out of the bath of his Augustness we get some more deities. Which makes me wonder why he went after Woman who Invites in the first place. Clearly she isn't needed for the purposes of procreation. I'm all for there being a deity for everything and every place. It is certainly more believeable that there are many gods/goddesses for overseeing specific areas than to believe there's one almighty dividing taking care of it all.

This post has been edited by teholbeddict: 04 December 2008 - 04:54 PM

[stone monkey]

There's a fantastic (but, to be fair, massively criticised by most of the Hindus who have seen it) six hour stage version of the Mahabharata, a version of which was shown on British tv in the early 90s (or late 80s, my memory of the time is foggy for all sorts of reasons)

There's also an Indian tv adaptation, (90+ episodes iirc, I haven't seen them all) ; which has to be one of the maddest thigs I've ever witnessed.