At Toji Temple, The god Inari merged with Dakiniten (an Indian female deity, Dakini) of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism, which helped the worship of the god Inari that had encompassed the concept of Dakiniten spread, as Shingon Sect also spread across the country. 東寺では、真言密教における荼枳尼天(だきにてん、インドの女神ダーキニー)に稲荷神を習合させ、真言宗が全国に布教されるとともに、荼枳尼天の概念も含んだ状態の稲荷信仰が全国に広まることとなった。 |