Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Disciple or founding teacher

Hottara Sonja

弗多羅尊者ほったらそんじゃ

An illustration of Hottara Sonja created for this site
An original illustration made for this site.

A venerable one (sonja) listed as one of the Sixteen Rakan. The Sixteen Rakan are revered as disciples who carry the role of passing on Shaka's teaching to later generations. "Rakan" means a person who has attained enlightenment through practice.

This introduction is based on materials from Shōhōin (Tobi Fudō). It is summarized within the scope of the beliefs and traditions those materials convey, and does not present explanations or customs common to all schools, shrines, and temples.

English pages are the site’s own translations of its Japanese pages. The sources cited are in Japanese. 日本語で読む

The name and role of Hottara Sonja

A venerable one listed as one of the Sixteen Rakan. He is said to have lived in 鉢刺拏州 and is described as also being called 伐闍羅弗多羅尊者. There is no description of his form or attributes.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院・飛不動尊 正宝院

The role of the Sixteen Rakan: people who carry on the teaching

"Rakan" is short for "arakan" and refers to a person worthy of respect who has attained enlightenment through practice. The Sixteen Rakan are revered as a group of Shaka's outstanding disciples and carry the role of passing the teaching on to later generations. Unlike the kami who appear in myths, they are revered through the figure of practitioners walking the Buddhist path.

Source: 飛不動尊 正宝院

Rakan devotion close to the people

The Kyoto National Museum explains that in China rakan were deeply revered as beings who, though enlightened, stayed close to people in this world and brought them happiness. Rakan paintings that came from China also became models for Japanese painting. Their figures practicing among rocky mountains and by the water, and their individual expressions, give visual form to that devotion.

Source: 京都国立博物館

Related kami and buddhas

Sources (in Japanese)