麻賀多神社
Chiba-ken, Narita-shi, Daikata 1 千葉県成田市台方 1
Makata Jinja
Japanese
Nearest station: Kozunomori Line: Keisei (KS39)
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Enshrined Kami:
Main
Wakumusubi-no-kami 稚産霊
In-ground Subordinate Shrines:
Haraedo-Sha 祓戸社
Furumine Jinja 古峯神社
Mitsumine Jinja 三峯神社
Inbanokuninomiyakko Jinja 印旛國造神社
Sakitama Jinja 幸霊神社
Amenohitsuku Jinja 天日津久神社
Aoso Jinja 青麻神社
Sarutahiko Jinja 猿田彦神社
Umakitanoiratsume 馬来太郎女神社
Amatsukami Jinja 天神神社
Annual Festival: Last Sunday of July
According to the shrine legend it was founded in the 42nd year of the reign of the 12th Emperor, Keiko, (AD 112) when Yamato Takeru was on his military campaign in the east of the country. He came across a cedar tree to the trunk of which he attached a mirror and told the population that if they worshipped the mirror as the deity Inbano Kunitama-Okitsukagami good harvests would follow. He also worshipped the great deity of Ise from afar.
In the 20th year of the reign of the 15th emperor, Ojin, (AD 290) an eighth generation descendant of Kamuyaimimi-Mikoto(神八井耳命), Inbunokuni-Miyaku(印波国造), built a shrine in what is now Funagata in Narita-shi. Wakahiru-me-Mikoto (稚日女尊) was enshrined there and Yamato Takeru’s mirror became the shrine’s Shintai. Inbunokuni also unearthed seven jewels from underneath the cedar tree: he also installed these as Shintai and Wakumusubi-no-kami was enshrined. The two kami together were referred to as the Magatama (勾玉). The shrine was apparently then known as 真賀多真 Jinja and this name can also be read as Magatama.
Another eighth generation descendant comes into the picture here. In the 16th year of the reign of the 33rd monarch, Empress Suiko (608 AD), Hirosuki-tegurokiko, an eighth generation descendant of the above mentioned Inbunokuni-Miyaku, acting on a divine commandment moved the shrine to its current location in Narita-shi with Wakumusubi-no-kami as the deity.
Given the shrine's age it is not surprising that it is listed in the Engi-Shiki. The listing is in the Imba district of Shimosa, part of the current Chiba-ken and its name is given as Magata Jinja. The final ma 真 was dropped from the name, apparently to avoid any confusion with the Magatama (勾玉) mentioned above as that magatama is the jewel component of the Three Imperial Regalia.
