Ayyanar Guardians Entrances to sacred places are often flanked with guardian statues: fierce human forms, imaginary dragons and animal spirits. The Ayyanar reside just outside the small villages in the province of Tamil Nadu, Southern India. These guardians line both sides of the dirt corridor to the temple beneath an enormous tree. The animals have been made by generations of families, the same caste that is also responsible for the temple. The horses, elephants and bulls are hand-built of multiple clay parts, and originally painted in vibrant colors. Newly made horse sculptures may have a rider, sword in hand on the rearing form. It is important that they are formed with the sacred elements: local earth, rice husks, water, air and fire.
Jizo Jizo originated in India and is a Bodhisattva or Bosatsu, meaning one who achieves enlightenment but postpones Buddha hood until all of us can be saved. Jizo literally means “womb of the earth” and “earth treasury”. A Jizo is in the form of a monk, dressed in a simple robe. He or she may have a staff to shake, awakening us from our delusions and helping us achieve enlightenment. A precious jewel is held in the other hand and signifies the bestowal of blessings on all who suffer. The jewel grants wishes, pacifies desires and brings clear understanding of the Dharma (Buddhist law). Jizo are the most beloved of all Japanese divinities and have taken on many roles of protection since appearing in 710 AD. They act as guardians of the unborn, patron saints of mothers, children, travelers, pilgrims and firemen, and are protectors of all beings caught in the six realms of reincarnation. There follows a Japanese folktale about Jizo: Once upon a time, there lived a poor elderly man and woman in a small northern village of Japan. One New Year’s Eve, the woman asked the man go to town and sell her carefully hand-woven cloth, allowing them to buy things required for the New Years celebration. He tried and tried to sell the cloth with no luck, and became very cold and tired. Finally another man, unable to sell his hats made of grass, suggested they exchange their goods, which they agreed to do. On the old man’s return home, it started to snow heavily. Outside of his village, he passed six Jizo, stone guardian deities, who looked very cold in the snow. He put the hats on five of the Jizo and being short of one hat, tied his old cloth towel on the shortest Jizo. He bowed and wished them a very Happy New Year. When the man returned to his cottage, the old woman gave him some much needed hot tea and listened patiently to his story. Rather than be angry with him, she praised his kind act of charity. They retired to their bed early, after a very sparse supper of pickles. At midnight, they awoke to singing and loud noises outside their cottage. The old man and woman were very scared, but finally the sounds went away. When they went outside, they found presents and money for their New Year ceremony, which had been given in thanks by the Jizo spirits for the old man’s kindness. When in Japan last Fall, I became entranced by the Jizo. I began searching for them on paths, at waysides and even under bushes behind the temples. I photographed over 150 of their faces. Eleven of the eighteen Jizo paintings being shipped to Sun Valley for the July show burned in transit in a truck fire. The drivers opened the burning trailer and threw out much of the work before the firemen stopped them. The loss of the Jizo paintings was a good sacrifice, for no one was hurt and of this, I am surely thankful.