Acala at Byodoji
Byodoji and Acala
At Byodoji, the twenty-second sacred site of the Shikoku Eighty-Eight Temple Pilgrimage and a temple of Koyasan Shingon Buddhism, the Acala goma is performed on the 28th of each month. The 28th is the holy day (ennichi) of Fudo.
The Acala enshrined at Byodoji is a seated image in joined-woodblock construction (yosegi-zukuri), held to date from the Edo period. He holds an upright sword in his right hand and a lasso in his left, with the heaven-and-earth eyes and bared fangs of a wrathful form.
Byodoji holds a deep devotion to Fudo, and the Shohassenmaiku (the offering of eight thousand sticks) and the Two-Hundred-Twenty-Thousand-Stick goma we offer through the year are likewise performed as great rites with Fudo as their honored deity. Through a full day and night, goma sticks are cast in and the afflictions and calamities are burned away utterly in the wisdom-fire. These are the great Acala rites. The monthly Acala goma stands at the everyday heart of this devotion.
Prayers that sever misfortune and guard the body, such as warding off ill fortune, averting calamity, and praying for peace and long life, are carried to you upon the wisdom-fire of the goma.
About the Statue
Who Acala Is
Acala is the manifestation that Mahavairocana takes in a wrathful form.
He is known for his form: blazing flames at his back, a sword in his right hand and a lariat (kensaku, a rope) in his left, seated unshaken upon a great rock. His severe, wrathful expression is not anger but the strength of great compassion seeking to save people.
His wisdom-fire is said to burn away not only outer calamities but also inner afflictions. With the sword he severs delusion; with the lariat he draws in those who wander, leading them to awakening. He is the buddha most fitting for prayers of protection from misfortune and for peace and safety.
The Acala Goma on the 28th of Each Month
The 28th is held to be Fudo's holy day because, among the thirty buddhas of the month, the 28th corresponds to Mahavairocana, whose manifestation is Acala. At Byodoji too, we perform the Acala goma on this Fudo holy day.
The goma is a Shingon rite of prayer in which the wisdom-fire is lit in the goma hearth and goma sticks are cast into the flame while mantras are chanted. The fire of the goma is regarded as Fudo's wisdom-fire. You may entrust to it your wishes for warding off ill fortune, averting calamity, and praying for peace and long life. Applications can also be made online.
The Mantra We Chant
When you join your hands before Fudo, chant the following mantra (the Jiku-shu, the Mantra of Compassionate Aid).
The mantra of Acala (Jiku-shu)
namaku sanmanda bazaradan senda makaroshada sowataya un tarata kanman
namaḥ samanta-vajrāṇāṃ caṇḍa-mahāroṣaṇa sphoṭaya hūṃ traṭ hāṃ māṃ
This is Fudo's middle mantra (the Jiku-shu, the Mantra of Compassionate Aid), a prayer meaning: "I take refuge in the all-pervading vajra-honored one. O fierce and greatly wrathful one, shatter the obstacles."
Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a Goma by your wish
Byodoji accepts online applications for five monthly Goma rites. Choose the deity closest to your wish, then review the details on the application screen.
References and sources
This page presents a selected set of sources directly related to Byodoji's image and devotional practice. The general article contains the fuller bibliography on Acala's scriptures, iconography, and devotional history.
See the full bibliography in ‘What is Acala?’Objects and practices at Byodoji
Scriptures and ritual manuals
Research and introductory works
Read Together
Articles for learning more about Acala and the prayers of Byodoji.
Who Acala Is
An explanation tracing, from the original sources, the original vow, form, and blessings of Fudo, the manifestation of Mahavairocana.
ReadThe Acala Goma on the 28th of Each Month
An explanation of the goma for warding off misfortune and for peace and safety, with guidance on applying online.
ReadThe Eleven-Faced Kannon of the Jibutsudo
An introduction to the Eleven-Faced Kannon, the honored deity of the Jibutsudo, and the goma on the 18th of each month.
Read