Gamagaike Bentendo

Gamagaike is said to be a “Pond of the Gods” located in front of Takkoku no Iwaya Bishamondo. It was built by Sakanoue Tamuramaro, a general and shogun of the Heian era, and the animals that live there are said to be used by the Benten god. It is forbidden to kill anything, including animals on the temple grounds. Around 829, Jikaku Daishi went on a journey of Eastern Pilgrimage and along the way met with a large five-colored toad who was the incarnation of the Binbo gami, a god who would bring misery and poverty to households. The toad was caught and brought in front of the Bishamonten enshrined at the Takkoku no Iwaya. The story continues with the toad being brought before the goddess Ugajin, also known as Benzaiten (a goddess associated with the prosperous flow of money and success.) The toad's head was chopped off and enshrined at the pond. Now the pond is a popular place for those in business and commerce to come and pray for prosperity.