- 著者
-
堀内 みどり
- 出版者
- 天理大学おやさと研究所
- 雑誌
- 天理大学おやさと研究所年報 (ISSN:1341738X)
- 巻号頁・発行日
- no.9, pp.1-18, 2002
インドでは,動物と神々,動物と人間の関係は特別である。神々は特定の動物を自分の乗物とし,神々の乗物となった動物は神々と同様に崇拝される。牛に対する信仰は特に著名であるが,猿に対する信仰も人気がある。インドで猿の神様と言えばハヌマーンである。彼は叙事詩『ラーマーヤナ』で一躍有名になった。ここでは,彼の類い希な知恵(弁舌の巧妙さ)と勇気とラーマへの忠誠心(献身,パクティ)が称えられる。しかしながら,インドの猿神信仰の起源は先史時代にまでさかのぼれるともいわれ,英雄信仰における戦勝祈願,魔除け,また農耕神として五穀豊穣祈願の対象ともされていたとされる。現在インド中で図像化され,親しまれているハヌマーンの姿は圧倒的に『ラーマーヤナ』での活躍を題材にしているが,古い猿神信仰や地方あるいは宗派独特の意味づけがされて,崇拝されているところもある。なかでも,集団生活し愛情を注ぐ猿たちの姿を子猿を抱えた夫婦猿の彫像にした信仰では,家内安全と安産が祈られ,素朴で暖かみを感じさせる。こうした,猿神信仰による功徳の多様さは,猿が人間の生活空間でごく当たり前のように生活し,その生息地域が全国に渡っていることと関係があるのかもしれない。In India,a special connection exists not only between animals and deities but between animals and human beings as well. Various gods have employed specific animals as their own agents that has allowed for the veneration of these animals with equal status of a deity. Cow worship is a well-known practice as can be said of monkey worship. In India,Hanuman is the most renowned monkey god. He became famous through the Ramayana epic tradition. In it,he is praised for his courage and loyalty (bhakti, faithfulness) to Rama as well as for his unparalleled knowledge (ingenuous eloquence). However,it is said that the origin of the monkey god in India goes back to prehistoric times where the monkey was used as a talisman or venerated by way of hero-worshipping in praying for a victory. Further,the monkey was also regarded as an agricultural deity in that it was the focus of prayers for bumper crops. While Hanuman is an icon and his familiar figure is an overwhelming subject matter in the Ramayana throughout India today,it can be said that Hanuman continues to be venerated because of the meanings given by peculiar religious denominations and faith in the monkey gods in various regions dating back from olden times. Above all ,prayers are made for the family welfare and safe delivery in this kind of faith where there are sculptured figures of husband and wife monkeys embracing children monkeys in their arms-a reflection of the actual monkey communal lifestyle and their pouring of love-which gives the impression of warmth and naiveté. The variety of benevolence in the veneration of monkey gods,then,makes it a matter of course for monkeys to lead their lives in human living space and may be linked to their inhabiting in regions across the entire country.