BINZURU

 EXECERPT FROM THIS BOOK: A HANDBOOK FOR TRAVELLERS IN JAPAN (INCLUDING FORMOSA), BY BASIL CHAMBERLAIN,F.R.G.S. AND W.B. MASON, CORRESPONDING MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SCOTTISH GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY AND LATE OF THE IMPERIAL  JAPANESE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS. WITH THIRTY MAPS AND PLANS AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS. NINTH EDITION, REVISED THROUGHOUT. LONDON. JOHN MURRAY, ALLEMARLE STREET. YOKOHAMA, SHANGHAI,- KELLY&WALSH, LIMITED-HONKONG, SINGAPORE.1913

BINZURU 

IS

originally one of the Sixteen Rakan -was expelled from their number for having violated his vow of chastity by remarking upon the beauty of a female whence the usual situation of his image outside the sanctum.

 It is also said that Buddha conferred on him the power to cure all human ills.

 For this reason believers rub the image of Binzuru on that part which may be causing them pain in their own bodies and then rub them selves in the hope of obtaining relief and thus it comes about that such images are often found with the limbs partly worn away and the features nearly obliterated.

 Binzuru is a highly popular object of worship with the lower classes and his image is often to be seen adorned by his devotees with a red or yellow cotton hood a bib and mittens.

HERE IS THE EXCERPT ABOUT THE GOD BINZURU AND WHO HE IS- REGISTERED BY THE AMERICAN REGISTERED NURSE LAURA B STARKWEATHER AND PUBLISHED IN THE MAGAZINE - THE NURSE MONTHLY  IN 1915.

Buddha as you know was a teacher who gave Eastern and Southern Asia its form of worship.
 He was followed about by sixteen rakkan, or disciples chosen for their virtue.
 Binzuru was the first and favorite one, until one day he saw a woman. 

He gave her a second look ,and noticed that she was beautiful. This might have passed unnoticed. but he spoke about it to an other deity, who told Buddha.

 In the first place he should not have looked at her once, much less twice. and she should never have been thought beautiful, for only men can be beautiful; and then to tell about it was unpardonable.

 So he was punished by being lowered the width of a thread in the scale of virtue, but to make up for this he was given power to cure all human ills.

His statue is placed in every temple where Buddha is worshiped, but he is never put up in the chancel with the other deities. He has a place within easy reach of the people near the god of light and wisdom. He is also found at many Shinto shrines but not at all them.  

THE STATUE OF THE DEITY BINZURU IS TOUCHED BY TH WORSHIPPERS WHO ARE ILL AND THEN THEY TOUCH THEIR OWN ILL PLACE OF THE BODY AND TOUCH THE STATUE OF THE BINZURU BACK. 

Daruma-The God Of Wisdom- and the cup of tea

May I tell just a little about the god of wisdom who always sits by Binzuru?

 His name is Daruma. The God of Wisdom sits with God Binzuru and  he never has legs. This is because he sat and thought so long that his legs dropped off.  One day while he was thinking he fell asleep and was so angry about it when he awoke that he cut off his eyelids and threw them to the ground. These took root and grew into the tea plant.

 Buddha told him to brew the leaves of the plant and drink it .He did so, and never has been asleep since. That is why tea keeps people awake nights. There is a reason for everything if you look long enough 

So , when you make yourself a good cup of tea, you remember the God Of Wisdom- Daruma.