Goddesses of the World
Benzaiten
The goddess of
everything that
flows: water,
words,  eloquence,
and music.
The most beloved deities in Japanese mythology are those that form
a group called the seven gods of good fortune. Of these, the fairy-
like Benzai-ten is the only goddess. She is believed to bring
happiness and wealth to her worshippers. In Japanese art, there are
many prints and small statues, especially from the twelfth to the
sixteenth century, which show Benzai-ten and her fellow gods of
good fortune sailing merrily together on a treasure ship.

Human beings find happiness in many ways. For some people,
happiness comes from gaining wisdom and knowledge; other find
joy in beauty, music, and art. Benzai-ten is the goddess of all these
wonderful gifts. The middle syllable of her name, zai, means "talent"
or "wealth" in Japanese. Sometimes she is depicted with eight arms
and open hands, symbolizing talents her all- embracing generosity.

Benzai-ten has an interesting pedigree. She is believed to be the
daughter of a dragon king. When she grew up, she married another
dragon in exchange for his promise to stop eating children. The
dragon's love for her cured him of his taste for human flesh. Many
people believe that Benzai-ten lives with her dragon husband under
the waves of Lake Biwa, which is north of the ancient city of Kyoto.
The lake is named after Benzai-ten’s favorite instrument, the Biwa, a
string instrument which is like a mandolin. The shape of the lake is
similar to that of the Biwa.

Many stories tell of Benazi-ten's sympathy for young men who were
chased by angry dragons. She is able to help these men escape
with their lives because of her close ties with dragons. Other stories
praise Benzai-ten's kindness to lovers. Those seeking her help in
gaining the favor of a loved one often left beseeching letters on the
goddess shrines. Due to this, Benzai-ten is also considered a
goddess of marriage.