The seventy-second temple is Mandara-ji (曼荼羅寺), one of the oldest temples on the route, enshrining Dainichi Nyorai.
It lies just about 0.6 km from the seventy-third temple — the two stand almost side by side.
This is the entrance to Mandara-ji.
For all the temple’s great age, the gateway is quiet and unassuming.
Kongō Rikishi guardians stand to left and right of the gate, the age of the weathered timber plain to see.
That worn old wood speaks to the temple’s long centuries of history.
This is the main hall, where Dainichi Nyorai is enshrined; it is a little unfortunate that the trees in front screen the view.
Kōbō Daishi rebuilt this temple for his late mother and set here the mandalas he carried back from China.
At the Daishi-dō too I chanted the Heart Sutra, praying for peace in the world and for personal safety.
To pray at his own clan’s temple gives the visit a quietly personal feeling.
NFT – Crypto Ohenro #17 Goshuin of Mandara-ji（曼荼羅寺） –
This is the goshuin of the seventy-second temple, Mandara-ji. Its Sanskrit seed-letter is written with real power.
Seventy-one temples still remained on my journey, here at the temple of Kōbō Daishi’s own clan.
The distance to the next temple was about 3.5 km, an easy walk to the next gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the honzon (principal image) of Mandara-ji (Temple 72)?
The honzon (principal image) of Mandara-ji（曼荼羅寺）, Temple 72 of the Shikoku 88 pilgrimage, is Dainichi Nyorai（大日如来）. It is enshrined in the temple's main hall (hondō), where pilgrims offer incense, recite the Heart Sutra, and receive the temple's goshuin (hand-brushed seal).
Where is Mandara-ji located?
Mandara-ji stands in Zentsūji, Kagawa Prefecture, in the old province of Sanuki, on the island of Shikoku, Japan. It is the seventy-second of the eighty-eight temples of the Shikoku Henro, the circular Buddhist pilgrimage walked in the path of Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai).
Which Buddhist sect does Mandara-ji belong to?
Mandara-ji belongs to the Shingon Buddhism (Zentsū-ji school). Its mountain name (sangō), the traditional honorific title by which the temple is also known, is Gahaishizan Enmei-in（我拝師山 延命院）.
When was Mandara-ji founded?
Mandara-ji was founded in 596 as the Saeki family temple; rebuilt by Kōbō Daishi (Kūkai) in 807. Its history is closely tied to the early growth of the Shikoku pilgrimage.
Which temple comes after Mandara-ji, and how far is it?
The next temple on the route is Temple 73, Shusshaka-ji (about 0.6 km). Walking in numerical order, pilgrims continue from Mandara-ji to keep visiting each of the 88 temples and collecting their goshuin.
📖 See the full list of all 88 Shikoku temples →
Can’t make the pilgrimage yourself?Ohenro Gift can walk the 88 temples on your behalf (daisan) and deliver the completed nokyocho.