News: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi was presented a Daruma doll by Rev Seishi Hirose, Chief Priest of the Shorinzan Daruma-Ji temple.
About Daruma doll
- It is an auspicious Japanese talisman of perseverance and success.
- It is modeled on Bodhidharma (Daruma Daishi), it promotes goal-setting and patience.
- Name: The name “Daruma” derives from the Sanskrit “Dharma”—meaning cosmic law or duty—reflecting its spiritual roots..
- Historical linkage
- Daruma’s roots go back to Bodhidharma, a 5th-century Indian monk from Kancheepuram (Tamil Nadu), who is revered in Japan as Daruma Daishi.
- He is said to have travelled to china and Japan over a thousand years ago, spreading Zen Buddhist philosophy.
- His teachings inspired the figure now known as the Daruma doll.
- Takasaki City in Gunma became the birthplace of these famous dolls, tying the link to local craft.
- The doll, therefore, shows an India–Japan civilizational bridge older than modern diplomacy..
- Significance
- Cultural reverence: The presentation by Rev Seishi Hirose highlights shared philosophical roots.
- Civilizational bond: It renews historical links and reinforces India–Japan spiritual kinship during the 15th Annual India–Japan Summit.
- People-to-people links: The exchange aligns with cultural MoUs, tourism exchanges, and educational collaborations focused on deeper connections.
