{Shikoku Hachijūhachikasho Meguri}
This information is being put together from many sources. In addition to my personal notes, a list of my resources can be found on the Pilgrimage Books & Papers page. The goeika and honzon mantra are from www.bekkaku.com. The links for each of the temple's honzon (main deity) go to an explanation of that deity on the Shingon Buddhist International Institute web site at www.shingon.org.
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Senryūji is located just after Temple 65. It is popularly called the Okunoin of Temple 65 and traditionally named the Kōya-san for Women because women pilgrims have always been able to visit here with no restrictions on them. Some guidebooks say the temple was founded by Kōbō Daishi in 794 and that at that time a female Hindu hermit, Hōdō, the owner of the temple mountain, gave all her property to him. A web site dedicated to the Bangai Temples says that the founder was Hōdō Sennin herself. Kōbō Daishi performed the Goma ritual here and carved/engraved the Bija Mandala on the cave wall of the temple.
The temple is located in a rock gorge and even in the daytime it is dark. In 1638 Prince Sonshō of Daikakuji in Kyōto bestowed the name Okunoin of Shikoku on the temple. Also a must see is the cave where the Daishi's image is enshrined. The Daishi is known in the area as Mushiyoke Daishi for exterminating insects and evil worms.
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Jōfukuji is located between Bangai Temple 13 and Temple 66, Umpenji. After leaving Temple 65, you go a little out of the way to visit Bangai Temple 13. From there you go back and pick up the main trail again just before Bangai Temple 14. It was founded by Kōbō Daishi.
Bangai 14 is known to help couples with fertility problems. To that effect, several of the statues around the temple complex depict very "fertile" men or women. If you see small statues while there, and the statues are covered with some kind of clothing, surreptitiously sneek a peek underneath that clothing and you'll be shocked at what you might see!
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Hashikurajiis located between Bangai Temple 14 and Temple 66, Umpenji. It was founded by Kōbō Daishi.
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Hagiharaji is located between Temples 66 and 67. It was founded by Kōbō Daishi.
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Kannoji is located at Mannoike, the reservoir several hours walk due south of Temple 75. This is the reservoir that legend says Kūkai built, and the reason many add 'civil engineer' to his list of skills. If fact, however, Kūkai didn't build the reservoir but only served as the project manager. The government had tried for over a year to rebuild the reservoir, but it was never completed then for the same reason many projects have trouble even today - money and labor troubles. In desperation, the government finally asked Kūkai to take charge and when he did, people and money flocked to the project. It was his reputation that brought people willing to work and people willing to donate money together. The project was completed quickly after he arrived.
The temple was founded by Kōbō Daishi.
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Founded by Kōbō Daishi, Kaiganji is located right on the coast between Temples 71 and 77. It is easiest to visit it after visiting Temple 71 but before going on to Temples 73 and 72 (done in reverse order).
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Kōzaiji is located on the coast just after Temples 82. It was founded by Gyōgi Bosatsu. In the last decade of his life, Gyōgi came here and
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Ōtakiji is located on a mountain a half day walk west of Temple 88. Visit it after going to Temple 87, and before going to Temple 88. It was founded by Gyōgi Bosatsu and he is said to have made three statues of Amida Nyorai to serve as Honzon. Kūkai also climbed this mountain in his youth to perform the gumonjihō on its peaks. The temple is famous as a 'yakunagashi' temple. (I'll translate that when i figure out what it means myself. My first inclination is 'temple to wash away bad luck.')
