Finding God's pebble with your own hands
At Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka City, there is a custom of receiving a small stone with the words "Five Great Powers" written on it. This stone is said to bestow five powers: physical strength, intelligence, wealth, good fortune, and longevity, and has been popular among people as it is believed to grant wishes.
The ceremony takes place in Goshogozen, a sacred place within the temple grounds that is said to be the original site established by Empress Jingu approximately 1,800 years ago as a place to worship Sumiyoshi Daimyojin.
Visitors reach into the fence and search for a stone with the characters "five," "great," and "power" written on it in calligraphy among the many pebbles scattered throughout the grounds. They are then given a "Godairiki Amulet Bag" to place the stone in and take home with them.
When a wish is granted, the person returns the three stones they took home, plus two new stones on which they have written the characters "five," "great," and "power," for a total of six, a custom that is still cherished today.
