Kumedera is a temple of the Omuro branch of Shingon Buddhism in Kume, Kashihara, immediately southwest of Kashihara Jingu. Tradition holds that the temple was founded either by Kume-no-Miko, brother of Prince Shotoku, or by the legendary 'flying' ascetic Kume Sennin. The principal deity is Yakushi Nyorai (the Healing Buddha). The temple is also revered as one of the birthplaces of Shingon Buddhism…

Temple records claim that Kumedera was founded in the early 7th century by Kume-no-Miko, brother of Prince Shotoku, who prayed for the cure of an eye ailment, while the Heian-period Konjaku Monogatari and Nihon Ryoiki record the legend of Kume Sennin — an ascetic who lost his ability to fly when dis…