Izunome

Izunome is a purification goddess recorded in the misogi (purification) section of Kojiki (712 CE). She arises in succession to Kamunaobi-no-Kami and Onaobi-no-Kami, the third and last of the Naobi triad. The name elements are read as izu (sacred, pure) and nome (female deity). Kojiki, upper volume, misogi section, records: 'Next Izunome, next Sokotsu-Watatsumi-no-Kami, next Sokotsutsu-no-O-no-Mikoto.' When Izanagi-no-Mikoto returned from Yomi-no-Kuni and performed purification at the Awakihara of Tachibana-no-Odo in Hyuga, Tsukushi, she came into being after the two Naobi deities, positioned at the transition from the act of correcting impurity to the establishment of purity. Her father is Izanagi (as generative deity by misogi). The simultaneous arising of Kamunaobi and Onaobi forms the Naobi triad; thereafter the three Watatsumi deities of the sea-bottom, middle, and upper layers and the three Sumiyoshi deities arise in pairs at the three levels. From the medieval period, she has at times been identified with Shirayamahime-no-Kami at Shirayamahime Shrine in Hakusan, Ishikawa (ichinomiya of Kaga Province) in the Hakusan tradition. She is invoked in the Oharae-no-Kotoba recited at the great purification rites of the sixth and twelfth months, jointly venerated with the Naobi deities as a deity bringing purity.