The Encyclopedia of World Religions

Izanagi and Izanami S 227

M UHAMMAD freed. According to tradition, he was the first MUEZZIN .

make the first land. On it they mated and produced their numerous progeny, until Izanami died giving birth to the fire god and went to the underworld. Izanagi followed after her but was unable to rescue his consort since she had already eaten of the food of the underworld. So he returned to the surface and bathed in the ocean to cleanse himself of the impu rities he had acquired in the land of the dead. Out of his washings he produced A MATERASU , the sun GOD DESS , as well as the moon and storm deities.

Izanagi and Izanami In S HINTO mythology, the primal parents. They are the father and mother respectively of the KAMI (gods), islands, and peo ple of Japan. They descended from the high plain of HEAVEN on a floating bridge, the rainbow, from whence they churned the ocean with a spear to