Rokudo no Tsuji, the Intersection of Six Spiritual Worlds
Rokudo no Tsuji is the name for the intersection near the end of the horse racing course. It is believed that a hell that is connected with the kami of Kasuga Taisha exists underneath the southern end of this area.
It was believed that Ame no Koyane no Mikoto, the god of wisdom enshrined at Kasuga Taisha Shrine, would relieve the pain of sinners in this hell if they were associated with the shrine.
The Buddhist term rokudo refers to six states of existence, or the six different paths that a human soul can follow after death. It is believed that a spirit experiences many, if not all, of these states in the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth that precedes enlightenment.
In the past, the four primary Shinto deities enshrined at Kasuga Taisha Shrine were also worshipped by Buddhists, making this shrine an important holy site for both faiths. While Buddhism and Shinto are now separated, many Japanese people continue to worship both Shinto kami and Buddhist deities.