18. A Pestilence is Staid by Oho-tata-ne-ko

1In the reign of this Heavenly Sovereign a great pestilence arose, and the people died as if none were to be left. Then the Heavenly Sovereign grieved and lamented, and at night, while on his divine couch, there appeared [to him] in an august dream the Great Deity the Great-Master-of-Things, and said: “This is my august doing. So if thou wilt cause me to be worshipped by Oho-tata-ne-ko, the divine spirit shall not arise, and the land will be tranquillized.” When, therefore, couriers were dispatched in every direction to search for the person [named] Oho-tata-ne-ko, he was discovered in the village of Minu in Kafuchi, and was respectfully sent [to the Heavenly Sovereign]. Then the Heavenly Sovereign deigned to ask: “Whose child art thou?” He replied, saying: “I am Oho-tata-ne-ko, child of His Augustness Take-mika-dzu-chi [who was] child of His Augustness Ihi-gata-sumi, [who was] child of His Augustness Kushi-mi-gata, [who was] child of the Great Deity the Great-Master-of-Things by his wife Iku-tama-yori-bime, daughter of His Augustness Suwe-tsu-mimi.” Hereupon the Heavenly Sovereign, being greatly rejoiced, commanded that the Empire should be tranquil, and the people flourish, and forthwith made His Augustness Oho-tata-ne-ko high-priest to worship the Great Deity of Great Miwa on Mount Mimoro. Again he ordered His Augustness Igaka-shiko-wo to make eighty heavenly platters, and reverently to establish the shrines of the Heavenly Deities and the Earthly Deities; likewise to worship with a red-coloured shield and spear the Deity of Sumisaka at Uda, and with a black-coloured shield and spear the Deity of Ohosaka; likewise to present august offerings of cloth to all the Deities of the august declivities of the hills and to all the Deities of the reaches of the rivers, without neglecting any. In consequence of this the pestilential vapour ceased altogether, and the country was tranquillized.