Kosama

Kosama [泍麦; こさま] is the Kiren goddess of trees and forests. She is the sister of the mountain goddess Bihanakami, and closely resembles her in both temperament and behaviour. She is one of the most compassionate spirits, rarely ever becoming angered by humans. Kosama is the wife of the wind god Usakazeya, and is the daughter of the goddess of agriculture, Omiinegami.
Kosama is thought to be the patron spirit of pilgrims. She is a secretive and mysterious deity, of whom not much is fully known. She appears in few surviving legends or records, except those included in the Kanna Daiki, which are fairly descriptive. In most paintings and carvings she is depicted as carrying a hanji ornament or a wooden staff known as tobeki, which is also traditionally used by those embarking on a pilgrimage. Kosama's link to pilgrims is her most obvious attribute, and she was once often worshipped in small forest shrines alongside well-walked pilgrimage routes. Her husband Usakazeya was also considered a pilgrim's friend, as he would often use the wind to guide them back to the main path if they became lost on their journey.
Category:Deities