Hiyakami

Hiyakami [火缠神; ひやかみ] is the Kiren god of fire. Born from the improper mating ritual conducted by the first humans, Inōtō and Iyane, Hiyakami is considered a hot-tempered, unpredictable deity and is often worshipped to ward off misfortune or destruction. He is the brother of Azuya, the god of discord and evil. Hiyakami is the patron spirit of blacksmiths and metalworkers, and in some regions is considered a god of hearths and kitchens.
Despite Hiyakami's tempestuous nature, he is not a malicious god like his brother. Instead, he represents and embodies a destructive force which can used for betterment. He is the deity commonly summoned during a fire-cleansing ritual, as he is believed to have the power to destroy (or burn away) all impurity in a person or object. Hiyakami is also considered to be a particularly watchful and observant kami who notices when humans are forgetting about him. At these times he is prone to cause fire-related disasters in his anger and jealousy of the attention that other gods are receiving. Therefore, he was once one of the most regularly worshipped kami.
One of the ways in which people can keep favour with Hiyakami is by placing a representation of him near the hearth or fireplace. This may be a simple stone tablet inscribed with his name, or it might be an elaborate statue, as is common in temples. In depictions, Hiyakami is shown with flaming hair, a snarling or grimacing mouth, and is often carrying a lit torch.
Category:Deities