Miashisama

Miashisama [身沈麦; みあしさま] is the Kiren goddess of rain. She is believed to become extremely bad-tempered during the wintertime, when she also becomes the goddess of snow and ice. Miashisama is the sister of the wind god Usakazeya and a daughter of the moon god Uigami. She is one of the three Koyūshin gods of abundance, and is heavily worshipped during harvest festivals alongside Omiinegami and Chūzuri.
Miashisama is often invoked during water purification rituals in order to help bless the water that is being used. She is thought to be the patron spirit of temple employees [e.g. horane, priests, and servants/assistants] and is also associated with childbirth. In fact, Miashisama is often appealed to by pregnant women, asking for an easy and painless labour.
In popular and historical art, Miashisama is depicted often as a beautiful young woman with long black hair and white skin, dressed in fine blue or white silk robes. She often holds a pitcher of water [which she pours over the Earth to cause rain showers] and a pink or white lotus flower.
Category:Deities