• During his recent visit to Japan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with a Daruma doll by Rev Seishi Hirose, chief priest of the Daruma-ji temple.
• The Daruma doll, deeply rooted in Japan’s Zen Buddhist tradition, symbolizes perseverance, good luck, and goal-setting.
• Modelled after Bodhidharma, a 5th-century monk from Kancheepuram, India, the doll reflects the spiritual bond between the two nations. Bodhidharma, known in Japan as Daruma Daishi, introduced Zen Buddhism after his journey from India to China, where he meditated for nine years facing a wall.
• The doll’s rounded shape, absence of limbs, and blank eyes embody his dedication to meditation. Its name “Daruma” derives from the Sanskrit word Dharma, meaning cosmic law or duty, underscoring its Indian roots and historical significance.