Once upon a time, in a place called Yabasama, there was a small shrine with a small pond – the shrine was called “Kyogawa the God.”
In one summer, day after day, a drought continued, and fields of rice and crops started to wither.
“If this continues, we will make no crop.”
“Let’s pray for rain. We have no choice.”
All the people in the village visited the shrines and temples in the neighborhood, but it never rained.
Then, they went to pray in the small shrine, Kyogawa the God, as a last resort.
“Please bring us rain.”
“Please bring us rain.”
When they prayed intently,something started moving water in the small pond covered with leaves.Here was the Serpent, the master of the pond, coming out of the water.
“Oh, no, it is the Serpent!”
When everyone was in shock, the Serpent talked to them.
“You all sound so desperate. What have you been asking for?”
The village headman, trembling with fear, answered.
“Uh, yes.
As a matter of fact, we have no drop of rain this summer. Our fields of rice and crops wither, and now we do not even have enough drinking water.
That is why we were praying to Kyogawa the God for rain.”
“Oh, is that all you want?
Well, then, can you clean up this pond?”
Leaves and mud have piled up here – I was fed up with this.
Clean up the pond. Then, I will bring you rain.”
Having told them so, the Serpent went back into the pond.
Everyone in the village believed the Serpent’s words and cleaned the pond nicely.
Then, late that night, large drops of rain started to fall bit by bit.
“Look, it is raining! Kyogawa the God has brought us the rain!”
Ever since, whenever the people in the village had a lack of rain,they cleaned the pond of Kyogawa the God to bring them rain.