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Noragami: Why Does Kazuma Call Bishamon ‘Veena’?

In Japanese culture, while addressing a person, hierarchy is a key factor. Despite that, Kazuma, a Shinki, proudly addresses his master Bishamonten as Veena. He might be a powerful blessed vessel. But still he is merely a human to his mistress. So why exactly does Kazuma call Bishamon Veena? Read the blog to find out!

In Japanese culture, while addressing a person, hierarchy is a key factor. Even for friends and lovers to call each other with their given name and/or calling their last name without a “-san”, takes considerable time and trust(not to mention both sides should have to be ready to break the ice together). And when it comes to addressing a God imagine not adding “-sama”?!

Despite that, Kazuma, a Shinki, proudly addresses his master Bishamonten as Veena. He might be a powerful blessed vessel. But still he is merely a human to his mistress. So why exactly does Kazuma call Bishamon Veena? Let’s find out!

KazuBisha- The relationship between them

Under all the raging warfares, as a God and her Shinki, Bishamon and Kazuma share a strong bond of trust. For Bishamon, Kazuma is a relic of the past, someone she treasures. He is the sole surviving Shinki from the Ma clan following Yato’s killing spree. Since then, he has been her strength and courage to rise as the valiant warrior god Bishamonten.

It is safe to say that the mechanisms of their relationship transcend that of a Master-servant bond. Their interactions are akin to two people deeply in love. The way they address each other is a prime example of that!

Bishamon and Kazuma

Kazuma named Bishamonten “Veena” because she asked him to give her a name. This idea took root after Bishamon and Kazuma’s encounter with Daikoku and Kofuku.

When Bimbougami and her Shinki paid a visit to Bishamon, Kazuma readily drew a borderline to protect his master. It might be enraging for most gods but this duo is famous for such a bad reputation. Moreover, Daikoku’s way of treating Kofuku surprised Bishamon and Kazuma. Their playful intimate way to address each other blossomed a new urge in Bishamon. She too wanted to have that kind of a close bond with her Shinki.

However, this was not just Bisha’s wish. Kazuma too felt a tinge of jealousy watching the carefree duo of Kofuku and Daikoku. He desired to have a similar bond with Bishamon. He didn’t want to own her, yet he wanted to be something more than just a mere Shinki. Bishamon understood that and chose to offer him a chance to name her.

And so, Kazuma took the best sounds from “Vaishravana“- Bishamonten’s original name born in India to form her pet name.

Another thing that becomes pretty clear while Kazuma names Bishamon ‘Veena’ are his feelings for her. Kazuma wanted more than a platonic relationship. He wanted to start a family with Veena in reality. But that is not possible as “Gods cannot love mortals“. A committed relationship with a Goddess and a dead man is practically impossible. But what Bishamon offered him is more than what a mere human can ever get from a God. A chance to touch a God’s heart.

Kazuma express his feelings

When Bisha was recovering from the loss of the Ma clan, she grew insecure and heartbroken for not being able to protect her Shinkis. But after a certain time, when she got her strength back Veena adopts the Ha clan. She decided to soften the master-servant relationship by letting them call her “ane-sama”. She was happy to receive the name and act as the protective big sister to her family.

She did not want a repeat of the disaster of Ma clan. And to avoid that Bishamon wished to grow close to her shinki by establishing a relationship like Kofuku and Daikoku.

Bishamon answers Kazuma’s call

In Noragami, the world knows Bishamonten as the greatest warrior Goddess. But even God needs a shoulder to cry sometimes. And Veena chose Kazuma to entrust her fragile side. Kazuma might have slightly misunderstood this and jumped the gun, but in most cases, he is not secretive about it.

While it is hard to know if Bishamon harbors any romantic feelings for Kazuma; she still lets him express his feelings for her. We could say that letting Kazuma give her a pet-name was her way of being considerate about Kazuma’s feelings. Veena let herself be swayed by Kazuma because she trusts him blindly. And in turn, he is madly in love with Bishamon and wants to protect the current reincarnation at all costs.

That is why Kazuma is so desperate to save Veena from fighting against the Heavens. He wants to cling to those memories of Veena and stop her replacement.

The same can be said for Veena as well. She wants to protect Kazuma, to be protected by Kazuma, and not forget about their intimate bond. Her possessiveness towards him shows on her face when Kugaha told he visits Yato occasionally. And this possessiveness is justified given her past. Yet she is bound to her duty as a fierce Goddess who should not let her feelings control her actions.

Like every God can see their Shinki’s past, Bishamonten might have also witnessed Kazuma’s past life. As Yato says, Hirano Kiyotsugu aka Kazuma was once in love with a servant who was older than him. But fate did not give them a chance to exchange feelings in the Near Shore. And that heart full of emptiness has not changed.

Now in the Far Shore, Bishamon wanted Kazuma to have a better life. So she expressed her feelings to Kazuma, and gave him a chance to cherish that as a man. Even though he exploited their relationship as a man and woman to a certain degree, he never dares to cross the line. He has satisfied himself with having the chance to name a fearless Goddess and to hold hands with Veena.

Do you ship Kazuma and Bishamon? What do you think about their relationship? Let us know in the comments down below!

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