According to the tradition, this temple was founded by Kakugo Ajari in 673 in the name of Ganjoju-ji Temple Muhenkoin on Mt. Iseki, and it became a Chokugan-ji Temple (temple built at the order of an emperor) of the Emperor Shomu from 729 to 749 of the Nara period, and was added 1,000 koku of Jiryo (land belonged to a temple).
伝承によれば、天武天皇2年（673年）、天皇の勅願寺として、井堰山願成就寺無辺光院の名で覚豪阿闍梨により開創され、奈良時代の天平年間、聖武天皇の勅願寺となり、寺領１千石が加増されたという。