Because the temple is located northeast of Kyoto Imperial Palace, which is the kimon direction (kimon-the northeastern (unlucky) direction, a person or thing to be avoided), since ancient times it has been worshipped as a god of hoyoke (protection for removing calamities related to direction).
京都御所から見て鬼門の方角（東北）に当たるため、方除けの神として、古来信仰を集めた。