In the late Nara period, erections of Jingu-ji Temples were widely seen even at rural shrines; Tado Ogami (great god) who was a guardian deity of a local ruling family in Kuwana County, Ise Province, wished to practice of Buddhist teachings, in a oracle, giving up the title of deity.
奈良時代後半になると、伊勢桑名郡にある現地豪族の氏神である多度大神が、神の身を捨てて仏道の修行をしたいと託宣するなど、神宮寺建立の動きは地方の神社にまで広がった。