To me shrine maiden has always been afixiated with Kikyo from Inuyasha. I believe she was what I would call "the waifu" as I saw that show when I was a teen, and whatever else came after I tended to compare the characters in those shows to Kikyo.

She was a pretty interestingly written character, though there have been few stupid things the characters writer didnt really think through, but hell it was a show aimed at kids, and while her character was pretty deep she was still only a side character.
But yeah I too have a sweet spot for Shrine Maidens :3