Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Homage to the water-place kami

拝水屋神等詞みづやのかみたちををがむことば

A prayer naming Mizuhanome, Mii and Naruikazuchi and speaking of receiving water each day and of purification.

English meaning and source text

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English meaning

About this English rendering

This site’s English rendering of the Japanese meaning guide, aligned with this edition. It is separate from the source words for recitation and is not an official liturgy. Sacred sounds are explained where possible, not given speculative literal translations. Historical beliefs, royal authority, illness and protection claims belong to the text; they are not present-day judgments, medical advice or guarantees of results.

In particular, I offer these words.

Before Mizuhanome, worshiped as kami of the well,

Mii,

and Naruikazuchi, I bow in reverence.

The heavenly water we receive today,

let us receive as the sacred water of the long well of Ame-no-Oshiiwa.

Let there be no calamities wrought by harmful kami.

Cleanse away the various impurities,

and grant blessing through your noble power:

with reverence, I offer this homage.

Source text and reading aid

Roman letters are provided for every line of this source text.

How to use the Roman letters

Roman letters follow the kana displayed in this site’s Japanese reader; some readings are editorial additions documented on the Japanese page. These are a reading aid, not restored Sanskrit or a recording of a temple’s chanting. Historical spellings (such as wo, wi, we and ha used as a particle) are kept. Double vowels and repeated vowels mark the written kana; rhythm and pronunciation can differ by tradition.

You can simply read the meaning or sit quietly. No recitation is required. For a temple or shrine’s own recitation, follow that tradition’s published guidance.

本文(ほんぶん)

辞別(ことわ)けて。

kotowakete.

井之神(ゐのかみ)と斎(いつ)き奉(まつ)る水波能売神(みづはのめのかみ)、

winokamito itsuki matsuru mizuhanomenokami,

御井神(みゐのかみ)、

miwinokami,

鳴雷神(なるいかづちのかみ)の御前(みまへ)を慎(つつし)み敬(ゐやま)ひ。

naruikazuchinokamino mimahewo tsutsushimi wiyamahi.

今日(けふ)も賜(たま)はる天津水(あまつみづ)を、

kefumo tamaharu amatsumizuwo,

天忍石(あめのおしは)の長井(ながゐ)の水(みづ)と受(う)けしめて。

amenooshihano nagawino mizuto ukeshimete.

枉神(まがかみ)の禍事(まがこと)在(あ)らせず、

magakamino magakoto arasezu,

諸(もろもろ)の穢(けがれ)を清(きよ)め給(たま)ひて、

moromorono kegarewo kiyome tamahite,

伊豆(いづ)の御霊(みたま)を幸(さきは)へ給(たま)へと。

izuno mitamawo sakihahe tamaheto.

畏(かしこ)み畏(かしこ)みも拝(をが)み奉(たてまつ)る。

kashikomi kashikomimo wogami tatematsuru.

Connected kami and buddhas

These connections include figures addressed, mentioned, or associated by tradition. They do not assign a universal recitation practice.

Sources and edition (1)

English explanations on this page were prepared by Inori no Mori from the cited text and its Japanese explanations. They are not an official translation or a prescribed liturgy.

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