Read, reflect, pray

Shrine worship prayer

神社拝詞じんじゃはいし

A prayer of gratitude before the kami, asking to fulfill daily responsibilities and serve others. The text follows the cited shrine’s form.

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.

Bowing before the deity designated by ○○, whose very name inspires awe, I respectfully speak.

Gratefully I receive the great deity’s broad and abundant blessings.

Following the lofty divine teaching, and revering the emperor as this prayer states,

with a sincere, straightforward, and upright heart, without departing from an honest way of life,

may I work diligently at my responsibilities, bring honor to my household, and remain healthy in body,

so that I may devote my strength to the world and to others. With reverence I ask.

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.

掛（か）けまくも畏（かしこ）き　○○　の大前（おほまへ）を拝（をろが）み奉（まつ）りて恐（かしこ）み恐（かしこ）み白（まを）さく

kakemakumo kashikoki ○○ no ohomahewo worogami matsurite kashikomi kashikomi mawosaku

大神（おほかみ）の広（ひろ）き厚（あつ）き御恵（みめぐ）みを辱（かたじけな）み奉（まつ）り

ohokamino hiroki atsuki mimegumiwo katajikenami matsuri

高（たか）き尊（たふと）き神教（みをし）へのまにまに天皇（すめらみこと）を仰（あふ）ぎ奉（まつ）り

takaki tafutoki miwoshihenomanimani sumeramikotowo afugi matsuri

直（なほ）き正（ただ）しき真心以（まごころもち）て誠（まこと）の道（みち）に違（たが）ふことなく

nahoki tadashiki magokoromochite makotono michini tagafukotonaku

負（お）ひ持（も）つ業（わざ）に励（はげ）ましめ給（たま）ひ家門高（いへかどたか）く身健（みすこ）やかに

ohi motsu wazani hagemashime tamahi ihekadotakaku misukoyakani

世（よ）のため人（ひと）のために尽（つ）くさしめ給（たま）へと恐（かしこ）み恐（かしこ）みも白（まを）す

yonotame hitonotameni tsukusashime tamaheto kashikomi kashikomimo mawosu

Sources and edition (2)

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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