Read, reflect, pray

Home altar worship prayer

神棚拝詞かみだなはいし

A prayer before a kamidana addressing Amaterasu and the local guardian kami. The altar in the text is a household altar; this website is not treated as a physical shrine.

English meaning and source text

Text size

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.

Before those dwelling on this household sacred shelf, whose very names inspire awe,

Amaterasu Ōmikami and the deities of our native land, we bow

and respectfully speak.

Gratefully we receive the great deities’ broad and abundant blessings.

Following the lofty and honored divine teaching,

with sincere, straightforward, and upright hearts,

without departing from an honest way of life,

may we work diligently at our responsibilities.

May we bring honor to our household and remain healthy in body,

so that we may devote our strength to the world and to others.

With reverence we 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.

此（これ）の神床（かむどこ）に坐（ま）す掛（か）けまくも畏（かしこ）き

koreno kamudokoni masu kakemakumo kashikoki

天照大御神（あまてらすおほみかみ）産土大神等（うぶすなのおほかみたち）の大前（おほまへ）を拝（をろが）み奉（まつ）りて

amaterasuohomikami ubusunanoohokamitachino ohomahewo worogami matsurite

恐（かしこ）み恐（かしこ）みも白（まを）さく

kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku

大神等（おほかみたち）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

ohokamitachino 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

takaki tafutoki miwoshihenomanimani

直（なほ）き正（ただ）しき真心（まごころ）もちて

nahoki tadashiki magokoromochite

誠（まこと）の道（みち）に違（たが）ふことなく

makotono michini tagafukotonaku

負（お）ひ持（も）つ業（わざ）に励（はげ）ましめ給（たま）ひ

ohi motsu wazani hagemashime tamahi

家門高（いへかどたか）く身健（みすこやか）に

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

yonotame hitonotameni tsukusashime tamaheto

恐（かしこ）み恐（かしこ）みも白（まを）す

kashikomi kashikomimo mawosu

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)

熊本県教育関係者神職協議会（白山姫神社公開） — 神拝詞

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.

← All prayers and sutras