Read, reflect, pray

Essential purification

最要祓さいえうのはらひ

A text in the 1911 Shintō Ōharai Zenshū anthology. It is presented as a historical reading, not the current ritual of every shrine or temple.

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.

By command of Kamurogi and Kamuromi, the imperial ancestral kami dwelling in Takamagahara,

recite the prayer transmitted from heaven. When it is recited,

these words proclaim that every offence and fault will be purified away, leaving none.

Hear them attentively, as a stag raises its ears to listen.

Source text and reading aid

Roman letters are provided for 2 of 4 lines. Readings not fully supplied in the source are left without Roman letters.

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.

高天原（たかまのはら）に神留座（かみとゞまりましま）す皇親神漏岐神漏美（すめむつかみろぎかみろみ）の命（みこと）を以（もつ）て

天津祝詞（あまつのりと）の事（こと）を宣（の）れ如此宣（かくの）らば

amatsunoritono kotowo nore kakunoraba

罪（つみ）と云（い）ふ罪（つみ）咎（とが）と云（い）ふ咎（とが）は不在（あらじ）物（もの）をと祓賜（はらひたま）ひ清賜（きよめたま）ふと申（まう）す事（こと）の由（よし）を

tsumito ifu tsumi togato ifu togaha araji monowoto harahitamahi kiyometamafuto mausu kotono yoshiwo

左男鹿（さをしか）の八（やつ）の耳（おんみゝ）を振立（ふりた）てゝ聞食（きこしめ）せと申（まう）す

Sources and edition (1)

国立国会図書館／神誠館ほか — 神道太祓大全：神拝祝詞（1911年）第9項『最要祓』

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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