Read, reflect, pray
Prayer for rain
雨乞祝詞
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
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 the great kami, whose name we speak with awe, we offer these words. From the beginning of spring rain fell continually, and we rejoiced, hoping for abundant harvests of the crops people tend. But lately severe drought has continued for many days, until field grain and even blades of grass have withered.
So on this abundant day of flourishing life, as the morning sun rises brightly, we set out offerings of gratitude, pure sake and food abundantly like mountains, purify ourselves with reverence and pray. Hear this wish peacefully.
Let clouds suddenly cover the sky and rain fall as though heaven’s waters were poured out. Let us lead the water flowing from the mouths of valleys in your mountains into the fields as good, beneficent water. If the five grains ripen richly and autumn rice ears grow long and drooping, we will offer many sheaves of first fruits, cooked and in the ear. At the autumn festival, we bow deeply in praise, wishing that you enjoy the red-ripe ears as abundant and lasting sacred food.
Further we speak: if there are faults or mistakes among the priests and ritual attendants gathered to serve today, those bearing local duties, or any men and women, reconsider and hear them favorably in the spirit of Kamunaobi and Ōnaobi. Let us serve peacefully.
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.
掛卷も畏き其大神の廣前に白さく今年春の始より安麻美豆繼て降零ば天下の公民の取作れる奥津御歲を豊年に成幸給はんと嘉み悅びし頃日に炎旱日を經て百姓の田作穀物を始草の片葉に至るまで枯萎るが故に
kakemakumo kashikoki sonoohomikamino hiromaheni mausaku kotoshi haruno hajimeyori amamizu tsugite furereba amenoshitano ohontakarano toritsukureru okutsumitoshiwo toyotoshini nashisaihahetamahanto ureshimi yorokobishi konogoroni hideri hiwo hete ohontakarano tatsukuri tanatsumonowo hajime kusano katahani itarumade kareshinaeruga yuweni
今日の生日の足日の朝日の豐榮登に禮代の幣帛由紀の御酒御贄を横山の如く置足して由志理伊都志理持齋まはり清まはり祈禱申事の由を平けく安らけく聞食て
kefuno ikuhino taruhino asahino toyosakanoborini iyashirono mitegura yukino miki minihewo yokoyamano gotoku okitarahashite yushiri itsushiri mochiyumahari kiyomahari inorimausukotono yoshiwo tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite
忽に天津御空多奈雲入り天津美津古保須が如く降て大神等の敷座す山山の口より狹久那多利に下給ふ水を甘水の美水と大御田に受て五穀秋の垂穗八握穗に佐加幣志米成榮給はば初穗を汁にも頴にも八百稻千稻に引居置て秋の祭に御膳の長御膳と赤丹の穗を神顏に聞食と言祝奉る吉事を頸根衝拔烏呂餓美て稱辭竟奉ると恐み恐みも申す
tachimachini amatsumisora tanagumoiri amatsumizu kobosuga gotoku furite ohokamitachino shikimasu yamayamano kuchiyori sakunatarini kudashitamafu mizuwo amakimizuno utsunomizuto ohomitani ukete itsukusanotanatsumono akino tariho yatsukahoni sakaheshime nashisakihahetamahaba hatsuhowo shirunimo kahinimo yahoshine chishineni hikisuweokite akino matsurini mikeno nagamiketo akanino howo kankabini kikoshimeseto kotohogimatsuru yogotowo unanetsukinuki worogamite tatahegotowohematsuruto osoremi osoremimo mausu
辭別て白さく今日集侍る神主祝部等を始刀禰男女に至るまで咎過有をば神直備大直備に見直し聞直座して平けく安らけく令奉仕給へと恐み恐みも申す
kotowakete mausaku kefu ugonaharihanberu kaunashi hafurirawo hajime tone wotokowominani itarumade togaayamachi aruwoba kannawohi ohonawohini minahoshi kikinawoshimashishite tahirakeku yasurakeku tsukahematsurashimetamaheto osoremi osoremimo mausu
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.