Read, reflect, pray
Nine-syllable transmission and recitation words
九字伝授・唱え言葉
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, sound explanations and source text
English meaning and sound explanations
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.
Section 1
The nine characters 臨・兵・闘・者・皆・陣・列・在・前 are recited.
This recitation uses the nine characters. The edition provides no explanation of their meaning; they are not replaced with a universal prayer for all kami and buddhas.
Section 2
This is a mantra addressed to Nittenshi, the solar deity. It is a passage for reciting the sounds of the original.
The recipient is identified from the heading; no literal translation has been established from the phonetic text.
Section 3
This is a mantra addressed to Marishiten. It is a passage for reciting the sounds of the original.
The recipient is identified from the heading; no literal translation has been established from the phonetic text.
Section 4
With wholehearted refuge, I bow with my head to the ground. Great solar deity, Amaterashimasu Hi no Ōmikami, shine throughout the worlds in every direction to save all living beings.
Section 5
May the seven calamities immediately disappear.
The five sounds ‘abira unken’ are recited.
This phrase strings together seed-syllable sounds. No translation as an ordinary sentence is presented.
Section 6
May the seven blessings immediately arise.
‘Basara zato ban’ is recited.
This recitation follows the edition’s phonetic transcription. Individual sound meanings are not established here.
Section 7
A mantra combining sounds associated with the names of Nittenshi and Marishiten is recited.
This explains correspondence with the preceding two mantras; it is not a literal translation of the entire formula.
Section 8
Please protect the person designated by the placeholder name and compassionately receive this wish.
Section 9
This is the Jōsangō inmyō, a seal-and-mantra formula for purifying the three activities of body, speech, and mind.
The use is identified from the heading. A literal translation of the phonetic text is not established.
Section 10
A mantra associated with the samaya of the Buddha family is recited.
The Buddha family is an esoteric Buddhist division. A literal translation of this edition’s phonetic text is not established.
Section 11
A mantra associated with the samaya of the Lotus family is recited.
The Lotus family is an esoteric Buddhist division. A literal translation of this edition’s phonetic text is not established.
Section 12
A mantra associated with the samaya of the Vajra family is recited.
The Vajra family is an esoteric Buddhist division. A literal translation of this edition’s phonetic text is not established.
Section 13
The Goshin samaya mantra for protection of the body is recited.
The use is identified from the heading. A literal translation of the phonetic text is not established.
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.
九字
臨兵闘者皆陣列在前
rin hiyau tou shiya kai jin retsu zai zen
日天子真言
おん あぢちやや そわか
on ajichiyaya sowaka
摩利支天真言
おん まりしゑい そわか
on marishiwei sowaka
合掌唱文
南無帰命頂礼。大日天子。天照坐日大御神。為度衆生故。普照四天下。
namukimiyauteurai. dainitsutenji. amaterashimashimasuhinoohomikami. widoshiyujiyauko. fuseushitenge.
外縛印
七難即滅
shichinansokumetsu
あびらうんけん
abiraunken
内縛印
七福即生
shichifukusokushiyau
ばさらざとばん
basarazatoban
金剛合掌
おん あぢちや まりしゑい そわか
on ajichiya marishiwei sowaka
合掌
護持某甲、哀愍納受
gojimukau, aiminnoujiyu
浄三業印明
おん そわばんわ しゆださつわだるま そわばんわ しゆどがん
on sowabanwa shiyudasatsuwadaruma sowabanwa shiyudogan
仏部三昧耶
おん たたがとどばんわや そわか
on tatagatodobanwaya sowaka
蓮華部三昧耶
おん はんどもどばんわや そわか
on handomodobanwaya sowaka
金剛部三昧耶
おん わじろどばんわや そわか
on wajirodobanwaya sowaka
護身三昧耶
おん わじらぎに はらじはたや そわか
on wajiragini harajihataya sowaka
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.