Read, reflect, pray
Prayer at a Well — 1897 edition
井神祭(1897年刊本)
A historical prayer to the well kami for clear, enduring water and peace within the household. It is a different text from the shorter Prayer of Reverence to the Well Kami already on this site.
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 Mitsuhanome no Kami, Mi-i no Kami and Oshikumone no Kami, who govern this place, we humbly speak.
We revere your sacred power: you protect this well abundantly, allowing us to draw water morning and evening as if receiving the enduring water of a heavenly well.
We offer sake, food, fresh products of the sea and seasonal fruit. Please receive these offerings and hear our words peacefully.
For countless generations, let this water remain clear and never run dry. Grant us ever more abundant water that is gentle, sweet and pure.
Cleanse wrongdoing and defilement arising within and outside this household. Let our kin live long, without bereavement or trouble, and continue serving you. We humbly make this request.
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.
此処を宇須波岐坐す、掛巻も畏き水波能売神・御井神・忍雲根神の大前に、恐み恐みも白さく。
konotokorowo usuhaki masu, kakemakumo kashikoki mitsuhanomenokami miwinokami oshikumonenokamino ohomaheni, kashikomi kashikomimo mawosaku.
此の生井の水を広く厚く守り給ひて、朝に夕に間なく時なく汲挙る天津水を、天の忍石の長井水と受けしめ給へる、厳の御霊をうづみかしこみて、
kono ikuwino mizuwo hiroku atsuku mamori tamahite, ashitani yufubeni manaku tokinaku kumiaguru amatsumizuwo, ameno oshiihano nagawimizuto ukeshime tamaheru, itsuno mitamawouzumikashikomite,
奉る幣帛は、御酒・御饌に、鮮なる海物、時の菓を取添へて仕奉らくを、平けく安けく聞食して、
tatematsuru miteguraha, miki mikeni, azarakenaru umitsumono, tokino konomiwo torisohete tsukahematsurakuwo, tahirakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite,
千代万代もにごる事なく、涸る時なく、和き水の甘き水の清き水を、弥多に弥広に授け給ひ与へ給ひて、
chiyoyorozuyomonigoru kotonaku, karu tokinaku, nigiki mizuno umaki mizuno kiyoki mizuwo, iyasahani iyahironi sazuke tamahi atahe tamahite,
此の家の内外より起る罪穢を祓給ひ清給ひて、親族は喪なく事なく息長く、堅石に常石に仕奉らしめ給へと、畏み畏みも白す。
kono iheno uchitoyori okoru tsumikegarewo harahe tamahi kiyome tamahite, ukarayakaraha monaku kotonaku ikinagaku, kakihani tokihani tsukahematsurashime tamaheto, 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)
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.