Inori no Mori祈りの杜working title

Read, reflect, pray

Prayer for the Kami of Medicine (1921)

薬神祭祝詞やくしんさいのりと

A complete model prayer inviting Ōnamuchi and Sukunabikona, honoring their association with medicine, and giving thanks for aid to people.

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.

An independent rendering of the displayed historical model. Recovery, protection and long life are expressed as prayers, not as guaranteed effects of treatment or ritual.

We purify this place as a sacred dwelling and respectfully invite and enshrine Ōnamuchi and Sukunabikona. In the presence of these two great kami, we humbly speak.

You established the way of medicine to relieve the illnesses that trouble people in this world. We gratefully honor your far-reaching grace, which, in this prayer’s understanding, lends sacred support to the work of physicians and brings aid to people.

We offer sake, food and other gifts as ritual offerings and bow in reverence. Please accept them graciously as sincere and sufficient offerings. May you continue to guard and bless us far into the future. With reverence, we speak.

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.

二柱の薬神をおまつりする(ふたはしらのやくしんをおまつりする)

此(こ)の小床(おどこ)を伊都(いつ)の真舎(まや)と由麻波利(ゆまわり)清麻波利(きよまわり)、招奉(おぎまつ)り斎鎮奉(いわいつまつ)る、掛巻(かけま)くも畏(かしこ)き大穴牟遅大神(おおなむちのおおかみ)、少名毘古那大神(すくなびこなのおおかみ)、二柱大神(ふたはしらのおおかみ)の大前(おおまえ)に、慎(つつし)み敬(うやま)ひ恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(もう)さく。

kono odokowo itsuno mayato yumawari kiyomawari, ogimatsuri iwaitsumatsuru, kakemakumo kashikoki oonamuchinoookami, sukunabikonanoookami, futahashiranoookamino oomaeni, tsutsushimi uyamahi kashikomi kashikomimo mousaku.

顕見(うつしみ)の世(よ)の人等(ひとら)が苦瀬(うきせ)に落(お)ちて阿都加比悩(あつかいなや)む病(やまい)を治(おさ)むる薬(くすり)の方(みち)を始(はじ)め給(たま)ひ、何某(なにがし)が家(いえ)の業(なりわい)と勤(いそ)み務(つと)むる医師(くすし)の業(わざ)に奇(くす)く尊(とうと)き御霊幸(みたまさきわ)ひ給(たま)ひて、諸(もろもろ)の人(ひと)を助(たす)け給(たま)ひ救(すく)へる広(ひろ)き厚(あつ)き恩頼(みたまのふゆ)を重(おも)み奉(まつ)り忝(かたじけな)み奉(まつ)りて。

utsushimino yono hitoraga ukiseni ochite atsukainayamu yamaiwo osamuru kusurino michiwo hajime tamahi, nanigashiga ieno nariwaito isomi tsutomuru kusushino wazani kusuku toutoki mitamasakiwahi tamahite, moromorono hitowo tasuke tamahi sukuheru hiroki atsuki mitamanofuyuwo omomi matsuri katajikenami matsurite.

御祭仕奉(みまつりつかえまつ)らくと、宇豆(うず)の御酒(みき)、御食(みけ)、種々(くさぐさ)の物(もの)を礼白(いやじろ)の幣帛(みてぐら)と捧奉(ささげまつ)り、伊波比伏(いわいふ)しつつ拝奉(おろがみまつ)る状(さま)を相宇豆那比(あいうずない)給(たま)ひ、安幣(やすみてぐら)の足幣(たるみてぐら)と平(たいら)けく安(やす)らけく聞食(きこしめ)して、今(いま)より後(のち)も弥遠(いやとお)に弥永(いやなが)に守幸給(まもりさきわえたま)へと、恐(かしこ)み恐(かしこ)みも白(もう)す。

mimatsuritsukaematsurakuto, uzuno miki, mike, kusagusano monowo iyajirono mitegurato sasagematsuri, iwaifushitsutsu orogamimatsuru samawo aiuzunai tamahi, yasumitegurano tarumitegurato tairakeku yasurakeku kikoshimeshite, imayori nochimo iyatooni iyanagani mamorisakiwaetamaheto, kashikomi kashikomimo mousu.

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.

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