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Main Death Anniversary Prayer — to the Earth Deity

Main death anniversary day — offering to the Earth Deity, Kitchen Gods, and Long Mạch

Meaning

On the main death anniversary, before offering to the family ancestors, one must offer to the Earth Deity to ask permission and invite the deities to share in the offering.

Offering preparation

A full meat offering tray with traditional dishes, incense, flowers, votive paper. Offer to the Earth Deity before offering to the deceased.

Content

Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! - I bow to the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of all Buddhas, the Buddhas of the ten directions. - I respectfully bow to August Heaven and Sovereign Earth and all the venerable deities. - I respectfully bow to the Eastern Kitchen Sovereign of Destiny, Lord of the Kitchen Court. - I respectfully bow to the spirit-deities and Earth Deity overseeing this region. Today is the …………… day of the …………….month, year ……………………………… The day before the death anniversary — Tiên Thường The faithful (we) are: …………………………………………………………………… Residing at: ……………………………………………………………………………………. In light of today being the death anniversary of ………………………………………………………………………… We and our entire family follow the rite, with sincere heart preparing offerings: betel and areca, incense, flowers, tea, fruit; lighting incense of devotion before the seat of the venerable deities and all the sacred ones. We respectfully invite the household Earth Deity, the Kitchen Gods, the Long Mạch Deity, and all the spirit-deities to bear witness and shelter our whole family with peace, ease, and all things good. We respectfully invite the spirits, our ancestors, and the spirits of the lineage that we worship to come together and partake. We offer modest gifts with sincere hearts; we humbly ask to be sheltered and supported. Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha! Namo Amitābha Buddha!

Source: Source: Văn khấn cổ truyền Việt Nam (Traditional Vietnamese ceremonial prayers)