Rite for Dispelling the Tam Tai (Three Calamities) Misfortune
When falling under three consecutive years of misfortune (e.g., signs of the Tiger-Horse-Dog encountering Tam Tai in years of the Monkey-Rooster-Dog)
Meaning
By belief, the Tam Tai years bring risk and misfortune. The rite of cutting nail clippings/hair and offering a substitute effigy at a three-way road crossing transfers the calamity away, asking the powers above to lessen its consequences and grant peace.
Offering preparation
- Offerings prepared in threes: 3 lamps, 3 incense sticks, 3 cups of water, 3 cups of wine, 3 cups of tea, 3 flowers, 3 fruits, 3 betel-and-areca sets.
- Rice, salt, the "three sacrifices."
- A paper substitute-effigy set, a small package containing 10 nail clippings + a little hair + 3 small paper bills.
- Offer at a three-way road crossing at 9–10 p.m., facing the direction corresponding to that year's Hành Khiển deity.
- Rice, salt, the "three sacrifices."
- A paper substitute-effigy set, a small package containing 10 nail clippings + a little hair + 3 small paper bills.
- Offer at a three-way road crossing at 9–10 p.m., facing the direction corresponding to that year's Hành Khiển deity.
Content
NAMO AMITĀBHA BUDDHA!
NAMO THE SUPREME LORD OF HEAVEN, THE GOLDEN PALACE JADE EMPEROR (Hữu Thiên Chí Tôn Kim Quyết Ngọc Hoàng Thượng Đế)!
WE RESPECTFULLY INVITE: THE GREAT GENERAL MÔNG LONG ....(1) — TAM TAI ....(2) — DEITY OF CALAMITY!
Today is the ...... day of the ...... month, year ......
My name is ....... currently residing at ...... With sincere heart we prepare incense, flowers, and offerings to dispel the Tam Tai misfortune, laid out here. We respectfully invite the Great General Mông Long ......(1) Tam Tai ......(2) Deity of Calamity to descend to this ritual ground, bear witness, and partake.
Support us so that calamity is wholly dispelled, that the year brings Blessing and Longevity, that Spring brings many auspicious celebrations, Summer brings peace, Autumn sends off the Tam Tai, and Winter welcomes a hundred blessings! May this be received above!
*(Bow 3 times, pour tea 3 times, pour wine 3 times, bow 3 times, then burn the gold-and-silver paper and the substitute effigy. Recite the following Mantra 3 times):*
MANTRA FOR DISPELLING CALAMITY AND BRINGING AUSPICIOUSNESS
Namaḥ Samanta Buddhānāṁ, Apratihatasāsanānāṁ, Tadyathā: OṂ KHA KHA KHĀHI KHĀHI HŪṂ HŪṂ JVALA JVALA PRAJVALA PRAJVALA TIṢṬHA TIṢṬHA STHIRI STHIRI SPHAṬ SPHAṬ ŚĀNTIKA ŚRIYE SVĀHĀ. (3 times)