The purpose of this article is to share with the Western Folks and also to the Chinese / Oversea Chinese / English Educated Chinese / Non-Taoist Chinese, who have no clue what is going on during Taoist Spirit Possession. It is also to show the power of Taoist Chants (of Folk Chinese Religion) , which can invoke (invite / call upon) deities / spirit entities.
What You see here is the practice of the Folk Chinese / Taoist Religion of the Southern Chinese of Fujian / Min-nan / Hokkien. Similar practices can be seen in other Chinese communities in South East Asia, who are mostly the Southern Chinese (Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, Hainanese).
Many Western folks only get to know about Taoist Philosophy from the Book - Tao Te Jing but have no clue about the Taoist Folk Religion. Different parts of China have different unique forms of Taoism Religion Practices.
This article will be an eye opener to gain deeper information and knowledge about Folk Taoist Practices of the Southern Chinese, which You can't get elsewhere.
Taoist Spirit Medium Ritual contains few hundred mantras. The invitation of different deities will have their own specific mantras.
Howoever, there are common mantras (one size fits all) that are often used to invite different deities (to possess the spirit mediums). Below are the 2 most common Mantras used to invite heavenly deities during Taoist Spirit Medium Possession in Singapore.
The specific name of the deity is called upon during the chanting to invite that particular deity (to posess the spirit medium).
It is often chanted in Hokkien (A Chinese Fujian Dialect). Translation in English is included.
三条清香咒:
(Mantra of 3 Fragrance (Joss) Sticks)
三条清香来请神
Sa tiau cheng hio lai cia sin
(Inviting Deity With 3 Fragrance (Joss) Sticks)
五路兵马到坛前
Gor lo peng ma gao tua cheng
(Spiritual Soldiers and Horses of the 5 directions come to the Altar)
一声金鼓天门开
Jit sia kim kor ti men kai
(One sound from the Golden Drum, the heavenly door opens)
二声金鼓神如在
Di sia kim kor sin zi zhai
(2nd sound from the Golden Drum, Deity is almost here)
三声金鼓出坛来
Sa sia kim kor chuk tua lai
(3rd sound from the Golden Drum, coming to altar)
五路兵马分两排
Gor lo peng ma hun liong pai
(Spiritual Soldiers and Horses of the 5 directions line up on 2 sides)
有心请神神也知
Wu sim cia sin sin ya zai
(With sincerity, the deity can feel)
无心请神神也来
Bo sim cia sin sin ya lai
(Without sincerity, the diety will also arrive)
高山峻领也着过
Kao san chun nia ya tioh kueh
(Over the high mountains will also pass through)
深江大海也着来
Sim kan dai hai ya tioh lai
(Passing through deep oceans, will also come)
来到坛前心大闹
Lai gao tua cheng sim dai nau
(Coming to the alar with high spirit)
手拍奉旨心自灵
Chiu phah hong chee sim zu leng
(Hand holding the official tablet and understood the invitation)
无法无常该着查
Bo huat bo siong kai tioh cha
(Inspection from the 2 hell deities)
押落地狱受凌迟
Ah lo teh gak siu leng ti
(Evils bring down to hell for punishments)
斩妖除邪腾空起
Cham iau ti sia teng kang ki
(Slaying the evils and rise up to the sky)
镇守凡间救万民
Tin siu hoan kan kiu bun beng
(Guarding and protecting the human folks)
弟子一心三拜请
Teh zi jit sim sam pai cia
(Disciple with sincere heart)
拜请(众神明)*速降临
Pai cia (Jiong sin beng)* sok kang leng
(Calling upon the deities to come immediately)
*Use the term (众神-Jiong sin) - "All The Deities" if you are only praticing the chant, or else call upon the name of the particular deity.
神兵火急如律令
Sin peng hue kip lu lo leng
(Spiritual Soldiers hurriedly coming forward)
2nd Mantra is chanted when the spirit medium is showing sign that the deity is entering him / her.
乾坤咒:
(Qian Kun Mantra)
香气沉沉满乾坤
Hiong ki dim dim boan khian khun
(Fragrance fill up the universe)
点起清香透天门
Diam ki cheng hiw tou ti men
(Lighting up the fragrance (Joss) sticks throughout the heavenly door)
金炉拜请储为殿
Kim lo pai cia tu ui dien
(Golden Urn in the temple )
玉兔光辉似车轮
Giok tho kong hui siu chia lun
(Shining Jade rabbit resembles the wheel)
南辰北斗来下降
Nam sin pak tau lai har gang
(Southern Stars & North Dipper coming forward)
五色彩云闹纷纷
Gor sek chai hun nau hun hun
(5 colour clouds everywhere)
朱笔镜中开神符
Zhu bi keng tiong kai sin hu
(Ink blush on the mirror creating talismans)
桃源童子请神仙
Tho guan tong zi cia sin sian
(Tao Yuan boy inviting immortals)
仙人闻我向神请
Sian lang bun wa hiong sin cia
(Inviting the Immortals)
飞云走马到坛前
Puey hun zao ma gao tua cheng
(Spiritual Horses over the clouds coming to temple)
弟子一心三拜请
Teh zi yi sim sam pai cia
(Disciples praying 3 times with sincerity)
(众神)*速降临
(Jiong sin)* sok kang leng
(Deities come quickly)
*Use the term (众神-Jiong sin) "All The Deities" if you are only praticing the chant,or else call upon the name of the particular deity.
神兵火急如如律令
Sin peng hue kip lu lo leng
(Spiritual Soldiers hurriedly coming forward)
Below is the video of Temple assistants chanting the 2 mantras to invite 'Shan Cai Tong Zi' (善財童子) Deity (Sudhana) to possess / enter the Taoist Spirit Medium. *More Info on 'Shan Cai Tong Zi' (善財童子)*
Important Note: Please be reminded that by just knowing the above 2 mantras is not enough for You to start inviting Taoist Deities to possess You or Your friends and start a consultation service or spirit mediums procession. There are many tedious steps (and huge amount of money spent) and knowledge to operate a proper Temple for Taoist Spirit Medium Worship, such as rituals (with chants and talismans) for proper consecration and spiritual activation of each and every deities statues, the black command flag (a must have for spirit medium worship), the usage and application of the snake whip, creating and writing talismans to be used during Taoist Spirit Medium Ritual, etc and ultimately.. having the affiliation / fated / being choosen by a particular deity, which in Hokkien, they call it "神骨" (Xin Guk). After that, the Taoist Spirit Medium must learn and possess the knowledge to prepare themselves for the deities to enter their bodies. The spirit medium assistants must possess the knowledge of chants, drawing talismans and the proper ritual procedures to invite and sending off the deities.
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