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Legend has it that Co Chin was a celestial nymph who attended to the Mother Goddess in temples and ruled over nine wells. This guide aims to provide you with a comprehensive and effective method of worshipping Co Chin, including offerings, incantations, and rituals to invoke her blessings. Discover the traditional and authentic way to pay homage to this revered deity and unlock her divine favors.

Administrator

14 October, 2024

The Temple of Co Chin Gieng is a renowned spiritual site in Thanh Hoa, attracting numerous devotees. Join us on a journey as we delve into the rituals, prayers, and practices associated with invoking the blessings of Co Chin through this informative article.

1Unveiling the Mystique of Co Chin: A Legendary Figure

Co Chin, also revered as Co Chin Song Son, is an integral part of the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship tradition, specifically linked to the Four Palaces. Within this spiritual framework, the Four Holy Maidens, including Co Chin, are depicted as virtuous and graceful attendants serving the Mothers or the Lords.

According to folklore, Co Chin was endowed with divine powers and served as a fortune-teller to Mother Song, with her prophecies always proving true. This association with Mother Song is a significant aspect of her legend.

In various folktales, Co Chin is described as the ninth daughter of the Jade Emperor, also known as the Ninth Heavenly Fairy. She descended to earth and sold water at the Ba Doi Temple gate, where she once served Mother Song. Unfortunately, mortals mistook her for a demon and hunted her down. After this traumatic event, Co Chin returned to the Jade Emperor and recounted her ordeal, leading to the imprisonment and madness of her persecutors. She also inflicted them with illnesses, causing them to wander as half-human, half-ghost beings.

Another enchanting legend paints Co Chin as a fairy serving the Mother Goddess in Song Son, overseeing nine sacred wells. Her travels took her to the four corners of the land, and she fell in love with the captivating scenery of Thanh Hoa. Here, she gathered other fairies, constructed a dwelling from sung tree wood, and found solace in hammocks hung from banyan trees.

Unraveling the Legend of Co Chin

2Timing is Everything: When to Worship Co Chin?

The days dedicated to paying homage to Co Chin are imbued with spiritual significance:

26th of the second lunar month: Marked by a festive procession carrying a palanquin from Song Son Temple to Co Chin Temple and ultimately reaching Ba Doi Pass.
9th of the ninth lunar month: The primary festival in honor of Co Chin, celebrated at the Co Chin Temple with great devotion.

Co Chin’s magical prowess and manifestations are widely acknowledged, giving rise to temples erected in her honor across the land. Notable examples include Co Chin Suoi Rong in Hai Phong, Co Chin Am Duong in Ninh Binh, Co Chin Thuong in Bac Giang, Co Chin Dong Mo, and Co Chin Tay Thien. Each of these temples is a testament to the reverence for this powerful deity.

Timing Your Worship of Co Chin

3Preparing Offerings and Rituals: A Guide

When preparing offerings for Co Chin, devotees have the option of choosing between vegetarian and non-vegetarian items, depending on their personal preferences. Simplicity is key, and extravagant displays are not necessary:

Vegetarian offerings: A humble bouquet of flowers, incense, and votive paper (canh vang and canh bac) are sufficient.
Non-vegetarian offerings: A bouquet of flowers, a boiled chicken, and votive paper in the form of shoes and clothes.

A Guide to Offerings and Rituals

4Invoking Blessings: Prayers for Co Chin

The following are the prayers dedicated to Co Chin, invoking her blessings and guidance:

Nam Mo A Di Da Phat!

With reverence, I call upon the nine directions of Heaven and the ten directions of the Buddha, the ten-directional Buddha.

I pay homage to the ten-directional Buddha

I pay homage to the ten-directional Dharma

I pay homage to the ten-directional Sangha

I gather my heart and mind, invoking the Buddha Tathagata

I gather my heart and mind, invoking the Buddha Shakyamuni

I gather my heart and mind, invoking the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Mahasattva

I pay homage to Amitabha Buddha

I gather my heart and mind, invoking the Celestial, Musical, and Ghostly Ministers, as well as the Earthly Ministers and their retinue.

I pay homage to the Jade Emperor

I pay homage to the Undefeated Father of the East

I pay homage to the Southern Dipper and the Northern Dipper

I pay homage to the Four Guardians of the City Gates

I pay homage to the Nine Goddesses: Goddess of the Nine Heavens, National Goddess Quynh Giao, Goddess of the Milky Way, Song Son National Goddess, Son Lam Dong Cuong National Goddess, Son Lam Bac Le Holy Mother, and the Holy Mother of the Water Palace.

I pay homage to the Four Guardians of the Three Gates

I pay homage to Tran Hung Dao, the Great Deity, the Deity of Suot Gate, the Second Deity of Nhi Vi, the Goddess of Suot Gate, and the Goddess of Cuat Gate.

I pay homage to the Three Guardians of the Three Gates

The First Guardian of the Three Gates, the Heavenly Guardian

The Second Guardian of the Three Gates, the Lunar Guardian

The Third Guardian of the Three Gates, the Guardian of the Water Moon

The Southern Guardian, the Guardian of the Right Side

I pay homage to the Five Lords of the Five Directions, the Great Lord of the East

The Great Lord of the East, the Second Great Lord of Surveillance

The Great Lord of the East, the Third Great Lord of the Yangtze River

The Great Lord of the East, the Fourth Great Lord of the Examiner

The Great Lord of the East, the Fifth Great Lord of the Contest

I pay homage to the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the First Guardian of the East, the First Guardian of the East, the First Guardian of Dong Cuong

The Second Guardian of the Four Gates, the Guardian of the Thach Temple, the Guardian of the Four Gates, the Guardian of the Four Examiners, the Guardian of the Four Guardians, the Guardian of the Four Guardians, the Guardian of the Four Guardians

The Third Guardian of the Four Gates, the Guardian of the Nine Springs, the Sixth Guardian of the Four Gates, the Seventh Guardian of the Four Gates, the Eighth Guardian of the Four Gates, the Ninth Guardian of the Four Gates, the Tenth Guardian of the Four Gates, the Eleventh Guardian of the Four Gates, the Twelfth Guardian of the Four Gates

I pay homage to the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Northern Guardian of the Four Gates, the Northern Guardian of the Four Gates, the Northern Guardian of Bac Le

I pay homage to the Four Holy Ones of the Four Gates, the Holy One of Ca, the Holy One of Trieu Tuong, the Holy One of Ho, the Holy One of Suoi Mo

I pay homage to the Four Holy Ones of the Four Gates, the Holy One of Con Mon, the Holy One of Nghe An

I pay homage to the Four Holy Ones of the Four Gates, the Holy One of Co Chin Song Son

I pay homage to the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates, the Four Guardians of the Four Gates

I pay homage to the Lord of the Mountain, the White-Robed Lord, and the attending fairies, who are always ready to receive our offerings and prayers.

I pay homage to the Earth Goddess, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City, the Guardian of the City

Today is the ……… day of the ………. month of the Year of the Metal Tiger

Believer’s Name: ……………..
Age: ………….

Address: ………………………………

My wishes: …………………………………

Prayers for Invoking Co Chin’s Blessings

5Practical Tips for Worshipping Co Chin

When engaging in worship, focus your mind and heart on your deepest wishes and make your requests known.
Offer fruits in odd numbers, such as bananas, apples, and oranges, while avoiding fruits that grow in clusters like mangoes, longan, and lychees.
Incorporate flowers in shades of pink and red into your offerings, as Co Chin is particularly fond of these hues.
If preparing offerings is not feasible, you can conveniently purchase them at the temple.

Practical Tips for a Meaningful Worship Experience

The above prayer is a comprehensive guide to invoking the blessings of Co Chin of the Well. We hope that this article has equipped you with valuable insights into this spiritual practice.

Frequently asked questions

The Temple of Co Chin Gieng is a spiritual site in Thanh Hoa, Vietnam, attracting devotees who follow the rituals and prayers associated with invoking the blessings of Co Chin.

Co Chin, also known as Co Chin Song Son, is a revered figure in the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship tradition, specifically linked to the Four Palaces. She is one of the Four Holy Maidens, depicted as virtuous attendants serving the Mothers or Lords.

According to folklore, Co Chin possessed divine powers and served as a fortune-teller to Mother Song, with her prophecies always coming true. In various tales, she is described as the ninth daughter of the Jade Emperor, who descended to earth and sold water at the Ba Doi Temple gate. Unfortunately, mortals mistook her for a demon, leading to a traumatic event. She is also associated with enchanting legends, including one where she serves the Mother Goddess and oversees nine sacred wells.

The spiritually significant days to pay homage to Co Chin include the 26th of the second lunar month and the 9th of the ninth lunar month. The 26th features a festive procession from Song Son Temple to Co Chin Temple, while the 9th is the primary festival celebrated at the Co Chin Temple.

Devotees can offer either vegetarian or non-vegetarian items. Vegetarian offerings include flowers, incense, and votive paper (canh vang and canh bac). Non-vegetarian offerings consist of flowers, a boiled chicken, and votive paper in the shape of shoes and clothes. Simplicity is valued over extravagance.

There is a specific prayer dedicated to Co Chin, invoking her blessings and guidance. The prayer involves reverently calling upon the nine directions of Heaven, the ten directions of the Buddha, and paying homage to various deities and guardians, including the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, the Celestial Ministers, the Jade Emperor, the Undefeated Father of the East, the Four Guardians of the City Gates, the Nine Goddesses, and many others.

When engaging in worship, focus your mind and heart on your deepest wishes. Offer fruits in odd numbers, such as bananas, apples, and oranges. Include flowers in shades of pink and red, as these are Co Chin’s favorite colors. If preparing offerings is not feasible, you can purchase them conveniently at the temple.