The tradition of worshipping on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month originates from an ancient legend. It is believed that during this time, King Yama will open the Gates of Hell, allowing wandering spirits to return to the mortal realm and visit their former homes and loved ones. Families prepare offerings to invite their departed ancestors and make donations to hungry ghosts with no living relatives to make offerings for them.
In Vietnam, this day is also known as the Day of Pardoning the Dead, coinciding with the Buddhist festival of Vu Lan, a time when people pay respect to their ancestors and express gratitude towards their parents and elders. This year, the 15th day of the 7th lunar month falls on August 30, 2023. Let’s explore the most appropriate incantations for this occasion, following the traditional Vietnamese rituals.
1. Incantation for the 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month, Following Traditional Vietnamese Rituals
Traditional Incantation for the 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month
Incantation for Worshipping the Buddha and Deities at Home
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat (3 times)
We bow to the nine directions of the sky and the ten directions of the Buddha.
We respectfully bow to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Mahamaudgalyayana.
Today is the 15th day of the 7th lunar month in the year of the Golden Cat, 2023.
We, the faithful [insert name], residing at [insert address], sincerely prepare incense, flowers, and offerings, and respectfully invite Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Mahamaudgalyayana to descend and witness our sincerity.
We also invite the Golden Year’s reigning Tai Sui, the City God, the Land God, the Kitchen God, and all the deities governing this area to descend and accept our humble offerings.
On this occasion of Vu Lan, when the spirits are pardoned, we are grateful for the protection of the Triple Gem, the Buddha, the heavens, and the deities. Your great virtues are beyond our repayment.
Thus, we humbly offer these gifts, expressing our sincerity and praying for your blessings. Please protect and guide us, granting us health, harmony within our family, devotion to the right path, prosperity, and success in all endeavors.
We present our sincerity and pray for your blessings.
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat (3 times)
For reference:
Incantation for Ancestral Worship
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat (3 times).
We bow to the nine directions of the sky and the ten directions of the Buddha.
We respectfully bow to our ancestral spirits and all the departed souls.
We, the faithful [insert name], residing at [insert address], on this 15th day of the 7th lunar month in the year of the Golden Cat, 2023, encounter the Vu Lan festival in the middle of the seventh month. We remember our ancestors, grandparents, and parents who gave birth to us and built our family’s foundation, allowing us to enjoy their blessings.
We are deeply grateful for your immense grace and kindness. Thus, we prepare these offerings of incense, flowers, tea, fruits, gold, and silver, along with a heartfelt incense stick, to invite the venerable ancestors, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters, and all the souls within our clan, both blood-related and married into the family.
Please have compassion on your descendants, appear spiritually, witness our sincerity, accept our offerings, and bless us with health, peace, prosperity, and harmony. May our family be devoted to the right path, and may all our endeavors be blessed.
We present our humble offerings with sincerity. May you accept them and bestow your protection.
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat (3 times)
Incantation for Worshipping the Hungry Ghosts
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat (3 times).
We bow to the nine directions of the sky and the ten directions of the Buddha.
We bow to the Buddha Amitabha.
We bow to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
We bow to the Kitchen God and the God of War.
As the 7th lunar month nears its end,
The 15th day pardons the spirits of the netherworld.
The gates of the underworld open,
And the homeless spirits wander.
Great Teacher A Nan Da,
Receive the hungry ghosts with no graves or tombs from the four directions.
From under trees, street corners, and marketplaces,
Where they wander day and night without refuge.
Year-round, they suffer from cold and hunger,
Without a thin layer to shield them from the biting wind.
The hungry ghosts from the south, north, east, and west,
Young and old, men and women, gather here.
Whether they died prematurely or unjustly,
From addiction, greed, accidents, sickness, or violence,
From bombs, blades, dog bites, drowning, or childbirth,
Or even from being struck by lightning,
They now hear our invitation
And come to enjoy the offerings, both past and present.
Rice porridge, betel nuts, fruits, and incense,
Money, clothes of various colors, green and blue,
Rice, salt, fruits, and lanterns,
Take some with you for tomorrow.
Protect us and bring us prosperity.
May our family be harmonious and prosperous.
Remember the day of pardoning the spirits,
And we shall invite you again.
Now that you have enjoyed the offerings,
Lead the young and old back to the underworld.
We burn gold and silver for you
Along with clothes that have been distributed.
We respectfully inform the deities
And present our merits to them.
For the faithful [insert name],
Spouse: [insert name],
Son: [insert name],
Daughter: [insert name],
Residing at: [insert address].
Incantation for Worshipping at Home
“Nam Mo A Di Da Phat
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat”
Nam Mo Dai Tu Dai Bi Quan The Am Bo Tat (chant 3 times while bowing in worship)
Today is the 15th day of the 7th lunar month in the year of the Golden Cat, 2023.
At… (address)
We, the faithful [insert name], along with our entire family, respectfully bow.
We bow to our ancestors, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and all the souls within our clan, both blood-related and married into the family.
We also bow to our ancestral spirits and the wandering souls who are connected to our ancestors.
On this Vu Lan festival, when the spirits are pardoned, we remember the grace of our ancestors and prepare incense, flowers, and food as offerings, presenting them with sincerity before the altar.
We invite the ancestral spirits to descend and enjoy the offerings, praying for their peace and protection. May all their endeavors be blessed, and may they guide us towards success and harmony.
We also invite the wandering souls of the medical and wooden professions, who are lingering in this area, to descend and enjoy the offerings, bestowing peace and protection upon our family.
We respectfully inform you!
A Di Da Phat!
Reference: 4 incantations for worshipping the God of Wealth, ancestors, and deities.
Incantation for Outdoor Worship
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat
We bow to the nine directions of the sky and respectfully bow to the ten directions of the Buddha.
We bow to the Buddha Amitabha.
We bow to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.
We bow to the Kitchen God and the God of War.
As the 7th lunar month nears its end,
The 15th day pardons the spirits of the netherworld.
The gates of the underworld open,
And the homeless spirits wander.
Great Teacher A Nan Da,
Receive the hungry ghosts with no graves or tombs from the four directions.
From under trees, street corners, and marketplaces,
Where they wander day and night without refuge.
Year-round, they suffer from cold and hunger,
Without a thin layer to shield them from the biting wind.
The hungry ghosts from the south, north, east, and west,
Young and old, men and women, gather here.
Whether they died from addiction, greed, accidents, violence, bombs, blades,
Dog bites, drowning, childbirth, or being struck by lightning,
They now hear our invitation
And come to enjoy the offerings, both past and present.
Rice porridge, betel nuts, fruits, and incense,
Money, clothes of various colors, green and blue,
Rice, salt, fruits, and lanterns,
Take some with you for tomorrow.
Protect us and bring us prosperity.
May our family be harmonious and prosperous.
Remember the day of pardoning the spirits,
And we shall invite you again.
Now that you have enjoyed the offerings,
Lead the young and old back to the underworld.
We burn gold and silver for you
Along with clothes that have been distributed.
We respectfully inform the deities
And present our merits to them.
For the faithful [insert name],
Spouse: [insert name],
Son: [insert name],
Daughter: [insert name],
Residing at: [insert address].
Incantation for Burning Paper Offerings
Incantation for Worshipping the Buddha
The yin and yang are one. The Buddha is worshipped. The ritual of burning gold and silver is complete. The offerings are burnt, and the ritual is concluded.
Or
As above, so below. The Buddha has been worshipped. The ritual of burning gold and silver is complete. The offerings are burnt, and the ritual is concluded.
Incantation for Burning Clothes
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat
We bow to the Buddha Shakyamuni, who descended to the mortal realm.
We bow to the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara and the Kitchen God.
As the 7th lunar month nears its end,
The 15th day pardons the spirits of the netherworld.
The gates of the underworld open,
And the homeless spirits wander aimlessly.
Great Teacher A Nan Da,
Receive the hungry ghosts with no graves or tombs from the four directions.
From under trees, street corners, and marketplaces,
Where they wander day and night without refuge.
Year-round, they suffer from cold and hunger,
Without a thin layer to shield them from the biting wind.
The hungry ghosts from the south, north, east, and west,
Young and old, men and women, gather here.
Whether they died prematurely or unjustly,
From addiction, greed, accidents, sickness, or violence,
From bombs, blades, dog bites, drowning, or childbirth,
Or even from being struck by lightning,
They now hear our invitation
And come to enjoy the offerings, both past and present.
Rice porridge, betel nuts, fruits, and incense,
Money, clothes of various colors, green and blue,
Rice, salt, fruits, and lanterns,
Take some with you for tomorrow.
Protect us and bring us prosperity.
May our family be harmonious and prosperous.
Remember the day of pardoning the spirits,
And we shall invite you again.
Now that you have enjoyed the offerings,
Lead the young and old back to the underworld.
We burn gold and silver for you
Along with clothes that have been distributed.
We respectfully inform the deities
And present our merits to them.
For the faithful [insert name],
Spouse: [insert name],
Son: [insert name],
Daughter: [insert name],
Residing at: [insert address], street…, ward/district…, commune/town…, province…
Nam Mo A Di Da Phat
Note: After burning the paper money and clothes, the host should sprinkle rice and salt in the five directions and four corners.
Reference: How to Worship and Read Incantations on the 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month in 2023
2 Important Notes for Worship and Incantations on the 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month
When to Worship at Home and Outdoors?
When to Worship at Home and Outdoors
When choosing the day for worship, it is essential to distinguish between the rituals for worshipping ancestors and those for worshipping hungry ghosts. These are two separate rituals. However, nowadays, many people combine the two, which is not recommended. Ancestral worship should be performed during the day, inside the home, before the ancestral altar, as a way to express gratitude and respect to the departed family members. On the other hand, the ritual for worshipping hungry ghosts (wandering spirits) should be conducted outdoors, preferably at a temple or similar location, and preferably in the evening.
Reference:
How to Prepare the Offering Trays?
How to Prepare the Offering Trays for the 15th Day of the 7th Lunar Month
Reference: What should be included in the offering trays? How to Worship on the 15th Day
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