Holy Words of Shinto: Harae Kotoba

It is said that just by reciting these Holy words -  called Harae Kotoba (祓詞, purification words) - below, you can purify yourself and turn bad luck into good luck!
The words are always recited before a Shinto ritual.

The Harae Kotoba:
掛けまくも畏き 伊邪那岐の大神 / 筑紫の日向の橘の小戸の阿波岐原に /
禊ぎ祓へ給ひし時に/ 生り坐せる祓へ戸の大神たち /
諸々の禍事・罪・穢れあらむをば /
祓へ給ひ清め給へと 白すことを聞こし召せと /
恐み恐みも白す。

Pronunciation (in Japanese):
かけまくも かしこき/ 
いざなぎのおおかみ / つくしの ひむかの たちばなの おどのあわぎはらに/
みそぎはらえたまいしときに / なりませる はらえどのおおかみたち /
もろもろの まがごと つみ けがれ あらむをば /
はらえたまい きよめたまえと / まおすことを きこしめせと/
かしこみ かしこみも まおす。

The recording of a Shinto priest reciting the Harae Kotoba

Pronunciation (in alphabet):
Kakemakumo kashikoki / Izanagi-no-Ohkami / Tsukushi-no Himuka-no Tachibana-no Odo-no Awagihara-ni/
Mishogi harae Tamaishi tokini / Narimaseru Haraedo-no Ohkami-tachi /
Moromoro-no Magagoto Tsumi Kegare Aramuoba /
Haraetamai Kiyometamae-to/ Maosukoto-o Kikoshimese-to/
Kasikomi Kashikomi Maosu.



The Meaning of the Harae Kotoba:
Ye great gods of Haraedo (Haraedo-no-Ohkami-tachi), who were born when the great Izanagi (Izanagi-no-Ohkami) cleansed his body at Tsukushi-no Himuka-no Tachibana-no Odo-no Awagihara, hear my wish to be purified and cleansed (Haraetamai Kiyometamae) of any ill fortunes, sins and evil energy (Magagoto Tsumi Kegare) from which I may suffer.


The Origin of the Harae Kotoba:
According to the ancient texts of "Kojiki" and "Nihon Shoki," Izanagi suffered from defilement when he went down to the underworld. Upon his return, he cleansed himself with the sea water at a place called Tsukushi-no Himuka-no Tachibana-no Odo-no Awagihara. In the cleansing of his body, he begot gods of Haraedo. Those gods were gifted with the power to cleanse sins and evil energy. So it is said you can purify and cleanse sins and evil energy by reciting Harae Kotoba and asking for the gods' asisstance. 

Comments

CreanJinSung said…
*Recites Harae Kotoba*
gods that will assist me: (In Japanese) Your pronunciation is terrible we will not give you the luck you so ask for.
me: I don't understand Japanese. Gomen.
Amuletyu said…
Hi Saya! Just wanted to say welcome back lmao. I’m late, but I’m glad I checked on your blog recently after you went hiatus for 3 years. How are you? I’ve been a fan of yours since high school, but after 3 years, I’m now in college lol! My friend introduced me to your blog and that’s how I got hooked and got to know you lol. I look forward to reading your blogs every week now!
George V said…
Now if I can avoid typos... a good ritual for cleansing after performing any of the other rituals, right?
Unknown said…
it's been quite a while since I've been on your page, just dropping by to say hi.
What? You do not speak Japanese? Unbelievable!
At least learn Hiragana before you comment on my next post! XD

OK don't worry, just play the video clip of Harae Kotoba above and you'll be fine! XD
Thank you dear Amuletyu! Thank you for asking me how I am. I'm feeling great! And you? XD

Oh my! How you have grown! Are you enjoying your life at college?
I remember I was so glad when I graduated from my sixth form college, because my school life was pure hell. I would have been better off in Silent Hill. LOL.

I have to thank you and thank your friend too! LOL. Thank you for commenting! I hope your study goes well! :D
Well, sir, if there were any typos in your deleted comment, I didn't notice them at all! XD

In fact, you speak the language so well that I would not have known you were a red panda were it not for your profile picture! LOL.

Yes, one of my blog readers Christian in a recent post said people perhaps would like to know a positive ritual too, and that is why I posted this one! :D
Oh! It's a great pleasure to have you commenting on my blog!
Thank you for dropping by! See you again! Take care! :D
Anon said…
Saya, we don’t speak Japanese that’s why we’re on a Japanese translation blog hahaha
Unknown said…
Omg that's me! :D Thanks Saya! My below-N5 level should hopefully be enough to recite this properly, and grant me success in getting on the Japan Exchange Teaching program this year mwehehe. ありがとうございます! :)
Hlway40 said…
This is the first time I'm commenting on your blog but I've been reading it for quite a long time. Such a nice blog with load of great stories, Saya! Btw glad you finally back after 3 years of hiatus or so. You're my inspiration of making a blog like this too but the difference is I translate some stories from English to my native language, Indonesia ehehe. Now I understand how much effort you put to translate each story. Keep up the good work!
@Anon Thank you for reminding me of the fact! XD
@Christian Hi! How are you? :D
Wow, you planning to come to Japan? Which part of Japan?
I hope your application is successful!
Hi Hlway40! How are you?

You have your own blog of translated stories? Brilliant!

Thank you dear for taking time to comment! :D I hope I can continue to post more intersting stories for you!
Hlway40 said…
Hi too, btw I'm fine..thank you. Yes I just created it yesterday and I have posted 2 stories. It'll be so much pleasure if you want to see my blog : indonightstory.blogspot.com.. you know just for "sightseeing" xD
Cool! I will check it out now! :D Thank you!
Unknown said…
Hi Saya! I'm doing rather fine! How about yourself? :D
I hope to come if I manage to get into the program! I would be an ALT, or Assistant Language Teacher, and help teach English c: I'm not sure where I'd be, the ones in charge of the program decide where I am placed! Though I follow a YouTuber who talked about how nice the Tohoku region is ^^

Thank you!~
Mutia Putri said…
Hello saya! i've been a reader since 2015 and i am really glad that you're back!
Btw i tried this holy words yesterday and found myself in a very bad bad day, guess its not working for me lol.
Hi Unknown! You wouldn't believe how many Unknowns visit my blog and leave nice messages for me! XD

I'm sorry the holy words didn't work for you! XD Perhaps you need a bit of practice!

Take care! I wish you a good day!
@Christian I'm also fine thank you! :D
Oh wonderful! I hope you get into the program and assigned to a place you like! I hope you meet a lot of nice people and have fun!
Good luck :D
Unknown said…
Good to hear! ^__^
Thank you very much! Actually, though they decide where I get placed, there is a section where I can make requests for where I want to be placed. Any recommendations?
@Christian Well, it depends on what sort of environment you would like to live in. Do you like living in a city? Or in a countryside?

If you want to learn standard Japanese you need to live in Kanto region, which is where the capital Tokyo is.
Yokohama is a nice place, which is where I live, because it's a large port city but with a relaxed atmosphere and close to Tokyo. :D And there are many foreginers here too.
Unknown said…
It's more likely they'll place me in a rural setting, which I think would be nice!

Oh wow, I actually have a relative in Yokohama too! That's one of the places I wanted to request c: It does seem considerably more relaxed when I visited there last summer when compared to Tokyo. But okay, thank you so much!~
OK! Nara was also a quiet and nice city if you like temples and deers! XD

Well good luck! I hope you get to be assigned to the location of your preference! :D
Tora-san said…
Hello, i've been a reader for the last two years, I was really surprised when I decided to check your blog when I was craving for some cryptic stories then I realized you've had posted new content, it makes me happy! I was wondering if you could maybe post more shinto rituals? Im really interested in them.
Thank you Jorge! Sure I will post more shinto rituals in the future!
It's always good to know what kind of posts my readers want to read. :D