Prayer text for the thí thực offering to wandering spirits (without sutra chanting)

Cúng rằm tháng Bảy (seventh-month full moon: ancestors and wandering souls). Full moon of the seventh lunar month; the offering to wandering spirits can be done from the first day to the fifteenth; in the South, traders also offer to wandering spirits on the 2nd and 16th of every month

  • Used across Vietnam
  • Buddhist
  • Offering to wandering spirits

Culture and belief A record of custom.

What this prayer says

A prayer text for the food-offering to wandering spirits, without sutra chanting: read in the section for offerings to wandering spirits and sentient beings to address the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and the noble Sangha, to invite the heavenly beings, the spirits and the homeless wandering spirits and hungry ghosts to receive the offered food, and to dedicate merit for peace and safety.

The prayer below is kept in Vietnamese, the language it is read aloud in during the rite.

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Your regional custom

Showing the version used across Vietnam.

5 more blanks

(Tụng. Mõ, chuông)

(Chủ sám)

(Hạ lễ)

How it differs from the common version

Prose text, addressing "hương linh cô hồn ngạ quỷ"; no burning of votive paper or clothes; includes mantras for transforming food and water and dedication of merit.

The common version: Prayer text for offering to wandering spirits and sentient beings (according to Văn khấn cổ truyền Việt Nam)

Other texts for Cúng rằm tháng Bảy (seventh-month full moon: ancestors and wandering souls)

More about Cúng rằm tháng Bảy (seventh-month full moon: ancestors and wandering souls)

Nhật Nguyệt articles on the rite, the custom and how to prepare.

Collected text. The dotted italic words are blanks for you to fill in.

Part of the open dataset Vietnamese offering prayers (văn cúng), licensed CC BY 4.0.

More prayer textsDeath anniversaries, Tết, the home, business, life-cycle rites and regional rites.