Mantras of Veneration and Offerings
The heart of venerating Tao Wessuwan is the mantra — yet online many garbled versions circulate. This chapter gathers the correct mantra in the Wat Chulamanee tradition, explains its meaning, and describes how to prepare offerings, so that our veneration rests on right understanding.
If you try searching the internet for a mantra to venerate Tao Wessuwan, you will come upon one troubling truth.
That is: the mantras appearing across various websites come in many versions, and many of them differ from one another — in the spelling of the syllables, the ordering of the words, and the wording itself. Those who set out to venerate with sincere faith may therefore, without realizing it, recite a mantra that has gone astray.
This chapter therefore sets out to gather the correct version of the mantra of veneration, together with an explanation of its meaning and method, so that our veneration may rest upon a firm foundation.
Always Set Forth the Namo Three Times First
Before reciting any mantra of veneration, the custom observed is to set forth the Namo three times, in order to call to mind the Buddha at the outset.
The Namo Verse
นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ
Setting forth the Namo beforehand carries a profound meaning — it shows that we venerate Tao Wessuwan as a deity devoted to the Buddha, not that we venerate him above the Triple Gem. It places the order of reverence correctly according to the principles of Buddhism.
The Mantra of Veneration for Tao Wessuwan, the Wat Chulamanee Version
What follows is the mantra of veneration for Tao Wessuwan, according to the version of Phra Khru Sophitwiriyaphon (Luang Pho Itth) of Wat Chulamanee, which is widely accepted and popularly recited.
The Mantra of Veneration for Tao Wessuwan (the Wat Chulamanee Version)
ปุตตะกาโม ละเภปุตตัง ธะนะกาโม ละเภธะนัง อัตถิกาเย กายะญายะ เทวานัง ปิยะตัง สุตวา
อิติปิโส ภะคะวา ยมมะราชาโน ท้าวเวสสุวรรณโณ มะระณัง สุขัง อะหังสุคะโต นะโมพุทธายะ
ท้าวเวสสุวรรณโณ จาตุมะหาราชาชิกา ยักขะพันตา ภัทภูริโต เวสสะ พุสะ พุทธัง อะระหัง พุทโธ ท้าวเวสสุวรรณโณ นะโมพุทธายะ
It is customary to recite it 3 times, 7 times, or 9 times, with many preferring to recite it 9 times for the sake of auspiciousness.
There Is an Abbreviated Mantra As Well
For those who wish to recite a short version in daily life, such as before leaving the house, one may recite only the passage "อิติปิโส ภะคะวา ยมมะราชาโน ท้าวเวสสุวรรณโณ มะระณัง สุขัง อะหังสุคะโต นะโมพุทธายะ" just as well.
Understanding the Meaning
This mantra is not merely a string of sounds to be chanted without meaning; rather, it holds within it auspicious meaning on several layers.
The opening passage "ปุตตะกาโม ละเภปุตตัง ธะนะกาโม ละเภธะนัง" means, in overall sense, that one who longs for offspring shall obtain offspring, and one who longs for wealth shall obtain wealth — a verse that conveys the fulfillment of what one righteously desires.
As for the passage beginning with "อิติปิโส ภะคะวา," it is a calling to mind of the virtues of the Buddha, joined with the invocation of the name of Tao Wessuwan, who abides in the Cāturmahārājika heaven, and his sovereignty over the host of yakshas.
An Important Observation
Notice that this mantra always binds the name of Tao Wessuwan together with the virtues of the Buddha ("อิติปิโส ภะคะวา" and "อะระหัง พุทโธ"). This reaffirms the same original principle: that we venerate him as a deity devoted to the Buddha. Correct veneration therefore never separates him from the Triple Gem.
Offerings
In venerating Tao Wessuwan, the offerings commonly prepared include the following.
Incense in the count of 9 sticks is the number popularly used. The flower popularly offered is the rose, especially red or white roses, in the count of 9 blossoms, or a garland of marigold blossoms. In addition, one may also offer betel and areca, auspicious fruits, and clean water.
A Note
These offerings are matters of custom, not fixed rules. Some use only incense, candles, and flowers as convenient. What matters most is not the lavishness of the offerings, but the sincerity and reverence in the heart of the one who venerates.
The Heart That Lies Beyond the Mantra
Though the mantra and the offerings are important, what is more important still is the intention and the conduct of the one who venerates.
As we have told throughout this book, Tao Wessuwan is a deity of righteousness; he is sure to favor those who are firmly established in moral discipline and in the Dhamma, who earn their living honestly, and who possess a good and virtuous heart. To recite the mantra with the mouth while behaving badly can never truly reach his accumulated merit and power.
Before We Go On
We now have the correct mantra of veneration and the correct offerings; yet for veneration to bear good fruit, there are still many particulars worth knowing.
On what day should one venerate for it to be auspicious? How should one prepare oneself before venerating? Where should his image be placed? And what cautions are there to observe? In the next chapter, we will go into full detail on the correct method of veneration.