Bắc Đẩu Thất Tinh Hộ Ma Bí Yếu Nghi Quỹ

Now, for the sake of sentient beings of scant merit in the age of the Dharma’s decline, I shall explain the sequence of the ritual rules for making homa offerings to the Seven Stars of the Northern Pole.

Within a pure chamber, make a water altar, either round or square, measuring one cubit in every respect. Blend the five substances, namely Mao-hsiang, spikenard, black bệ, white gum, and white sandalwood, into clay and smear it on the altar. Within that altar place a furnace. Divide food, drink, and fruits into seven portions to be burned. The foods are: rice, provisions, fruits, cakes, ghee, honey, or the five grains and milk-wood. Select and use them according to the person’s Life Star and astrological sign.

First speak these opening words: “With utmost sincerity, I respectfully invite the Seven Bright Ones of the Northern Pole, Nara, Tan Lang, Ju Men, Lu Cun, Wen Qu, Lian Zhen, Wu Qu, and Po Jun, honored stars. For the householder (name...), I pray for the pacification of calamities, liberation, long life, and the attainment of a hundred autumns.

Now I make this mandala. I pray that you compassionately descend to this place, accept this homa, and protect the donor (name...), so that according to his mind calamities may cease, liberation may be attained, and lifespan may increase.” (3 times)

_ Next form the mudra: Join the palms with a hollow space in the center. Place the two thumbs against the nails of the two ring fingers. The two middle fingers and two little fingers are like lotus petals. Slightly open and bend the two index fingers, then move them back and forth.

_ Next recite the True Mantra of the One-Syllable Crown-Wheel King and the True Mantra for Summoning the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper.

. ) The True Mantra of the Crown-Wheel King is:

Nang mo tam man da, na la na la, ba ta la, hong

MAMO SAMANTA DARA DARA PACARA HÙMÏ

. ) The True Mantra for Summoning the Northern Dipper is:

Nang mac tam man da, na la nang, e he chi, pha y, ha y, na y, ca y, ra y, mo-ra da la, gia la ham, sa-phoc ha

NAMAHÏ SAMANTA DÀRANA EHYEHI , PA I , HA I, DÀ I , KA I , RA I , MROTARA GHARAHAMÏ SVÀHÀ

With the hand, take wood, rice grains, ghee, honey, oil, and so forth, and cast them into the furnace to be burned. Keep the eyes fixed on one’s own Life Star. If it sways, changes color, flashes brightly, and appears white or yellow, then one should make vows to the Tathagata and, according to the preceding Dharma, perform the rite for seven days and nights. It should then be accomplished as intended. If not, the star-store will be lost and cannot be seen. (The decisive note says: Do not seek.)

The Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper are the stars of the sun, the moon, and the five planets. From ancient times they have comprehensively shone upon the eight directions, radiating above to the celestial spirits and descending directly below to the human world, governing good and evil and allotting misfortune and fortune. They are the court and ancestral seat of the host of stars and the place revered by myriad spirits. If people can pay homage and make offerings to them, they will have long life, wealth, and honor. Those who do not honor them will not have a long destiny.

Thus the Book of Allotted Life says: “In the world there are deities who oversee life. Whenever the geng and xin days arrive, they go above to the Heavenly Emperor and report the evil deeds of sentient beings. Those with grave offenses are examined and calculated in order; those with light offenses are removed and recorded in the Book of Calculations, and then reported to the Lord of Life.”

For this reason, the World-Honored One, for the sake of sentient beings in the age of the Dharma’s decline who die prematurely, have short lives, and possess thin merit, taught the One-Syllable Crown-Wheel King, the summoning of the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper, and the ritual rules for making homa offerings, so that the destiny governed by the star numbers may erase the death register and instead be handed over to the birth register.

If kings, within their own palaces, make a mandala, perform homa according to the Dharma, pay homage, and make offerings, then the Northern Dipper will rejoice and protect them, so that they may long abide in a supreme position and always receive peace and stability. Queens, consorts, ladies, those of the inner palace, princesses, princes, ministers, the Three Dukes, the hundred officials, and all above and below will be harmonious and will not practice what is contrary to Dharma. The people will flourish, rice and grain will be abundant, and the nation will be peaceful. Within the borders, enemies and bands of thieves will naturally withdraw and scatter. Therefore this Dharma is most secret and essential.

SECRET ESSENTIAL RITUAL MANUAL OF THE SEVEN STARS OF THE NORTHERN DIPPER

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