Viet Spiritual Depth

✳️ THE MYSTERY OF THE HAU D**G RITUAL: HOW MUCH DOES A CONSULTATION COST?

In the worship of the Mother Goddess of the Three Palaces, the Hau D**g ritual is the most important ritual, marking the process of practicing the belief of each medium. However, there is a question that always makes many people wonder: In a Hau D**g consultation, how much does the medium pay? What is the order of the prices?

To answer this, let's listen to the sharing of excellent artisans - masters in the practice of the Mother Goddess worship. With many years of serving the Saints, they are the "living treasures" of the sacred customs and rituals of the Vietnamese people.

TRINH TU CAC GIA HAU THE MYSTERY OF THE HAU D**G RITUAL: HOW MUCH DOES A CONSULTATION COST?In the worship of the Mother Goddess of the Three Palaces, the Hau D**g ritual is the m...

✳️ METHOD OF INVOKING THE THREE HOLY MOTHERS

In the practice of the Vietnamese Mother Goddess Worship (Tam Phủ – Tứ Phủ), the ritual of spirit possession (hầu đồng) when invoking the Three Holy Mothers (Tam Tòa Thánh Mẫu) follows mandatory regulations to ensure solemnity and reverence for the deities. The key rules include:

No unveiling of the face-covering cloth (as the Holy Mothers do not "return to the living world").
The Three Holy Mothers are always invoked first in the ceremony.
Incense offering and symbolic hand gestures (mudras) may be performed when invoking the Three Holy Mothers.

CACH HAU TAM TOA THANH MAU METHOD OF INVOKING THE THREE HOLY MOTHERSIn the practice of the Vietnamese Mother Goddess Worship (Tam Phủ – Tứ Phủ), the ritual of spirit possession (hầu đồ...

✳️ The Significance of the Groundbreaking Ceremony in Construction

In Vietnamese culture, each piece of land is believed to have a guardian deity known as Thổ Công (or Ông Địa). When a homeowner builds a house or constructs any structure, it is considered an act that disturbs the land, affecting both the guardian deity and the spirits residing there. Therefore, a groundbreaking ceremony is held as a way of seeking permission and informing Thổ Công and the local tutelary deities about the upcoming changes. This ritual is believed to seek their blessings for a smooth construction process, ensuring safety and well-being for all involved. Additionally, the ceremony serves as a respectful request to the spirits inhabiting the land, asking them to peacefully relocate so that the construction can proceed without obstacles. Thus, performing the groundbreaking ceremony is considered highly important.

Groundbreaking ceremonies are a traditional practice in the cultures and religions of many peoples worldwide. Depending on the region, religion, or ethnic group, the ceremony may vary in form and procedure. In Hinduism, the groundbreaking ritual is commonly referred to as "Bhoomi Pooja" or "Bhumi Puja," performed to seek permission and show respect to Bhu Devi, the goddess of the earth. In Chinese culture, a similar ceremony known as "Kai Tai" is performed. The Chinese typically hold this ritual when constructing buildings or undertaking significant ventures such as opening a new business.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Construction of the Tam Bảo Hall at Phúc Lâm Pagoda Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Construction of the Tam Bảo Hall at Phúc Lâm PagodaPhúc Lâm Pagoda is an ancient temple with a history dating back approximat...

✳️ OPENING CEREMONY AT P**C LAM PAGODA - A SACRED MARK IN THE JOURNEY TO ENHANCE THE MOTHER'S PALACE
After a period of construction and completion of the restoration of the Mother's Palace, recently, at P**c Lam Pagoda (Lieu Ngan village, Ngu Thai commune, Thuan Thanh town, Bac Ninh province), the Opening Ceremony of the Palace was solemnly held by Venerable Thich Thanh Duc - abbot of the Pagoda, together with villagers and Buddhists from near and far. This is an extremely sacred mark in the journey to restore the Mother's Palace.
The opening ceremony is not simply a ritual to invite the Holy Mother and the Council of Saints to reside at this Palace. It also marks the intersection between Buddhism and Mother worship.
Now, in the space of this pagoda, there is not only the sound of the temple bell ringing, the deep and deep chanting, but also the sound of the drum, the music, the melodious flute, the sometimes bustling and sometimes poignant singing of the colorful spirit medium ritual, ... that will create a magical spiritual picture for this ancient pagoda.
The Khai Phu ceremony is also an opportunity for monks, nuns, Buddhists, and the local community to express their respect to the Buddha, to the Holy Mother, to show respect and gratitude to the Saints who have contributed to the people and the country. Organizing the ceremony is also a way to affirm the role of the Mother worship belief in the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people.
The Mother worshiping altar at P**c Lam pagoda from now on is not only a solemn place of worship, but also a place where everyone can come to pray, calm their mind and find balance in their spiritual life.

OPENING CEREMONY AT P**C LAM PAGODA - A SACRED MARK IN THE JOURNEY TO ENHANCE THE MOTHER'S PALACE After a period of construction and completion of the restoration of the Mother's Palace, recently, at P**c Lam Pagoda (Lieu Ngan village, Ngu Thai commune, T...

✳️ THE JOURNEY TO BECOME A MEDIATOR
In the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship, a medium plays an important role. They are the ones who are able to perform the ritual of serving the spirit and guide other mediums in their practice and practice. Mediums are usually people with many years of experience in Mother Goddess worship, understand the rituals, chants, and methods of serving the spirit, as well as have the ability to connect with the saints in the Four Palaces.

THE JOURNEY TO BECOME A MEDIA MASTER In the Vietnamese Mother Goddess worship, the medium teacher is an important figure. They are often the ones who preside over important rituals of the belief...

THE JOURNEY TO BECOME A MEDIATOR
Not everyone can become a medium. There are two common cases that lead to a person becoming a medium:
First: People with a medium's root (also known as Root number, Root result)
• These are people who are believed to have a connection with the gods, carrying a certain "destiny" from birth.
• They may encounter many obstacles in life, unexplained illness, difficult work, or continuous bad luck.
• When going to see a fortune teller or asking a teacher, they are instructed to "appear to the medium" or "open the palace" to follow their fate.
Second: People who voluntarily follow the Mother Goddess religion
• Some people do not have a medium's root, but because of their respect for the Mother Goddess religion and the gods, they take the initiative to follow this path.

THE JOURNEY TO BECOME A MEDIATOR Not everyone can become a medium. There are two common cases that lead to a person becoming a medium:First: People with a medium's root (also known as Root n...

✳️ NNUT NGUYEN TAT KIM HUNG - ABBOT NGUYEN KHIET LINH TU TOLD THE HISTORY OF HANG BAC TEMPLE

DEN HANG BAC NGUYEN KHIET LINH TU TEMPLE - HANG BAC TEMPLENguyen Khiet Linh Tu Temple, also known as Hang Bac Temple, is an important religious relic of the Mother Goddes...

FEBRUARY 12TH (LUNAR CALENDAR)
– THE COMMEMORATION DAY OF SAINT MOTHER NUI DUM

February 12th in the lunar
calendar marks the Dum Temple Festival (also known as Mau Thuong Temple) in Tuyen Quang Province. This festival commemorates the passing of Saint Mother
Thuong Ngan.

In the belief system of the Three
Palaces Mother Goddess Worship, Saint Mother Thuong Ngan is revered as the deity who governs forests and mountains, protecting people, especially those
who rely on hunting, gathering, and agriculture for their livelihood.

The festival is held on the
anniversary of her passing to honor her merits and to pray for her continued protection and blessings. This is a common ritual in Vietnamese folk
spirituality.

THE LEGEND OF SAINT MOTHER NUI
DUM
will be shared at 6:30 PM on March 12, 2025, on VIET SPIRITUAL
DEPTH.

✳️ The Diversity of Beliefs and Religions in Vietnam

Vietnam is a country rich in religious and spiritual diversity, reflecting its profound cultural and historical heritage. The country recognizes and permits the practice of 16 officially recognized religions, including both indigenous traditions and foreign-introduced faiths.

1. Major Religions in Vietnam:
- Buddhism: Introduced to Vietnam in the early centuries AD, Buddhism has become one of the largest religions in the country. According to statistics, approximately 14.91% of the population are Buddhist followers.
- Catholicism: Introduced in the 16th century, Catholicism now has about 7.35% of the population adhering to this faith.
- Protestantism: Arriving in Vietnam in the late 19th century, Protestantism currently accounts for 1.1% of the population.
- Cao Dai: An indigenous religion founded in 1926, Cao Dai integrates elements from multiple religious traditions. It has about 0.6% of the population as followers.
- Hoa Hao Buddhism: Also an indigenous religion, established in 1939, Hoa Hao Buddhism has approximately 1.4% of the population practicing its beliefs.
- Islam: Primarily followed by the Cham ethnic community, Islam represents about 0.1% of the population.
- Additionally, there are other recognized religions such as Tu An Hieu Nghia, Buu Son Ky Huong, Tinh Do Cu Si Buddhist Association of Vietnam, Minh Ly Dao, Minh Su Dao, and several smaller religious groups.

2. Vietnamese Folk Beliefs:
This is a traditional belief system that includes ancestor worship, reverence for natural deities, and national heroes. According to various sources, approximately 45.3% of the Vietnamese population practice folk beliefs.

- The Worship of Mother Goddesses in Vietnam is not considered an official religion but is regarded as a deeply rooted folk belief system. It involves the veneration of female deities, particularly the Tam Phu, Tu Phu (Mother of Heaven, Mother of Earth, Mother of Water, and Mother of Mountains & Forests).

- While it does not have an organized religious structure like Buddhism or Catholicism, the practice of Mother Goddess worship was recognized by UNESCO in 2016 as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
There are no official statistics on the number of people following this belief system, but researchers suggest that most Vietnamese who practice folk beliefs (approximately 45.3% of the population) engage in some form of Mother Goddess worship. This includes home altars, visiting temples dedicated to Mother Goddesses, participating in ritual spirit possession (Hau D**g), or attending major festivals such as the Phu Day Festival (Nam Dinh)…

It can be affirmed that the Mother Goddess Worship is one of the most important belief systems in Vietnam, deeply influencing culture, arts, and spiritual life.