The worship of Linh Son Thanh Mau in Tay Ninh Buddhism

The ritual of presenting offerings in the Linh Son Thanh Mau festival at Ba Den mountain

In Hindu culture, it is the worship of Mariamman, Kali (India, Indonesia), Nieng Khmau (Cambodia) or Muk Juk, Uma (Cham). She has been Vietnamized by the legend of Huyen Trinh Nu, telling about the "black-faced girl" Ly Thi Thien Huong, who was granted a royal decree by King Bao Dai in the 10th year of Bao Dai (1935) with the beautiful title "Duc Bao Trung Hung Linh Phu chi than".

Linh Son Holy Mother in Buddhist concept

Linh Son Thanh Mau is present in both folk beliefs and Buddhism. She is worshiped in pagodas in Tay Ninh as a protector of the Three Jewels.

The altar of Linh Son Thanh Mau is placed behind the Buddha altar and opposite the ancestral altar in the style of “Buddha in front and saint in back”. There are also temples that worship her in the west wing of the main hall (the right side of the main hall) or have a separate shrine together with other goddesses such as Ngu Hanh Nuong Nuong, Chua Xu Thanh Mau, Dieu Tri Dia Mau… in the temple grounds.

The image of Linh Son Thanh Mau is worshiped at pagodas with many different forms and materials such as: the statue set at Phuoc Luu pagoda (Trang Bang town), Co Lam pagoda (Chau Thanh district) made of ceramic by artisans of Cay Mai pottery kiln, belonging to the old Saigon ceramic line around the beginning of the 20th century; the statue set at Hoi Phuoc pagoda (Trang Bang town), Thien Phuoc pagoda (Tay Ninh city) made of composite, painted in a standing position, two hands making a seal; the statue set at Linh Son Thanh Lam pagoda (Go Dau district) carved from wood painted in a sitting position on a throne, wearing a crown, wearing a robe, holding a shovel, wearing shoes or statues made of bronze, gold, jade, precious stones, a mixture of urea or cement with a steel frame, painted with gold... are also created in a similar way to worship at pagodas. At Quan Am Pagoda (Ba Co Cave, Ba Den Mountain), folklore and Buddhism have been harmonized in the way a black-faced holy mother is created, sitting in a cross-legged meditation position on a lotus throne.

Next to her are statues of two servants holding seals, swords or fans. In particular, it is said that after ascending the throne, King Gia Long ordered local officials to cast the remains of Ba Denh in black bronze to worship at a cave on Linh Mountain (Huynh Minh, “Tay Ninh past and present”, published in 1972, p.46). In fact, it is not a black bronze statue, but a red bronze statue, cast hollow, about 60cm high, currently worshiped at Linh Son Phuoc Lam Pagoda (Vinh Xuan Pagoda, Ward 1, Tay Ninh City).

In 2019, the Linh Son Thanh Mau - Ba Den Mountain festival was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage according to Decision No. 3325/QD-BVHTTDL of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism .

Currently, almost all pagodas in Tay Ninh province worship Linh Son Thanh Mau, such as: the system of pagodas on Ba Den mountain; Linh Son Phuoc Lam pagoda (Vinh Xuan), Thien Phuoc, Hiep Long (Tay Ninh city); Phuoc Luu, Hoi Phuoc, Vinh An, Tinh Ly, Phuoc Thanh, Phuoc Hue, Hoi Phuoc Hoa, Phuoc Binh, Giac Minh, Giac Nguyen pagodas (Trang Bang town); Thien Lam pagoda (Go Ken, Hoa Thanh town); Linh Son Thanh Lam, Buu Nguyen, Phuoc An, Phuoc Minh, Cam Phong, Thanh Lam, Cao Son pagodas (Go Dau district); Buu Long, An Phuoc, Long Tho pagodas (Ben Cau district); Hanh Lam, Co Lam pagodas (Chau Thanh district)...

In particular, in Tay Ninh Buddhism, for a long time, the patriarchs have honored Linh Son Thanh Mau as "Bodhisattva", so she is also known by the title "Linh Son Thanh Mau Bodhisattva". This is shown through ancient documents and woodblocks, such as on the ordination and refuge sects at Phuoc Luu Pagoda, Linh Son Tien Thach Pagoda, Linh Son Thanh Lam Pagoda and some pagodas in Tay Ninh, all have the content "Linh Son Thanh Mau" or "Nam mo Linh Son Thanh Mau Bodhisattva to make great proof".

On the Buddhist prayer petitions in Tay Ninh, there is an additional sentence: "Namo Linh Son Holy Mother Bodhisattva, who is present as the seat of proof" or there are also petitions that say "Buddha Ba proves". Buddha Ba here is understood as "Buddha Ba Linh Son", that is "Linh Son Holy Mother Bodhisattva".

Linh Son Thanh Mau festival at Linh Son Thanh Lam pagoda (Go Dau).

Linh Son Holy Mother Festival

Every year, Linh Son Tien Thach Pagoda on Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh) solemnly celebrates Linh Son Thanh Mau's birthday from the 4th to the 6th of May (lunar calendar) according to traditional Buddhist rituals.

The rituals in the Lady's birthday ceremony are performed sequentially. On the 4th of May (lunar calendar), there are the following rituals: the ceremony to invite the Local God, incense offering, the opening of the altar, the ceremony of welcoming the Gods to invite Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha; the offering to Buddha, the offering at noon (at the Buddha's temple and the Linh Son Lady's temple), the ceremony of preparing the meal to invite the Bodhisattva Messenger, the ceremony of presenting the offerings to the Ten Palaces of the King of Hell and the Three Palaces (Heavenly Palace, Earthly Palace, Water Palace); the bathing of the Lady and changing of clothes and hats are performed in the afternoon, the opening of the altar, after this offering, monks, nuns and Buddhists chant sutras at the Buddha's temple.

On the 5th of May (lunar calendar), there are rituals: repentance, worshiping Buddha, worshiping Ngo, Cap Thuy ceremony to invite Dragon King, Ha Ba, Thuy Quan and water gods. In particular, following the Trinh Thap Cung ceremony, is the main ceremony to worship Linh Son Thanh Mau performed at the Lady Temple. The offerings to the Lady include 10 items, in order: incense, flowers, candles, tea, fruit, food, water, objects, pearls, and treasures. At the end of the day is the Chan Te ceremony to pray for the dead to be liberated and the living to be saved.

On May 6 (lunar calendar), there was a ceremony of repentance and worship of Buddha, and noon worship at the Buddha and Lady shrines, concluding the Linh Son Thanh Mau festival.

Each part of the ceremony has its own prayer, each prayer is inscribed with the words "Linh Son Holy Mother Bodhisattva witness". Every morning, before the ceremony, the band performs a musical ritual at the Buddha hall of Linh Son Tien Thach Pagoda. Because the ceremony is performed according to Buddhist rituals, the offerings are all vegetarian.

In addition, from the 4th to the end of the 5th lunar month, some pagodas that worship Linh Son Thanh Mau also hold a ceremony to worship her, combining Buddhist and folk rituals.

The "Chuc Linh Son Nghi" ceremony at Phuoc Luu Pagoda (Trang Bang).

Ceremony of praising Linh Son Thanh Mau at Phuoc Luu Pagoda

According to traditional Buddhist rituals, especially the ancient temples in Tay Ninh in general and Phuoc Luu Pagoda in particular, there is still a tradition of "Chuc Linh Son Nghi" which is a ritual of praising Linh Son Thanh Mau on the night of the first and fifteenth day of every month. The ritual is performed during the night service on the first and fifteenth day at the altar of Linh Son Thanh Mau by the current abbot.

The congregation chanted the “Seven Buddhas Destroy Sins True Mantra”, the Master of Repentance knelt down to pay respect to Linh Son Holy Mother and made a vow, then sang the song “Linh Son Holy Mother, the ruler of fairies, with a rosy complexion and a divine appearance, the orchid-like fragrance of the Dharma-nature manifests in true and constant form, vowing to save all disasters”.

The ritual clearly states the title “Namo Linh Son Thanh Mau Bodhisattva”. The ritual is performed with the meaning of praising and praising the merits of Linh Son Thanh Mau Bodhisattva and praying for her to witness and protect sentient beings, ward off disasters and bring blessings.

Linh Son Thanh Mau is the guardian deity of a land in folk beliefs, accepted by Buddhism in the spirit of "All living beings have Buddha nature", honoring her as a Bodhisattva who protects the Three Jewels, demonstrating the transformation of folk beliefs according to a legitimate wisdom, guiding people to truth - goodness - beauty through Buddhist philosophies, in accordance with the worldly spirit of Buddhism. The nature of indigenous culture has created a unique feature in Tay Ninh Buddhism through the image of Linh Son Thanh Mau.

Thanh Phat Fee

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