Kathina Offering Words, the Formal Announcement and Chants

Words for offering the kathina cloth

When the donors have brought the kathina cloth to the assembled Saṅgha, they say the words of offering as follows:

“Imaṃ cīvaraṃ kathinatthāya saṅghassa demi.”

(I humbly offer this robe cloth to the Saṅgha for the purpose of the kathina.)

or

“Imaṃ kathinacīvaraṃ saṅghassa demi.”

(I humbly offer this kathina robe to the Saṅgha.)

or

Imaṃ bhante, saparivāraṃ, kaṭhinacīvaradussaṃ, saṅghassa, oṇojayāma, sādhu no bhante, saṅgho, imaṃ, saparivāraṃ, kaṭhinadussaṃ, paṭiggaṇhātu, paṭiggahetvā ca, iminā dussena, kaṭhinaṃ, attharatu, amhākaṃ, dīgharattaṃ, hitāya, sukhāya.

(Venerable sirs, we humbly offer this kathina robe cloth, together with these accompanying offerings, to the Saṅgha. May the Saṅgha accept this kathina cloth with its accompanying offerings from us, and having accepted it, spread the kathina with this cloth, for our benefit and happiness for a long time.)

or

“Mayaṃ bhante kammañca kammaphalañca saddahitvā samasaddhā samachandā samacittā saṃsāravaṭṭadukkhato mocanatthāya nibbānassa sacchikaraṇatthāya imaṃ kathinacīvaraṃ saparivāraṃ saṅghassa dema, iminā cīvarena kathinaṃ attharatha.

Idaṃ no puññaṃ nibbānassa paccayo hotu.

Imaṃ puññapattiṃ mātāpitu ācariya ayyaka ayyikā ñātimittānaṃ sesasattānañca dema.

Sabbepi te imaṃ puññapattiṃ laddhāna sukhitā hontu.”

(Venerable sirs, believing in kamma and the fruit of kamma, with faith and zeal, we are of one mind in offering this kathina cloth, together with its accompanying offerings, to the Saṅgha, for the realization of nibbāna. May you spread the kathina with this cloth.

May this merit of ours be a condition for nibbāna.

We dedicate this share of merit to our mothers and fathers, teachers, grandparents, relatives, friends and companions, whether still living or passed away, together with all beings.

May they, having received this share of merit, all be happy, every one of them.)

The kathina announcement (two-monk form)

First monk

This kathina gift, together with all these accompanying ānisaṃsa cloths, belongs to … together with … , who, endowed with faith and energy, have joined together in bringing it to offer to the monks who have spent the full three months of the rains retreat in this monastery.

Now this kathina gift is pure, as if it had floated down through the sky and landed in the midst of the assembled Saṅgha. It is not assigned specifically to any one monk. The Buddha has allowed that the whole Saṅgha consent to give it to one monk to carry out the duty of spreading the kathina, as the Buddha allowed. And the commentators, who knew the Buddha’s meaning, have explained that a monk endowed with virtue, learning and other good qualities, with mindfulness, wisdom and capability, who knows the eight qualities beginning with the preliminary duties, is fit to carry out the duty of spreading the kathina as the Buddha allowed.

Now, whichever monk the whole Saṅgha sees as fitting, may you all together consent to give it to that monk.

(No “sādhu” here.)

Second monk

This kathina gift, together with all these accompanying ānisaṃsa cloths, I consider fitting for … , who has the mindfulness, wisdom and capability to carry out the duty of spreading the kathina correctly, as the Buddha allowed. If any monk sees it as not fitting, let him object here in the midst of the Saṅgha. (Pause briefly.) If you see it as fitting, let all together give the spoken sign of approval, “sādhu.”

(Sādhu.)

The act of giving the kathina cloth (kammavācā)

Namo tassa bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa
Namo tassa, bhagavato arahato sammāsambuddhassa,
Namo tassa bhagavato, arahato sammā-, -sambuddhassa.

Suṇātu me bhante saṅgho. Idaṃ saṅghassa kaṭhinadussaṃ uppannaṃ, yadi saṅghassa pattakallaṃ, saṅgho imaṃ kaṭhinadussaṃ āyasmato (itthannāmassa) dadeyya, kaṭhinaṃ attharituṃ. Esā ñatti.

Suṇātu me bhante saṅgho. Idaṃ saṅghassa kaṭhinadussaṃ uppannaṃ, saṅgho imaṃ kaṭhinadussaṃ āyasmato (itthannāmassa), deti, kaṭhinaṃ attharituṃ. Yassāyasmato khamati, imassa kaṭhinadussassa, āyasmato (itthannāmassa), dānaṃ, kaṭhinaṃ attharituṃ, so tuṇhassa, yassa nakkhamati, so bhāseyya.

Dinnaṃ idaṃ saṅghena, kaṭhinadussaṃ āyasmato (itthannāmassa), kaṭhinaṃ attharituṃ. Khamati saṅghassa tasmā tuṇhī, evametaṃ, dhārayāmi.

(Homage to the Blessed One, the Worthy One, the Perfectly Self-Awakened One, said three times.

Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha listen to me. This kathina cloth has come to the Saṅgha. If the Saṅgha is ready, the Saṅgha should give this kathina cloth to Venerable (so-and-so) to spread the kathina. This is the motion.

Venerable sirs, let the Saṅgha listen to me. This kathina cloth has come to the Saṅgha. The Saṅgha gives this kathina cloth to Venerable (so-and-so) to spread the kathina. Any venerable one who approves of giving this kathina cloth to Venerable (so-and-so) to spread the kathina should remain silent; any who does not approve should speak.

This kathina cloth has been given by the Saṅgha to Venerable (so-and-so) to spread the kathina. The Saṅgha approves, therefore it is silent. So I hold it.)

Note: in the brackets, in place of itthannāmassa, say the name of the monk who is to receive the kathina robe.

The monk who receives the kathina cloth must relinquish his old set of the triple robe, formally determine the new set, and then say the words for spreading the kathina.

Spreading with the outer robe (saṅghāṭi):

“Imāya saṅghāṭiyā kathinaṃ attharāmi.”

(I spread the kathina with this outer robe.)

Spreading with the upper robe (uttarāsaṅga):

“Iminā uttarāsaṅgena kathinaṃ attharāmi.”

(I spread the kathina with this upper robe.)

Spreading with the lower robe (antaravāsaka):

“Iminā antaravāsakena kathinaṃ attharāmi.”

(I spread the kathina with this lower robe.)

Having spread the kathina, the monk should arrange his upper robe over one shoulder, go to the Saṅgha and invite it to rejoice in the kathina, saying:

“Atthataṃ bhante saṅghassa kathinaṃ, dhammiko kathinatthāro, anumodatha.”

(Venerable sirs, the Saṅgha’s kathina has been spread. The spreading of the kathina was in accordance with the Dhamma. Please rejoice in it.)

The final step is for the Saṅgha to say the words of rejoicing in the kathina, the monk senior in rains speaking first:

“Atthataṃ āvuso saṅghassa kathinaṃ, dhammiko kathinatthāro, anumodāma.” (If there is only one monk: anumodāmi.)

(Friend, the Saṅgha’s kathina has been spread. The spreading of the kathina was in accordance with the Dhamma. We rejoice in it.)

And the monks junior in rains say the same words of rejoicing, changing only the word “āvuso” (friend) to “bhante” (venerable sir). (Vin. A. 3/306/195)

Chants

Buddhānussati: recollection of the Buddha

Itipi so bhagavā, arahaṃ, sammāsambuddho, vijjācaraṇasampanno, sugato, lokavidū, anuttaro purisadammasārathi, satthā devamanussānaṃ, buddho, bhagavāti.

(Such indeed is the Blessed One: worthy, perfectly self-awakened, accomplished in knowledge and conduct, well-gone, knower of the worlds, unsurpassed trainer of those who can be tamed, teacher of devas and humans, awakened, blessed.)

Dhammānussati: recollection of the Dhamma

Svākkhāto bhagavatā dhammo, sandiṭṭhiko, akāliko, ehipassiko, opanayiko, paccattaṃ veditabbo viññūhīti.

(The Dhamma is well taught by the Blessed One, to be seen here and now, timeless, inviting one to come and see, leading inward, to be known by the wise, each for themselves.)

Saṅghānussati: recollection of the Saṅgha

Supaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ujupaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, ñāyapaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, sāmīcipaṭipanno bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, yadidaṃ, cattāri purisayugāni aṭṭhapurisapuggalā, esa bhagavato sāvakasaṅgho, āhuneyyo, pāhuneyyo, dakkhiṇeyyo, añjalikaraṇīyo, anuttaraṃ puññakkhettaṃ lokassāti.

(The Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples has practiced well, practiced straightforwardly, practiced rightly, practiced properly: that is, the four pairs of persons, the eight individuals. This Saṅgha of the Blessed One’s disciples is worthy of gifts, worthy of hospitality, worthy of offerings, worthy of reverent salutation, the unsurpassed field of merit for the world.)

Bodhi Katha

This chant can be read and chanted along with in Bhavanaram’s chanting book: Bodhi Katha

The thirty perfections

This chant can be read and chanted along with in Bhavanaram’s chanting book: The Thirty Perfections

Dedication of merit

May all beings, without limit and beyond measure, share in the merit I have made now and in the other merit I made before.

That is, whatever beings are dear to me and have been good to me, such as my mother and father; those I have seen or not seen; other beings who are neutral or who are my enemies; all beings in the world, in the three realms, of the four modes of birth, with five aggregates, with one aggregate, with four aggregates, wandering on through existences great and small.

May those beings who know of the merit I have shared rejoice in it themselves; and for those beings who do not yet know of this merit, may the devas kindly let them know.

Through rejoicing in the merit I have shared, may all beings be free of enmity and live happily always, until they reach the state of security, namely nibbāna. May the good wishes of those beings be fulfilled.