今年も７月２４日（土）に夏祭（竹柏なぎ祭り）を開催いたします。

境内いっぱいに飾られる光のファンタジー「英賀ナリエ」では

こどもたちの手書き御神燈もお楽しみいただけます。

本殿東側にそびえ立つ御神木「竹柏（なぎ）の木」にちなみ

一般的なササに代わり竹柏の葉を使い、巫女が鉄釜に煮立つ湯を葉で打ち払い

無病息災・病魔を祓う神事をご奉仕いたします。

どうぞ皆様お揃いでお参りください。

英賀神社｢夏祭り(竹柏祭)｣

7月24日(土)午後3時から8時30分(雨天決行)

学業成就御祈願･････午後3時３０分から5時

お子様の学力向上に､特に受験生の方は合格祈願を｡

拝殿内で随時受付いたします｡

英賀保公民館演芸披露･････午後5時30分

大正琴･ふるさとの民謡･民舞踊･銭太鼓

湯立て神事･････午後6時45分

御神燈点灯ｶｳﾝﾄﾀﾞｳﾝ･････午後7時

奉納太鼓(夢前明神太鼓)

御神燈 優秀作品各賞発表

お楽しみイベントも満載です。

◎大ビンゴゲーム大会

◎アームレスリング大会

◎夜店コーナー

◎子ども達よっといで！！遊びコーナー

６月３０日（水）に開催いたします。

「輪抜け祭り」（大祓式）とは、半年間の罪や過ち、心身の穢（けがれ）を祓い

無病息災を祈る厄祓いの行事で、

氏子が作成した茅の輪をくぐり、人形（ひとがた）に名前を記入して体になぞり厄を祓います。

「茅の輪くぐり」とも呼ばれ、午後６時より本殿祭、

６時２０分より神官・各自治会長による輪くぐりが行われます。

連合青年団の皆様による夜店コーナーやくじ引きなど

どうぞ皆様お誘い合わせいただき

英賀神社へお参りください。

When you first arrive at a shrine, it is customary to wash your hands at the Temizusha (手水しゃ lit. “hand water place”), usually found near the main entrance.

Worship

There are two main forms of worship at a Shinto shrine, informal and formal.

Informal (ryakushiki sanpai) 略式参拝

The steps for informal worship are as follows:

• Make an offering at the Saisenbako (賽銭箱) donation box.
• Ring the bell Suzu (鈴) to attract the attention of the Kami (神), the deity or deities, of the shrine.
• Bow twice deeply from the waist (to about 90 degrees).
• While looking at the altar, clap your hands twice.
• Keep your hands together in front of your chest in a prayer position on the second clap. You can now make a wish or offer thanks.
• Bow once more.

Formal (Seishiki sanpai) 正式参拝

In this form of worship you enter inside the shrine and follow the guidance of a priest. The priest will recite a ritual Shinto prayer called Norito (祝詞). In this form of prayer the priest includes the supplicant's personal details (name, date of birth, address, etc.) in the recital.
The Norito can be tailored to fit whatever you may wish assistance for, or a blessing upon. For example, a Norito can be for good health, the success of one's business, the easy delivery of a child, and the avoidance of misfortune; evil; or traffic accidents.
The steps for formal worship are as follows:

• The priest will invite you into the shrine and direct you to your seat.
• While seated with your head bowed, the priest will perform Haraigushi (払い串), a cleansing ritual, using a stick with Shide (紙垂) attached to it. (Shide, white zigzag paper streamers, are a prominent feature in Shinto shrines, they are used as wards to protect and sanctify.)
• The priest will recite the Norito.
• When the Norito is complete, The priest will offer you a Tamagushi (玉串) a branch with Shide attached.
• The priest will bless you using a KamiSuzu (神鈴) – a rattle covered in bells.
• Stand up and step towards the priest. Take the branch (one hand should be facing upwards and the other downwards).
• Face the altar and bow slightly once.
• Step up to the table in front of the altar and bow slightly once more.
• Turn the branch clockwise, so the stem is facing the altar, the leafy part toward yourself, and place it on the table. (This is Tamagushi hoten (玉串奉奠) an offering to the Kami of the shrine as a symbol of your sincerity.)
• Bow twice deeply.
• Place your hands together in front of your chest. Slide your right hand back and turn it slightly so the fingers are angling upwards. Clap twice.
• Bow deeply once more.
• Step back to your original position and take a seat.

The ceremony is now complete.

Amulets, Ofuda and Ema

Amulets (Omamori) お守り

There are several types of amulets available from a Shinto shrine. Amulets are portable and used for personal protection. The amulet you chose would be based on your particular needs. For example, there are amulets for good fortune; prosperity; and protection from traffic accidents.

Ofuda

While amulets can be carried about with you, Ofuda are kept in the home, typically on a Kamidana (神棚, lit. “god shelf”), though they can be kept on any shelf or in the Tokonoma (床の間) the part of the traditional Japanese home used for seasonal displays, such as the Hinamatsuri (girl’s day) dolls.
The Ofuda should be placed facing south – Shinto shrines are typically built facing south.
It serves as a direct link to the shrine and praying at the Ofuda is essentially the same as praying at the shrine. Aga shrine has the equivalent of an Ofuda for Ise shrine in the form of a large stone monument. It can be found in the eastern section and prayers made here are directed to Ise shrine.
Praying at the Ofuda, rather than visiting the shrine, is convenient for those with busy home and work lives.

Ema (絵馬, wish cards)

There are two sizes of Ema. The small wooden Ema you can obtain from the shrine. You write your name and what you are wishing for on the back, and hang the Ema on the Emakake (絵馬掛け, wish shelf) at the shrine.

The large Ema can be seen in the Haiden (the front section or outer sanctum) of Aga shrine, they are the paintings which adorn the ceilings in front of the donation box.
In the past it was traditional for villagers of the area to donate horses to a shrine. As time passed this custom changed to the donation of pictures of horses, hence the kanji for Ema (‘e’ 絵 “picture” & ‘ma’ 馬 “horse”). The subject matter of the pictures gradually changed from horses to that of famous samurai, portrayals of autumn festivals, historical events, and characters from the Chinese calendar (Rat, Ox, Dragon, Tiger, Snakes, etc…).
These large Ema are donated each year by people in their Yakudoshi (厄年 bad luck year), for men this is their 42nd year, women their 33rd. To ward off the misfortune of the Yakudoshi they work at a shrine’s Yakujin festival(厄神祭) and raise money to commission a large Ema for the shrine.

Some customs are unique to individual shrines and Aga shrine is one of the few shrines with a collection of these large Ema.

History

The earliest record of Aga shrine comes from the Heian period (794-1185 A.D.). No one knows exactly how long a shrine has been on the present site, but the shrine is at least 1300 years old.
The premises of Aga shrine was part of Aga castle which was destroyed in the 16th century by Hideyoshi Toyotomi (豊臣 秀吉, a famous general who unified Japan).
A mud wall is all that remains of Aga castle and you can see it at the northern end of the shrine.

Autumn Harvest Festival

Aga shrine’s main festival is the autumn harvest festival. Every year the local residents bring out the Yatai (屋台, a type of portable shrine) and carry them through the shrine grounds and into the outer sanctum (Haiden) of the shrine itself. A unique feature of Aga shrine is that it is built up off the ground, most Shinto shrines are built at ground level, this makes entering the shrine with the Yatai extra challenging.

Once every 25 years, Aga shrine brings out the Mikoshi (神輿). A Mikoshi is a small portable shrine, used to carry the Kami of the shrine through the surrounding neighborhood. While people are free to ride and climb upon the Yatai, the Mikoshi are solely for the use of Kami.

Kami (神, Gods)

Shintoism is a polytheistic religion, there are many different gods and each is responsible for different things. There is no ranking system for the different Kami, as all are part of the whole and therefore necessary. Similarly there is no ranking system among the Shinto shrines. While Ise shrine is considered especially holy on account of being the place where Amaterasu (the sun goddess) resides, it is not ranked above other shrines.

Aga Shrine’s Kami

Aga shrine pays homage to ten of these Kami. Aga shrine’s Kami can be found throughout the shrine’s grounds. On the western side, facing eastwards are two small shrines for Bentensha and Itsukushimasha. At the northern end of the shrine property (to the rear of the main shrine building) are three more shrines, these are for the Kami Ichinomiya, Shiogama, and Kotohirasha. The remaining five Kami can be found within the main shrine building.

Five Primary Kami

Aga shrine has five primary Kami, housed within the shrine’s main building. They are Agahiko, Agahime, Tenjin, Honda Wakenomikoto, and Kasuga.

Agahiko & Agahime

Agahiko and Agahime are the Kami responsible for the creation of the Agaho area. All Shinto shrines are built for the spirits of the local area, and every shrine has unique Kami in this respect. Shinto priests attend to the area under the protection of these Kami. For example when someone wishes to build a house, they ask the priest from the local shrine to bless the land, so the Kami of the area will look favorably upon their new home.

Tenjin

Tenjin is the Kami of learning and scholarship. It is from Tenjin that Aga shrine’s secondary name “Aga Tenmangu” is derived. Tenmangu is a title given to shrines with Tenjin in residence. The symbols of Tenjin are the cow and the plum tree. Two nade ushi (撫で牛stroking cows) can be found on either side of the main entrance to the shrine. Rubbing the cow’s body is considered to be beneficial for the corresponding part on your own body. For example if you are suffering knee pain, you would rub the matching knee on the cow, or if you wished to have a clear head to aid your study for an exam you would rub the cow’s head - as this Tenjin’s specialty, you will find the cows’ heads have been well rubbed.

Honda Wakenomikoto & Kasuga

The last two Kami that are housed in the main shrine deal with the avoidance of misfortune. Honda Wakenomikoto protects from general misfortune, while Kasuga deals specifically in the avoidance of traffic accidents.

Objects of Worship (Goshintai, Goshinboku)

Every Shinto shrine has sacred items (goshintai) and a sacred tree (goshinboku). These sacred objects are considered to be places for the Kami of the shrine to dwell.
Depending on the shrine the objects could be anything from a rock, to a mirror or sword. Aga shrine’s goshinboku is the Nagi (竹柏), a slow growing, hardwood tree that favors warm climates – it can be found primarily in the west and south of Japan. Aga shrine’s Nagi can be found on the eastern side of the main building. It was declared a domestic heritage object in 1937, and when it died it was over a thousand years old. Two new Nagi seeded from the original now grow beside it.

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八幡大神と称される「誉田別尊(命)（ほんだわけのみこと）」を祭神としてお祀りし

旧暦に従って毎年１９日に執り行われます。

厄年も昔ながらの数え年で計算するのと同じく、古来の伝統を重んじる趣旨です。

厄除け祈願・厄払い祈願・厄落とし祈願・八方除けには

姫路市飾磨区の英賀神社へお参りください。

＜今年の厄年＞

・男：昭和２５年生、昭和４３年生、昭和４４年生、昭和４５年生、昭和６１年生

・女：昭和２５年生、昭和５２年生、昭和５３年生、昭和５４年生、平成４年生

日時：２月１９日（金） 正午から午後６時まで

大福引・厄除餅など

御祭神は「事代主大神(ことしろぬしおおかみ)」と申し上げ

出雲の大国主大神様のお子神で英賀彦・英賀姫神様の兄神にあたられます。

関西では「えべっさん」として親しまれています。

この事代主大神様が日本の建国(国譲り)に際して大きなご功績をあげられましたので

当英賀神社のゑびす祭は古くから２月１１日の建国記念の日(紀元節) に執り行って来ております。

英賀神社・戎祭の名物は、境内特設の櫓からの餅撒きで、

重さ１．２トン・個数にして３０，０００個もの規模を誇り、大いに賑わいます。

英賀神社のゑびす様は本殿に向かって左側の小宮社にお祀りしてあります。 

日時：２月１１日（建国記念の日）

吉兆大売り出し・大福引：正午～午後４時

もちまき神事：午後４時より

氏神さまにお参りするのが七五三詣です。

子供が3歳・5歳・7歳になると晴れ着を着て、家族揃って神社にお参りし、

これまでの子供の成長を神さまに感謝し、

これからのさらなる成長をお祈りします。

3歳は「髪置(かみおき)」と呼ぶ男女とものお祝い、

5歳は男子の「袴着(はかまぎ)」、7歳は女子の「帯解(おびとき)」

のお祝いとされています。

昔は、７歳まで生きられない子どもが多かったことから、

７歳までは神のうちといわれ、

７歳になって初めて社会の一員として認（みと）められた事に由来します。

一般には稲の刈り取りを終えた11月15日前後にお参りしますが、

雪の降る地方では、一カ月早めておこなうところもあります。

当、英賀神社でも１１月中、七五三の子供たちの成長を祈願する

ご祈祷の奉仕を行っております。

初宮参り、七五三参りは英賀神社へお参りください。

平成２１年 七五三参り

１１月３日（祝）、７日（土）、８日（日）、１４日（土）、１５日（日）、２１日（土）、２２日（日）

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ご祈祷料（七五三・初宮参り）

一人：5,000円、二人：9,000円、三人：12,000円

本殿にてご祈祷をお受け頂き、千歳飴・お菓子・御守りなどを授与いたします。

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英賀神社では１０月１７日（土）・１８日（日）に

秋季例大祭を開催いたします。

本年は週末の日程となりますので

例年以上の賑わいを楽しみにいたしております。

昨年の模様はフォトギャラリーでご覧頂けます。

→【平成20年 秋季例大祭 (2008年10月17日-18日)】

毎年１０月１７日・１８日の２日間行われる旧縣社・英賀神社の例祭は、

２台の檀尻と大小１８台もの屋台が繰り出される歴史深い秋祭です。

高床式の拝殿の中、天井に届くほど屋台を高く練り上げる拝殿練りは圧巻です。

また、「英賀と言えば梯子、梯子と言えば英賀」と称されるように、

２本の大竹で出来た横木の無い梯子の上で獅子が舞う姿は勇壮で見応えがあります。
又、この大祭の歴史は古く今から560年以上も遡り、

嘉吉3年9月18日(現在の10月)に太子黒岡山より天満宮(菅原道真公)を奉遷し

英賀天満宮となった頃からと伝えられています。