On 24th Day of Lunar 12 Month (農曆臘月廿四日), Kitchen Deity aka Zao Jun (灶君) return back to Heavenly Realm to perform his Annual Reporting to Jade Emperor of Heaven (玉皇大天尊).
On 25th Day of Lunar 12 Month (農曆臘月廿五日), Jade Emperor of Heaven made his Inspection on ALL Beings before the Lunar Year ended.
On 28th Day of Lunar 12 Month (農曆臘月廿八日), Lord Nan Bei Dou (南北斗星君) performed their Inspection for the Beings and performed their Recordings in-order for the processing of Blessing Bestowing for the Beings for the New Lunar Year.
On 7th Day of Lunar 1 Month (農曆正月初七日), Lord Nan Bei Dou performed their very 1st round of Inspection on ALL Beings for the New Lunar Year and take note of who to Bestow the Blessing to.
On 9th Day of Lunar 1 Month (農曆正月初九日), while Taoists & Chinese celebrating the Manifestation Anniversary of Jade Emperor of Heaven, our dearest Tian Gong was there to perform his very 1st round of Inspection on the Mortal Realm too. During the Inspection, from there, the various different Departments will take note of where, who & what to Bestow upon while the next important Inspection is being carried out.
And in Taoism, on the 15th Day of Lunar 1 Month (農曆正月十五日), it is believed to be the Most Important Day of the whole Lunar Year. Why? Due to the Inspection of Heavenly Lord Tian Guan (天官大帝) – in some Contexts, this Day is also known as the Manifestation Anniversary of Lord Tian Guan.
On this Day, while Lord Tian Guan performed his Inspection, he will also performed the Bestowing of Prosperity and Luck to those who deserve it (from ALL the previous Recordings & Inspection).
And so, in Taoism, on this Day, Taoists & Chinese will have to perform the Honouring dedicating to Lord Tian Guan. While performing the Honouring, Oneself shall Sincerely & Faithfully make Reprimanding, make Vows to make Changes – Eliminate the Wrong Doings, etc.
For Year 2012, it falls on 6th Feb, a Monday.
So what can Oneself Prepare for the Honouring?
For Honouring of Heavenly Lord Tian Guan, for Official Taoist, we try to keep it Simple & Official.
For Official Taoists, Oneself can just use Taoist Five Offerings (道教五供) for the Honouring (link at http://javewu.multiply.com/journal/item/131).
For Layman Taoists, Oneself can add in Longevity Buns (壽桃包), Longevity Noodles (壽麵), Huat Kueh (發糕), Ang Ku Kueh (紅龜粿) and Five Oranges (五粒桔子).
So when is the Best Timing to Do the Honouring?
Usually the Honouring can be Done on the Eve of 14th Day after 11.00Pm.
For those who cant, the Honouring can be Done between 9.00Am –5.00Pm on the Actual Day.
So what shall Oneself do during the Honouring?
Before the Honouring starts, remember to place ALL the Offerings on the Main Altar at Home or Temple.
For those who wish to do the Honouring at Home but do not have an Altar, then Oneself can prepare a Table facing outdoor or Heaven.
After everything is being put in Place. Sincerely light 3 Long Incenses and make 3 Bows.
After the 3 Bows, kneel down and start to report Oneself’s Name (for those who wish to do the Honouring on Behalf of the Others, remember to recite their Names too), Residing Address and then Call-upon the Official Title of Heavenly Lord Tian Guan (天官大帝聖號) and last, Recite the Praise Mantra aka Bao Gao of Heavenly Lord Tian Guan (天官大帝寶誥).
Official Title of Heavenly Lord Tian Guan (天官大帝聖號):
Shang Yuan Yi Pin Jiu Qi Tian Guan Ci Fu Zi Wei Da Di (上元－品九氣天官賜福紫微大帝)
Praise Mantra aka Bao Gao of Heavenly Lord Tian Guan (天官大帝寶誥):
Refer to this link: http://javewu.multiply.com/photos/album/144
Upon Completion of the Recitation of the Bao Gao, make 3 Bows and then start to do Oneself’s Requesting.
Once the Requesting is Done, make 1 Bow and then slowly stand up and leave the Altar.
The whole Honouring will End here.
For the Offerings, they can be left on the Altar until the 16th Day of Lunar 1 Month.
Additional Info
In the Ancient Era, on this Day, besides engaging Official Zheng Yi Priests (正一道長) to conduct the Sending of San Guan Shou Shu (三官手書), translated as The Reprimanding Petition for the Changing of Bad-doing and Requesting of Prosperity Blessing, the Layman Taoists would also Burn a type of Paper Offering that got 100 Chinese Fu Character being printed on it.
This type of Paper Offering is known as Na Bai Fu Fu (納百福符) aka 100 Prosperity Talisman.
In the following is a sample of the Talisman:
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