Performed on the night of the 28th of each month
The 28th is the ennichi of Fudo Myoo (Acala), "Acala's day." At Byodoji, the goma is performed before Acala from 8:00 p.m. on the 28th of every month.
Services
Fudo Goma
A goma performed before Fudo Myoo (Acala) on the night of the 28th of each month, Acala's ennichi.
Wishes for warding off misfortune, averting calamity, and long life are entrusted to Acala's wisdom-fire. You can also apply online.
Next service
November 28, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Prayer offering 500 yen per wish
Table of Contents
At a glance
From 8:00 p.m.
28th of each month Fudo Goma
Acala, manifestation of Mahavairocana
Fudo Myoo (Acala) is the manifestation in which Mahavairocana appears in wrathful form to guide all beings. Dwelling amid flames, he burns away afflictions and hindrances with the wisdom-fire and guards the practitioner day and night.
A goma for averting calamity (sokusai)
The wisdom-fire of the goma represents Acala's wisdom. This goma prays for afflictions and calamities to be removed and for peaceful days: a goma for averting calamity and warding off misfortune.
You can apply online
You can apply from home with your name and wish. Your name and wish are read aloud and prayed over in the service. You can also join remotely by live stream.
Schedule and details
What is the Fudo Goma
The Fudo Goma is a prayer in which a goma is performed before Fudo Myoo (Acala) to burn away calamity and hindrance and to pray for safety.
The goma is a Shingon rite of prayer in which the wisdom-fire is kindled in the goma hearth and offering sticks are cast into the flames one by one while mantras are recited. As we read aloud each petitioner's name and wish, we cast the sticks into the fire and offer the prayer.
The wisdom-fire of the goma is regarded as the fire of Acala's wisdom. With that fire, Acala burns away the roots of affliction and calamity, draws in those who are lost, and protects them. Looking to that working, we pray for protection from misfortune and for the averting of calamity.
The Principal Deity, Fudo Myoo (Acala)
The Acala enshrined at Byodoji is a seated image in joined-woodblock construction (yosegi-zukuri), held to date from the Edo period. He holds a sharp sword in his right hand and a lasso in his left, and shows a wrathful form with bared fangs and the heaven-and-earth eyes (tenchigan), one eye looking up and the other down.
The goma on the 28th of each month is performed before this image.
About the Statue
The 28th is Acala's ennichi
The 28th is the ennichi of Fudo Myoo (Acala). In the thirty-day rotation of hidden buddhas, a custom that assigns a deity to each day, the 28th belongs to Mahavairocana, and so Acala, his manifestation, came to be linked with the 28th. In the Edo period, when the worldly blessings of the goma were widely sought, the 28th became established as "Acala's day."
At Byodoji, we perform the Fudo Goma on the 28th of each month in keeping with Acala's ennichi. Devotion to Acala runs deep at Byodoji, and the Shō Hassenmai-ku, the great goma of eight thousand offering sticks, is also performed with Acala as its principal deity.
Acala's fundamental vow and his mantra
Acala is the manifestation in which Mahavairocana appears in wrathful form. With the wisdom-fire he burns away the hindrances of all beings and guards the practitioner.
Acala's ritual manual, the Shōgun Fudō Myōō shijūhachi shisha himitsu jōju giki, teaches that Acala is the manifestation of Mahavairocana and that he protects those who hold his mantra.
Words of the scriptures
- Translation
- Acala is the manifestation of the root Buddha Vairocana (Mahavairocana). Once one holds his secret mantra, in life after life he guards the people of the world.
- Original text
不動者、本佛毘盧遮那佛化身。一持祕密呪後、生生加護世間之人。
- Source
- Shōgun Fudō Myōō shijūhachi shisha himitsu jōju giki (Taishō No. 1205)
The working of Fudo Myoo (Acala)
Burning obstructions with the wisdom-fire
With the wisdom-fire of the fire-generating samadhi (kasho zanmai), the meditation in which his body gives off the fire of wisdom, he burns away afflictions, karmic hindrances, and calamities as firewood. This is why we pray to him for averting calamity and warding off misfortune.
The sword and the lasso
With the sharp sword in his right hand he cuts through hardship, and with the lasso in his left he draws in those who are lost and leads them to awakening.
Guardian of the practitioner
Acala's fundamental vow is to guard the practitioner day and night, drive away demons and hindrances, and bring the practitioner's wishes to fulfillment.
The Mantra of Acala (the Jiku-shu)
nōmaku sanmanda bazaradan senda makaroshada sowataya un tarata kanman
namaḥ samanta-vajrāṇāṃ caṇḍa-mahāroṣaṇa sphoṭaya hūṃ traṭ hāṃ māṃ
A mantra that prays, "I take refuge in the all-pervading Vajra Ones. O fierce and greatly wrathful one, shatter the hindrances." It is Acala's medium-length mantra, the Jiku-shu, and the one most widely recited.
Amulets and talismans for this service
Along with your prayer request, you can receive items matched to the honzon of this service.
Acalanātha Ofuda S 24cm
Apply for one prayer and one item together.
Acalanātha Ofuda Large 30cm
Apply for one prayer and one item together.
Acalanātha Ofuda special 30cm
Apply for one prayer and one item together.
Items are delivered after the prayer service. You can change the wish and quantity on the application screen.
The flow of the goma
In the main hall, the Fudo Goma is performed as follows.
STEP 1
Making offerings to Acala
Offerings are made to Acala according to the rite handed down from Kobo Daishi to Byodoji.
STEP 2
Entering the goma for averting calamity
About thirty to forty minutes into the rite, the wisdom-fire, the fire of the Buddha's wisdom, is kindled in the goma hearth. From here the officiant enters the goma rite for averting calamity (sokusai).
STEP 3
Casting the offering sticks into the flames
Once the wisdom-fire has risen to its height, the offering sticks are cast into the flames one by one as each name and wish is read aloud.
STEP 4
Dedicating the merit
The merit of the goma is dedicated to each petitioner's protection from misfortune, averting of calamity, and fulfillment of wishes. Amulets and prayer talismans are also blessed at this time.
Acala's wisdom-fire is held to burn away not only outer calamity but also inner afflictions. The goma for warding off misfortune and calamity is therefore also performed as a prayer for settling one's own heart.
Wishes you can entrust
You can entrust the Fudo Goma with many kinds of prayers to cut off calamity and protect yourself.
Warding off misfortune, averting calamity
For those who wish to be protected from the misfortunes of an unlucky year, from accidents and injury, and from unexpected disaster.
Long life, good health
For those who wish for health of body and mind and for peaceful days.
Dispelling misfortune, opening fortune
For those who wish to cut off hindrances and turn things in a good direction.
Fulfillment of heartfelt wishes, self-protection
For those who wish to cut through doubt and anxiety and move forward with a settled mind.
Apply
You can apply at the temple office or online. If you apply online, your name and wish are likewise read aloud and prayed over in the service at Byodoji. You can join the service by live stream.
Fudo Goma
28th of each month, 8:00 p.m. / Now accepting
A goma performed on the night of Acala's ennichi before Fudo Myoo (Acala), the manifestation of Mahavairocana.
Select "Fudo Goma" on the application form. You can also apply for several goma at once, or for prayers over a period of six months or a year.
A year of prayer (annual prayer)
We also accept the annual prayer, in which your name and wish are read aloud and prayed over at the Fudo Goma on the 28th of every month for a full year. On the application form, select "12" months as the period.
Choose a Goma by your wish
Compare Byodoji's five monthly Goma rites by wish, including prayers for healing, protection from misfortune, work, and memorial services.
Choose from five Goma rites by your wishLearn more about Acala
Frequently asked questions
Answers to questions we often receive about applying for the Fudo Goma.
Can I apply regardless of my Buddhist school or sect?
Yes. Anyone may apply, regardless of school or sect.
Will a wish sent online be prayed over too?
Yes. The name and wish you send are read aloud one by one in Byodoji's goma and prayed over. The prayer is the same whether or not you visit the temple.
I am in an unlucky year. May I ask for warding off misfortune?
Yes. Acala is the buddha who burns away calamity and hindrance and wards off misfortune. Please write a wish for protection in your unlucky year or for averting calamity.
May I ask for it every month, continuously?
Yes. We accept the annual prayer, in which your name and wish are read aloud and prayed over at the goma on the 28th of every month for a full year. Please select the period on the application form.
Can I join the goma by live stream?
Yes. The goma is streamed live from 8:00 p.m. on the 28th of each month. You can join from home and put your hands together before the wisdom-fire.
On the 28th of each month, on Acala's ennichi.
Acala sits upon an unshakable rock, removes calamity and hindrance with the wisdom-fire, and protects and guides those who are lost. In the goma on the 28th of each month, we kindle the wisdom-fire and look to his working.
If you wish to ward off misfortune or calamity, or pray for long life, please join the goma on the 28th of each month. Besides visiting the temple, you can apply online and join by live stream.