Performed on the night of the 1st each month
The 1st is sakujitsu, the day that begins the month. At Byodoji, the goma is performed before Bishamonten from 8 p.m. on the 1st of every month.
Services
Vaiśravaṇa Goma
A goma performed on the night of the 1st, sakujitsu, before Bishamonten, the deva of good fortune and victory.
Wishes for victory, rising wealth, and a dragon-like rise in luck are entrusted to the wisdom-fire of the goma as we look to Bishamonten's good fortune. You can also apply online.
Next service
December 1, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Prayer offering 500 yen per wish
Table of Contents
At a glance
From 8 p.m.
1st of every month Vaiśravaṇa Goma
Bishamonten, deva of good fortune and victory
Bishamonten is Tamonten, the guardian of the north among the Four Heavenly Kings, and the deva who presides over treasure and good fortune. As one of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune, he is counted among the guardians of contests, commerce, and wealth.
A goma for averting calamities (sokusai)
Sokusai means removing calamities and hindrances and keeping body, mind, and daily life at peace. Looking to Bishamonten's protecting power, we pray for victory, thriving business, and stability in daily life.
You can apply online
From home, you can submit your name and your wish. We read them aloud and pray over them in the service, and you can join remotely by live stream.
Schedule and details
What is the Vaiśravaṇa Goma
The Vaiśravaṇa Goma is a prayer for good fortune and victory through the goma performed before Bishamonten.
The goma is a Shingon rite of prayer in which the sacred wisdom-fire is kindled in the goma hearth, and the priest chants mantras while offering goma sticks into the flame one by one. We read aloud the names and wishes of the petitioners as we offer the goma sticks into the flame in prayer.
Bishamonten is the deva who guards the Buddha's teaching and brings treasure and good fortune to all beings. Looking to his power to increase and add to that good fortune, we offer prayers for victory, wealth, and good luck.
The Honzon, Bishamonten (Vaiśravaṇa)
The Bishamonten enshrined at Byodoji is a standing image in joined-woodblock construction (yosegi-zukuri), held to date from the Edo period. Clad in armor, he holds a halberd in his right hand and raises a jeweled stupa in his left.
The monthly goma on the 1st is performed before this image of Bishamonten.
About the Statue
The 1st: the goma of sakujitsu
The 1st is sakujitsu, the first day of a new month. Myōken Bodhisattva and Bishamonten take this sakujitsu as their ennichi (sacred day), and temples across the land hold ennichi services and sakujitsu goma on this day.
At Byodoji, we perform the Vaiśravaṇa Goma on the 1st, at the start of the month, praying for that month's good fortune and well-being. Note that Bishamonten's ennichi is also commonly held to be the Day of the Tiger. This is because of the legend at Mount Shigi that Bishamonten appeared in the year, day, and hour of the tiger.
Bishamonten's fundamental vow and the mantra we recite
Bishamonten is the deva who himself vowed to bring all beings "benefit and ease" and to make their treasure abundant.
In the Sutra of King Vaiśravaṇa, one of Bishamonten's foundational scriptures, there is a scene in which Bishamonten, before the Buddha, vows to teach a mantra for the sake of all people.
Words of the scripture
- Translation
- World-Honored One, for the sake of bringing benefit and ease to all beings in the future, of making their treasure abundant, and of guarding the land, I will teach my own mantra. This mantra of mine, like the king of wish-fulfilling jewels (cintāmaṇi), can fulfill every wish.
- Original text
世尊、我為未來諸有情等利益安樂、豐饒財寶、護持國界故、說自真言。我此真言、如真多摩尼寶王、能滿衆願。
- Source
- Sūtra of King Vaiśravaṇa, trans. Amoghavajra (Taishō No. 1244)
The workings of Bishamonten
Benefit and ease (riyaku-anraku)
Bishamonten's foundational vow to bring benefit and peace to all beings.
Abundant treasure (hōnyō-zaihō)
The work of good fortune that makes wealth abundant and frees one from poverty. This is the basis for prayers for wealth.
Guarding the land (goji-kokkai)
The work of protection and victory that guards the land and its people and drives back foes.
Bishamonten's mantra
on baishiramandaya sowaka
oṃ vaiśravaṇāya svāhā
A mantra that takes refuge in him, saying "O Bishamonten (Vaiśravaṇa)," and prays for the fulfillment of his protection. The mantras taught in the Sutra of King Vaiśravaṇa also contain the phrase 吠室囉麼拏野娑嚩賀 (baishiramandaya sowaka).
Amulets and talismans for this service
Along with your prayer request, you can receive items matched to the honzon of this service.
Bishamonten Kifuda Small
Apply for one prayer and one item together.
Bishamonten Kifuda Large
Apply for one prayer and one item together.
Bishamonten Kifuda Special
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.
How the goma unfolds
In the main hall, the goma is performed as follows.
STEP 1
Make offerings to Bishamonten
Through the rite handed down from Kōbō Daishi to Byodoji, we quietly make offerings to Bishamonten.
STEP 2
Enter the goma for averting calamities
About thirty to forty minutes after the rite begins, the wisdom-fire (the fire of the Buddha's wisdom) is kindled in the goma hearth. From here, the goma rite called sokusai begins.
STEP 3
Offer the goma sticks into the flame
Once the wisdom-fire has reached its height, we read aloud each name and wish and offer the goma sticks into the flame one by one in prayer.
STEP 4
Dedicate the merit
The merit of the goma is dedicated to each petitioner's victory, wealth, and good fortune. Amulets and talismans are also blessed at this time.
Bishamonten's good fortune is not meant to be hoarded. The scripture teaches that one should turn the wealth one gains toward giving, hold nothing back, and raise a heart of great compassion toward all people. We perform this so that a prayer for blessing is also a prayer that nourishes others.
Wishes you can entrust
To the Vaiśravaṇa Goma you can entrust many kinds of prayers for victory and good fortune.
Prayers for victory and success in contests
For those facing entrance exams, tests, work, or a contest.
Rising wealth and thriving business
For those who wish for a prosperous trade, fortune in wealth, and stability in daily life.
Dragon-like rise in luck and better fortune
For those who wish to raise their luck and turn matters toward the good.
Warding off calamity and bodily strength
For those who wish to drive back foes and misfortune and keep body and mind sound.
How to apply
You can apply at the sutra-offering office or online. Even if you apply online, Byodoji reads your name and wish aloud and prays over them, and you can join the service by stream.
Vaiśravaṇa Goma
1st of every month, 8 p.m. / Now accepting
Performed on the night of sakujitsu, before Bishamonten, deva of good fortune and victory.
On the application form you can select "Vaiśravaṇa Goma." You may also apply for multiple goma or for a period of prayer (half a year, one year).
A full year of prayer (annual prayer)
We also accept annual prayer, in which your name is read aloud and prayed over at the Vaiśravaṇa Goma on the 1st of every month for a full year. On the application form, set the period to "12" months.
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 wishExplore Vaiśravaṇa through three gateways
Frequently asked questions
We answer common questions about applying for the Vaiśravaṇa Goma.
Can I apply regardless of my school or sect?
Yes. Anyone may apply, regardless of school or sect.
Will my wish be prayed over if I apply online?
Yes. The name and wish you submit are read aloud one by one and prayed over in Byodoji's goma. The content of the prayer is the same whether or not you visit the temple.
Is it all right to wish for wealth or for victory in a contest?
Yes. Bishamonten is the deva who presides over good fortune and victory. Please write specific wishes such as victory, wealth, or a thriving business.
Can I ask for this every month, continuously?
Yes. We accept annual prayer, in which your wish is read aloud at the goma on the 1st of every month for a full year. Please choose the period on the application form.
Can I join the goma by live stream?
Yes. We stream it live from 8 p.m. on the 1st of every month. From home, you can join your hands before the wisdom-fire.
On the 1st of each month, at the start of the month.
Bishamonten is the deva who protects people with good fortune and victory and upholds their wishes. At the goma on the 1st of each month, we kindle the wisdom-fire and look to his power of good fortune.
If you wish for success in contests or in trade, or for stability in daily life, please come to the goma on the 1st of every month. Besides visiting the temple, you can also take part by applying online and joining the live stream.