Prayer for the Souls of Unborn Babies is a ritual held to pray for the souls of those little ones who did not have the chance to be born or died shortly after birth. Those souls are pure, having not yet experienced life's troubles and attachments. The temple or the family should prepare an altar with flowers, fruits, milk, and water. On the altar for the souls, there should be a memorial tablet (with the name, Dharma name, birth date, death date and death place of the unborn babies), three bowls of porridge, three glasses of milk, flowers, and fruits...
Offerings should be made continuously for 21 days after the passing away of the unborn child, or on the 1st and 15th day of the lunar month, or the Vu Lan Festival, Lunar New Year, death anniversaries, etc. When visiting the temple, incense should be lit, sutras recited, and prayers offered to the little ones.
When an abortion or termination is intentional, the unborn child often experiences pain and may develop feelings of resentment and sadness towards their parents.
In cases of unintentional incidents, such as carelessness leading to complications during childbirth, miscarriage, stillbirth, or the death of a newborn at 1, 2, or 3 weeks/months, the unborn child experiences pain and anger. They may also develop attachment to their parents and family, not wanting to be separated.
Due to the livelihood needs, some people engage in professions such as performing abortions, selling abortion tools and medications, thereby creating conditions for the karmic killing, causing numerous innocent unborn children to be unjustly killed.
Today, we sincerely repent, recite sutras, resolve resentments, chant the Buddha's name and pray for the divine power of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, saints, Dharma protectors, and heavenly beings to bless the souls.
We pray that the unborn children release their feelings of resentment and attachment, awaken to their current circumstances, understand the impermanent nature of existence, accept reality, and soon be reborn into a peaceful realm.
Thich Nu Gioi Huong
