Virtual approach to appease the Grand Duke

The Tai Por Kong Temple in Macallum Street Ghaut, Penang. — K.T. GOH/The Star

SOME people born in specific Chinese zodiac signs each year are said to be in conflict with deity, the Grand Duke (Tai Sui).

According to this belief, observed for thousands of years, those born in the years of the Monkey, Snake, Pig and Tiger are listed as facing this astrological setback.

Those who subscribe to this belief must then make certain prayers to appease the Grand Duke.

To make it possible for those unfamiliar with the required prayer rituals, a temple in George Town, Penang, is now holding the rites virtually for people to take part.

At Tai Por Kong Temple (San Jiang Miao) in Macallum Street Ghaut, temple volunteers are holding virtual Grand Duke (Tai Sui in Cantonese) prayer rituals for devotees daily.

A banner to announce the virtual Tai Sui prayer sessions at the temple premises in George Town.

Temple secretary Koay Teng Hai said this ritual is open to devotees born under those zodiac signs in conflict with the Grand Duke.

In the Chinese pantheon of gods, 60 deity-generals take turns each year to be appointed as the Grand Duke, who has charge of all the affairs of the mortal realm.

Each year, those born under certain zodiac signs are believed to clash with the Grand Duke’s will and shall thus be at risk of misfortune of varying degrees.

To appease the Grand Duke and avoid being in his blacklist, those who submit their names to Tai Por Kong Temple will have their names, birth details and addresses printed onto an ornately inscribed pamphlet, which are offered as supplications to the Grand Duke during the prayer rituals.

“This is the second year we are doing the rituals for devotees virtually.

“Due to the pandemic, we did it last year and want to continue with it this year to make things easier for devotees.

“As we do not want the temple to be crowded during the festive period, we hope this service can ease the process for devotees,” said Koay, adding that in the past, more than 10,000 devotees came annually to appease the Grand Duke.

A temple volunteer keying in the prayer requests into their computer system to conductonline prayer sessions.

Tai Por Kong Temple is one of the few in Malaysia with the consecrated statues of all 60 deity- generals who take turns being the Grand Duke.

The specific statue ‘in charge’ for the year is adorned with a golden cloak.

Koay said the temple began providing the rituals early this month and that the service will continue until March 1.

He said devotees can register for the rituals online through www.taiporkong.org/taisui

Meanwhile, at Sian Chye Tong Temple in Ayer Itam, its youth section chairman Loh Choon Teik said the temple is not offering Grand Duke (Tai Sui in Cantonese) rituals.

He said the temple, which adheres closely to Buddhism, usually conducts simple prayers for good health and the lighting of lanterns as well as oil lamps for the year.

“We adhere to a Buddhism way of praying and we will just observe simple prayers with devotees coming in for prayer sessions,” he said.