(TITC) - Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses focus on the worship of mother spirits of three realms, including heavenly realm, realm of water and realm of mountains and forests as well as other spirits who are historical or legendary heroes to pray for health, good luck and happiness.

Characteristics

Since the 16^th century, Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses have developed into a spiritual and cultural activity that has had a profound influence on social life and consciousness of the people. The supreme spirit at the top of the pantheon is the Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh. According to legends, Lieu Hanh was a nymph who descended to earth, lived as a human being and became a Buddhist nun. She is worshiped as �The Mother of the World� and as one of the four immortals of the Viet.

Main practices of the Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses held at temples dedicated to Mother Goddesses include spirit possession rituals and traditional festivals, among which the most notable is Phu Day Festival in Nam Dinh Province. Each spirit possession ritual consists of 5-36 spirit incarnations, and each spirit has its own unique costume, dance, songs and offerings. The music and songs performed during rituals is known as chau van and the songs for each spirit incarnation recount the spirit�s life, character and merits. Practitioners of Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses believe that through the spirit possession rituals, everyone can share their sympathetic feelings toward the spirits and benefit from shared cultural and spiritual values.

Culture bearers and practitioners of Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses are temple guardians who take care of the temples, offer daily incense and flowers to spirits; ritual priests who perform ceremonies involving conveying the wishes of their clients and communities to the Mother Goddesses and spirits through prayer and petition sheets; spirit mediums are initiated to perform the spirit possession rituals at the temples; mediums� assistants who help the mediums with costumes, ritual props and offerings that are required for each spirit incarnation; musicians who perform the songs for spirits, and lay worshippers who take part in rituals and festivals at temples dedicated to the Mother Goddesses.

Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms are syncretic as they combine local beliefs with imported religious elements from Taoism and Buddhism. The rituals of Beliefs are transmitted to younger generation by elders through oral instruction.

Outstanding values

Practices related to the Viet beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms, which artfully combine traditional costumes, music and dance, can be understood as a �living museum� that maintains the history, cultural heritage and identity of the Viet people.

The Mother Goddesses and other spirits in the pantheon originated not only from the Viet, but also from other ethnic minorities in the Northern mountainous region such as Muong, Tay, Nung and Dao. These spirits reflect and embody a process cultural exchange and thus help to establish strong attachments and equal relations among ethnic groups in Viet Nam. 

The worship of the Mother Goddesses, who are symbols of the supreme powerful mother, makes a contribution to valuing women and their role in family life and society at the same time shows compassion and human values of the Viet.

Besides, Beliefs connected to these spirits who descended to earth and lived as talented and virtuous people, gained merit by fighting against foreign invaders and protecting the nation and the people express ideas about the origin of the nation and educates the younger generation about patriotism. 

The Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms are open to all: everyone can practice these beliefs, regardless of their age, occupation or religion. It contributes to a sense of �communitas� and connects community members.

Practicing the Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms

The Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms are practiced in a number of provinces and cities in the North, the North Central and Ho Chi Minh City, among which Nam Dinh Province is the centre of the Beliefs with  total about 400 temples dedicated to Mother Goddesses. In addition, Mother Goddess Lieu Hanh is also worshipped at other temples and palaces, including Tay Ho (West Lake) Temple in Ha Noi, Song Temple in Thanh Hoa Province, Bac Le Temple in Lang Son Province.

On 1 December 2016, at the 11^th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO held in Addis Ababa Capital, Ethiopia, the Practices related to the Viet Beliefs in the Mother Goddesses of Three Realms were officially recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Thu Giang