How to Pour Water to Dedicate Merit (Kruat Nam)
Preparing the water, when to start and finish pouring during the monks' blessing, and the short and longer dedication verses with their meaning.
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1
Understand what pouring water means
Kruat nam (pouring water to dedicate merit) means sharing the merit you have made with others: parents, relatives who have died, people who have helped you, and all beings. The unbroken stream of water is a sign of a mind set on sharing. What matters is the intention, not the water itself; if there is no water, dedicating in your mind (a 'dry' dedication) is fine.
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2
Prepare a vessel and clean water
Use a small water jug or a glass of clean water and a bowl or cup to catch it, placed in front of you. At temples and home ceremonies a set is usually ready. A group can share one set: one person pours while the others touch his or her arm or simply join in the intention.
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Start pouring when the monks begin 'Yathā'
When the senior monk begins the blessing 'Yathā vārivahā pūrā paripūrenti sāgaraṃ…', start pouring. Hold the jug in your right hand, steady it with your left, and let the water run in a thin, unbroken stream. With a wide-mouthed vessel some people let the water run down the right index finger. There is no need to hurry.
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4
Say the short dedication silently
While pouring, say silently:
Idaṃ me ñātīnaṃ hotu, sukhitā hontu ñātayo.
Meaning: 'May this merit be for my relatives; may my relatives be happy.' You may add your own words, for example: 'May the merit I made today reach my parents, teachers, relatives, those who have helped me, and all beings.' -
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Or use the longer verse
Idaṃ me ñātīnaṃ hotu, sukhitā hontu ñātayo.
Yathā vārivahā pūrā paripūrenti sāgaraṃ,
evameva ito dinnaṃ petānaṃ upakappati.
Meaning: 'May this merit be for my relatives; may they be happy. Just as full streams flow on and fill the sea, so what is given from here reaches those who have passed away.' The full text is on the chant page 'Dedicating merit to those who have died'. -
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Finish when the monks begin 'Sabbī'
When the senior monk finishes his part and all the monks start together with 'Sabbītiyo vivajjantu…', pour out the rest of the water, set the vessel down and join your palms to receive the blessing until the chanting ends. This blessing is on the chant page 'Sabbītiyo and So atthaladdho — the blessing after giving'.
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7
Pour the water under a tree
After the ceremony, pour the water at the foot of a tree, on a lawn or on clean ground, not into a drain or a dirty spot, out of respect for what you have done. Customs vary a little; some temples have a place set aside for it.
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Learn more from the Tirokuḍḍa verses
At merit-making for the departed, monks often chant the Tirokuḍḍa verses, which teach that weeping does not help those who have died, while a gift well given to the Sangha and dedicated to them is of real benefit. The full text and translation are on the chant page 'Tirokuḍḍa Kaṇḍa — verses for dedicating merit to the departed'; see also the Dhamma principle page 'The Discourse to Jāṇussoṇi: When Offerings Reach the Departed'.