A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture: Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja – Critical EditionThis volume is the first in-depth study of a recently discovered Sanskrit dharani spell text from around the 5th century CE surviving in two palm-leaf and three paper manuscript compendia from Nepal. This rare Buddhist scripture focuses on the ritual practice of thaumaturgic weather control for successful agriculture through overpowering mythical Nagas. Traditionally, these serpentine beings are held responsible for the amount of rainfall. The six chapters of the Vajratundasamayakalparaja present the vidyadhara spell-master as a ritualist who uses mandalas, mudras and other techniques to gain mastery over the Nagas and thus control the rains. By subjugating the Nagas, favourable weather and good crops are guaranteed. This links this incantation tradition to economic power and the securing of worldly support for the Buddhist community. |
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A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture: Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja ... Gergely Hidas No preview available - 2019 |
Common terms and phrases
ABCD ABCE ABDE ACDE addressed appears atha BCDE Beak become Bhagavān bhagavantam bhavanti bhavisyati Blazing blue bodies boundary Buddha called cause century chiefs clouds cold spells colophon completely conj contains corr crops destroy dhārami enchanted evam fall flowers four four directions fruits Garuḍa gives ground harmful heads heart hostile Nāgas hūm hum hum hum phat kartavyam lake leaves maṇḍala mantra manual manuscript mentions middle mustard seeds Nāga king náma Note offering parijapya paścime performed phat phat phat placed protection rain showers recited references residence ritual Sanskrit Sarva Sarve scattered sealing send down rain Serpent seven spell-master stake Svāhā Szántó Tathâgatas tatra thrown thunderbolts Tibetan translation uttered Vajra värän various vidyādhara VTSKR ward winds yadi