Pirith - a soothing balm to your mind
Premasara EPASINGHE
DHAMMA: Buddhism is considered as a philosophy or a psychology,
preached by The Buddha. There is a devotional aspect of Buddhism
that is also of paramount importance to gain spiritual comfort or
relief.
According to Buddha Dhamma, the mind is so closely linked with
physical health. The soothing effect of listening to chanting of
pirith and the beliefs in the protective nature of Pirith Desana is
widely acclaimed in many Buddhist countries.
The selected discourses for recital are known as Paritta sutta in
Pali. In Sanskrit it is called Parittrana and in Sinhala Pirith.
Principally - they all mean protection.
From time immemorial pirith were recited to invoke the blessings
of the unseen Gods.
This reveals in the Rigveda and other Veda texts. They chant
pirith to obtain blessings from Devas and protection from the evil.
The practice of reciting Pirith began very early in the history
of Buddhism. Buddhists believe these recitals produce mental
well-being and inner-tranquillity of those who listen. People
believe that such chanting has a therapeutic value.
Research done recently in medicine in experimental psychology,
presently known as parapsychology throws light on the nature of the
Mind and its importance.
Now, many medical men are of the opinion that many causes of
disease, organic as well as functional are directly caused by mental
states.
The mind not only makes us sick, it also cures.
It is believed that an optimistic patient has more chances of
getting well than a patient who is worried and unhappy. It is
observed in listening to the recital of Dhamma for protection and
deliverance from evil is a common feature. The selected discourses
are known as Pirith.
The vibratory sounds of the words embodied in Pirith are soothing
to one?s nerves. They bring about peace of mind and harmony in the
individual. According to Dhamma, the Mind is so closely linked with
physical health, because the man is a combination of both body and
mind.
Listening to Pirith chanting and reciting Pirith, eliminates many
types of fear that occur in one?s mind. The excessive irrational
fear of an object or a situation can be defined as Phobia. There is
a belief that these fears can be eradicated by the power of Pirith.
The meritorious and blessed effects of chanting Pirith is laid
out in Millindapprasna. It is said that reciting Ratana Sutta,
Atanatiya, Dajagga, and Mora Piritha daily give great protection.
In the Milindapprasna the power of Pirith is described in the
following manner.
?A person who chants Pirith is guarded and protected from
reptiles. They are not attacked by robbers. They are guarded from
fires. If they consume poison unknowingly it will turn into nectar.
By chanting Pirith sicknesses fade away. Chanting Pirith brings
protection, peace, happiness and prosperity to all.?
Pirith Poth Vahanse or the ?Sacred Book of Protective Chants? is
divided into Satara Banavara in Sinhala and Catubhanavarapali. There
are 29 Slittas in the Chatubanavara. They are extracted from the
Nikayas.
There are 12 suttas in the Khuddaka Nikaya. They are Sarangamana,
Dasasikkhapgada, Samanerapanha, Dvattimsakara, Mahamangala sutta,
Karaniyametta sutta, Ratana sutta, Mittanisama stanzas, Moraparitta,
Alavakasutta, Kasibharadvaja sutta, Parabhava sutta, Vasala sutta.
There are eight suttas, which are extracted from Samyutta Nikaya.
They are namely Candaparitta, Suriyaparitta, Dhajaggaparitta,
Ahacundatthera, Mahakassapaherabojjanga,
Mahamoggallanatherabojjangha, Dhammacakkappavattanasujja,
Asibhardvajasutta.
Then, there are five suttas that falls to the category of
Anguttara Nikaya. The are Paccavekkhana, Dasadhamasutta,
Khandhaparitta, Ettanisamasutta, Girimananda sutta.
Isigilisutta and Saccavibhanga sutta are extracted from Majjima
Nikaya.
The famous Atanatiyasutta, which is usually recited by priests
early morning is extracted from Digha Nikaya. They believe that this
expels the spirits. Attanatiya part one and two consists of 48 and
60 stanzas.
If you take a count, there are 116 Gathas from Dasadhamma sutta
to Dhajjagga. From Dhajjagga to Isigili sutta the count is 96. From
Isigili to Attanatiya Phatamaka Bhanavara and Atanatiya Dhutiyaka
Bhanavara consists of 48 and 60 stanzas respectively. Altogether
there are about 500 gathas.
Out of all suttas, Mangala, Ratana and Karaniyametta suttas are
chanted daily.
In analysing the sutta, we notice that most of them were recited
at Savastti, when the Blessed One was residing at the Monastery of
Anathapindika in Jethavana Grove.
?Evam Me Suttam Ekan Samyan Bhagava Savatthihan Viharathi
Jetavane Ananthapindikassa Arame... (Thus have I heard)
Some of the other suttas such as Mahakassappa Bojjanga,
Mahamoggalana Thera Bojjanga, Mahachulla Thera Sutta were recited
Veluwana at Rajagaha.
The other suttas like Isigili and Dhammachakkapavattana,
Mahasamaya, Alavaka sutta, Kasibharadvaja, Sallhavibanga and
Atanatiya clearly show that the Buddha, in His missionary activities
travelled across the Solosmaha Janapada (16 villages).
The Mangala sutta, contains 38 auspicious factors that bring
about prosperity and well-being. It shows how one should lead a good
and exemplary life. The sutta also explains the attainments of real
blessings. It is customarily recited on all auspicious occasions.
The Buddha recited Ratana sutta when he visited an epidemic
stricken town Vesali. The Blessed One, after chanting Ratana sutta
instructed Ananda Maha Thera to sprinkle Pirith Pan (Pirith Water)
in the city of Vesali of Licchavis, to protect the innocents who
were affected by famine, sickness, evil spirits and all other kinds
of misfortunes.
Through Karaniya Metta sutta, happiness is wished for all beings.
On one occasion 500 monks went to the jungle to meditate. They were
disturbed by some evil spirits.
Then, the Bhikkus reported this matter to the Buddha. The advice
of the Blessed One was to proceed again to the jungle and practise (Metta)
loving kindness.
Later the evil spirits, who created problems to the Buddhist
monks paid their highest respect and regards to the monks. Metta or
Maitri, associates with Buddhism.
Etymologically (Study of the origin and history of words and
their meaning) it means kindness and friendliness, and defined by
the Blessed One as a mother?s compassion towards her son. Then comes
Karuna or Compassion. Third is Muditha which requires love and pain.
Muditha is to share in others? happiness.
The Khandaparitta depicts the value of loving kindness. A monk
who died of a snake bite, did not practise loving kindness towards
them. If he practised loving kindness this tragedy could not have
occurred, stated the Buddha.
The eleven benefits accrued by loving kindness is mentioned in
Mettanismsa sutta and it is specially meant to the householder.
The Dhammachakkapavattana Sutta delivered to the first five
disciples contains the most important teaching of the Buddha, which
is detailed as the Noble Eightfold Path and the four Noble Truths.
In the Saccavibanga sutta, the Buddha describes the four Noble
Truths.
Pirith is closely linked with the beginning of the Sinhalas in
Sri Lanka. Mahavamsa in the seventh chapter describes the advent of
Vijaya from Latarata, Jambudvipa (India) in the following manner.
The chronicle Mahavamsa records, during the King Upatissa I, end
of 4th century, Ratana sutta was recited, as the country was faced
with severe drought famine and disease.
After chanting Ratana sutta, throughout the night, sprinkling
?Pirith pan? along the streets, the deadly infectious diseases and
plaque disappeared.
The first reference to the chanting of Pirith as a ceremony was
mentioned during Aggabodhi IV regime, spanning from (658-674 AD).
It is believed that Pirith ceremonies were also held during
Kassappa V (913-923 AD) era.
The chanting of Pirith is prevalent everywhere in our country
today. We wake up to the sound of Pirith chanting.
We go to bed with the same soothing sound of Pirith recital
resonant in our ears. Let us hope that the meritorious effects of
Pirith will protect this country and bring peace and prosperity to
this Blessed Island.
May there be rain by the Blessings of the Gods
May there be bountiful harvest
May the people be happy and prosperous
May the rulers be righteous
Devao Vassatui Kalena
Sassa Sampatti Hotucha
Pito Bhavatu Lokocha
Raja Bahavatu Dhammiko
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