A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture: Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja – Critical Edition

Gergely Hidas

book: A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Open Access Published by De Gruyter 2019

A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

Vajratuṇḍasamayakalparāja – Critical Edition

Gergely Hidas
Funded by: European Research Council (ERC)

Volume 3 in the series Beyond Boundaries

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110621051

Overview
Contents

About this book

Open Access

This 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.

Author / Editor information

Gergely Hidas, British Museum, London.

Topics

Frontmatter Open Access Download PDF	I
Acknowledgements Open Access Download PDF	V
Contents Open Access Download PDF	VII
Introduction Open Access Download PDF	1
Edition and translation Open Access Download PDF	37
References Open Access Download PDF	131
Index Open Access Download PDF	137

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Audience: Scholars of Buddism, religious agriculture, and ancient texts
Pages
- Front matter: 7
- Main content: 145
Illustrations
- Coloured Illustrations: 5
Keywords: Nepal; Indology; Incantation; Sanskrit

eBook

Published: September 2, 2019
ISBN: 9783110621051

Hardcover

Published: September 2, 2019
ISBN: 9783110617658