The Catu-Bhanavara-Pali (critical study)
by Moumita Dutta Banik | 2017 | 50,922 words
This study deals with the Catu-Bhanavara-Pali, (lit. “Text of the Four Recitals”) which in Buddhism is popularly known as “The Book of Protection”. This text, in the Pali language, represents a recital of the Dhamma meant for protection and deliverance from evil and sorrows as well as promoting welfare and well-being. The spreading time of Catubhan...
Aid seeking
“A few parittas involve the asking directly for the aid of the Buddha. Examples of this type of paritta verse can be seen in the candima sutta and suriya sutta of the Samyutta Nikaya. In these two scriptures the deities canda and suriya protect themselves from the attack of the eclipse deity Rahu by reciting short verses praising the Buddha and pleading for his protection.”
“O Buddha, the Hero, thou art wholly free from all evil. My adoration to thee. I have fallen into disaster. Be thou my refuge.” In these cases, the Buddha is shown as specifically hearing and responding to the paritta, he joins Rahu to release the captive deities rather than have his “head split into seven pieces.”
Blessing: Another type of paritta relies on the virtue of the individual who is ascribed as reciting the paritta in the canon rather than making reference to the virtures of the Buddha. This type of paritta can be seen in the Angulimala sutta, the story of the murderer monk Angulimala. On passing a pregnant woman experiencing a difficult labor pain Angulimala is moved to provide assistance.
Asking the Buddha how he can help, the Buddha tells him to provide a short of blessing to the woman by reciting a short verse proclaiming his own virtue.
“Sister since I was born in the noble birth, I do not recall intentionally killing a living being.”
Through this truth may there be wellbeing for you and also well being for your baby. This verse is now used as a blessing for expectant mothers in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.[1]