In Buddhism

Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana or tantric Buddhism)

Source: OSU Press: Cakrasamvara Samadhi

Adyamahādāna (अद्यमहादान) refers to the “great gift of today” which (as a subsection of the Gurumaṇḍala) refers to one of the various rituals typically performed as a part of the larger rites, according to Buddhist teachings followed by the Newah in Nepal, Kathmandu Valley (whose roots can be traced to the Licchavi period, 300-879 CE).—[...] Within the gurumaṇḍala there are two significant subsections. [...] Adyamahādāna, “the Great Gift of Today”, which is a long set of verses recited to establish the rite within the specific geographical location within the Kathmandu Valley where it is being performed. If the ritual is being performed outside the valley, it can be seen as transporting the ritual virtually, and its performer, to the holy land of the Kathmandu Valley.

Within the adyamahādāna is the karaṇa, which locates the ritual in astrological time and space, and the dānapati, “beneficent patron”, which again locates the ritual in a geographical location, this time specific to the patron, their family and vihāra, “monastery”. At the end all the deities of the ritual to be performed are invoked. The entire adyamahādāna is recited multiple times throughout long rites in the Sūryārgha, Guru Pādārgha, Rahasya Pūjā, and Kīgaḥ Tine.

context information

Tibetan Buddhism includes schools such as Nyingma, Kadampa, Kagyu and Gelug. Their primary canon of literature is divided in two broad categories: The Kangyur, which consists of Buddha’s words, and the Tengyur, which includes commentaries from various sources. Esotericism and tantra techniques (vajrayāna) are collected indepently.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Adya, Mahadana.

Full-text: Patrajnana, Kigah-tine, Gurumandala.

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