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A Buddhist Ritual Manual on Agriculture

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Beyond Boundaries: Religion, Region, Language and the State publishes books on the religious cultures of Asia. Moving beyond geographical, chronological, disciplinary and historiographical boundari...
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  • 02 September 2019
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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.
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Price: $72.99
Pages: 152
Publisher: De Gruyter
Imprint: De Gruyter
Publication Date: 02 September 2019
ISBN: 9783110617658
Format: Hardcover
BISACs: HIS000000 HISTORY / General, HIS003000 HISTORY / Asia / General, HIS017000 HISTORY / Asia / India & South Asia, SOC053000 SOCIAL SCIENCE / Regional Studies
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Gergely Hidas, Britisches Museum, London.

Gergely Hidas, British Museum, London.