Dharani Literature One of the Most Important Aspects of Newar Buddhism, says Dr Shakya

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Feb 3, (Nepal Oregon News): A regular weekly Dharani recitation was held in the zoom on Tuesday, Feb 2, 2021 at Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara. 

Dharani and other mantras were chanted by Pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya followed by other participants.

Speaking on the occasion, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Vajracharya informed the zoom participants that the Mahavihara has been organizing Dharani recitation in the zoom for over a year with the objective of publicizing the importance of Dharani.

Also, speaking on the occasion, Dr Miroj Shakya said:"Dharani literature is one of the most important and most interesting aspects of Buddhism in general and Newah Buddhism in particular."

Expressing the view that the ancient roots of Dharani are still obscure, Dr Shakya said that their emergence may partly be connected to indigenous mantric lore that found its way first to Atharvaved and then to both early Bramhanic and Buddhist spell literature.

Throwing light on the historical importance of Dharanis, Dr Shakya said that Dharani literature has existed for over two millennia in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition.

Typically used to prevent misfortune, remove obstacles, heal  and protect, Dharani are also used in life cycle rituals and other practices, Dr Shakya added.

But, sometimes, Dharani were also used for bad intentions like exorcism and witchcraft, he stated.

Dr Shakya also discussed origin and evolution of Dharanis  in India and Nepal and their widespread use by Nepalese Buddhist practitioners.

Lots of sounds while reciting Dharani are believed to come from other Lokas such as Deva Loka, Ashura Loka, Naga Loka etc, Dr Shakya went on saying.

According to Dr Shakya, the days and dieties are interrelated in Dharani reciting:

Vasudhara - Sunday

Vajra Vidarini - Monday

Ganapati - Tuesday

Usnisavijaya - Wednesday

Parnasavari - Thursday

Marici - Friday

Grahamatrika - Saturday

Dr Miroj Shakya is an associate professor and co-chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of the West in Rosemead, California. He is part of the Rare Buddhist Sanskrit Manuscript Preservation Project and Sanskrit Language Working Group, and editor of the "Catalog of Digitized Rare Sanskrit Buddhist Manuscripts."

Tuesday's Dharani reciting was participated by 12 people from Canada, Hong Kong, California and Oregon.

At the end of Dharani recitation, Dr Shakya answered to many questions and comments from participants like Dr Tina Ho (Hong Kong), Anastasia Roderick, Andrea Wollein, Daya Shakya and Dr Rabin Man Shakya.

(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)