Karandavyuha Sutra

by Mithun Howladar | 2018 | 73,554 words

This page relates “Importance of Mantra” of the Karandavyuha Sutra (analytical study): an important 4th century Sutra extolling the virtues and powers of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The Karandavyuhasutra also introduces the mantra “Om mani padme hum” into the Buddhist Sutra tradition.

Part 4 - Importance of Mantra

As the aim of Kāraṇḍyavyūya Sūtra is the glorification of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. It is also glorifies six syllable mantra, in order to please or grant a fabour of great Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara.

The word Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ is the mantra in propitiation of Avalokiteśvara and is mentioned in the Kāraṇḍyavyūha. It is evident that the introduction of Buddhism with Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ opened a new horizon in the Tibetan culture. The six-syllabled mantra Oṃ Maṇi Padme Hūṃ is found generally in Tibetan monasteries; like Nyingma (rnying ma) pa, Kagyu (bka’brgyud) pa, Sakya (sa skya) pa, or Gelu (dge lugs) pa. Many Maṇiwalls, Maṇi-wheels (Mani’khor lo), are found as soon as one enters an Indo Tibetan (Bhotia) locality in the Himalayas, such as in Bhutan, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Bhotia-Mahal in Uttar Pradesh, Lahul, Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, Ladakh in Jammu Kashmir and Baltistan (now in Pakistan occupied Kashmir). It makes us more inquisitive about the six-syllabled symbolic mantra.

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