Mahayana Dharani and Theravada Paritta (study)

by Biswajit Sankar Bhattacharyya | 2019 | 62,482 words

Buddhism Mahayana Theravada

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Summary: This essay studies the concepts of Mahayana Dharani (“mystical incantations”) and Theravada Paritta (“protective prayers”) by examining their origins and influences from the Atharvaveda and Hindu Tantric traditions. This essay traces the historical development of such protective spells from the Vedic Age through different Buddhist tradition.

Dharani is a protective spell or magic formula, typically composed in Sanskrit. It is meant to provide safety and protection from various adversities, often incorporating incantations and mystical syllables. Paritta is a protective chant or prayer recited to ward off danger, illness, or misfortune. These chants often come from Pali scriptures and emphasize the cultivation of Metta (loving-kindness) and Sacca (truth).

This thesis emphasizes the effect of these traditions on the common masses, illustrating how these practices contributed to popularizing Buddhism by integrating existing philosophies and cultural practices.

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Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Mahayana Dharani and Theravada Paritta (study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Acknowledgements

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. Part 1 - The Pre-history of Paritta and Dhāraṇī before Buddhism

. Part 2 - Origin and Growth of Dhāraṇī

. Part 3 - Origin and Growth of Paritta

. Part 4 - Literature Review

+ Chapter 2 - A survey of the Mahāyāna Dhāraṇī Literature

. Part 1 - Introduction to the concept of Dhāraṇī (“protective spells”)

. Part 2 - The appearance of Dhāraṇī in Mahāyāna Buddhism

. Part 3 - Dhāraṇī in the Prajñāpāramitā-upadeśa-śāstra

. Part 4 - Dhāraṇī and Mantra in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka-sūtra (Lotus Sūtra)

. Part 5 - Dhāraṇī and Mantra in the Gupta Period

. Part 6 - Four Dhāraṇīs in the Bodhisattva-bhūmi

. Part 7 - Dhāraṇī and Mantra in the Laṅkāvatāra-sūtra

. Part 8 - Dhāraṇī and Mantra in Esoteric Literature

. Part 9 - Mantra in the Mahāvairocana-sūtra (Vairocanābhisambodhi-sūtra)

. Part 10 - Mantra in the Diamond Peak Sūtra (Tattvasaṃgraha-tantra)

. Part 11 - Prajñāpāramitā thought in Esoteric Buddhism

. Part 12 - Mantra-Tantra in Later Esoteric Buddhism

. Part 13 - The Guhyasamāja-tantra (Introduction)

. Part 14 - The Hevajra-tantra (Introduction)

. Part 15 - The Saṃvarodaya-tantra (Introduction)

. Part 16 - Sādhana (“rituals”) and Siddhi (“accomplished power”)

. Part 17 - The Kālacakra-tantra (Introduction)

+ Chapter 3 - A survey of the Paritta Literature in the Theravāda

. Part 1 - Introduction to the concept of Paritta (“protection chants”)

. Part 2.1 - The Saraṇāgamana chant (introduction)

. Part 2.2 - The Dasasikkhāpadāni chant (introduction)

. Part 2.3 - The Sāmaṇerapañha chant (introduction)

. Part 2.4 - The Dvattiṃsākāra chant (introduction)

. Part 2.5 - The Paccavekkhaṇā chant (introduction)

. Part 2.6 - The Dasadhamma Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.7 - The Mahāmaṅgala Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.8 - The Ratana Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.9 - The Karaṇīya-metta Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.10 - The Khandha Paritta (introduction)

. Part 2.11 - The Mettānisaṃsa Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.12 - The Mittānisaṃsa Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.13 - The Mora Paritta (introduction)

. Part 2.14 - The Canda Paritta (introduction)

. Part 2.15 - The Suriya Paritta (introduction)

. Part 2.16 - The Dhajagga Paritta (introduction)

. Part 2.17 - The Mahākassapa Thera Bojjhaṅga (introduction)

. Part 2.18 - The Mahāmoggallāna Thera Bojjhaṅga (introduction)

. Part 2.19 - The Mahācunda Thera Bojjhaṅga (introduction)

. Part 2.20 - The Girimānanda Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.21 - The Isigili Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.22 - The Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.23 - The Mahāsamaya Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.24 - The Āḷavaka Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.25 - The Kasībhāradvāja Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.26 - The Parābhava Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.27 - The Vasala Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.28 - The Saccavibhaṅga Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.29 - The Āṭānāṭiya Sutta (introduction)

. Part 2.30 - The Jinapan͂jara Gāthā (introduction)

. Part 2.31 - The Aṅgulimāla Sutta (introduction)

. Part 3 - Purpose for which parittas are chanted or recited

. Part 4 - Backgrounds of the Suttas and Parittas

. Part 5 - Tequisites for the chanting of Parittas

. Part 6 - Popular belief in the efficacy of the Paritta recitation

. Part 7 - The Power of Truth (Satya)

. Part 8 - The Power of Virtue (Sīla)

. Part 9 - The Power of Love (Mettā)

. Part 10 - The Power of Sound

. Part 11 - The rituals and practice of Parittas in Sri Lanka

. Part 12 - The rituals and practice of Parittas in Myanmar

. Part 13 - The rituals and practice of Parittas in Bangladesh

+ Chapter 4 - Antiquity of the Dhāraṇī and Paritta Literature

. Part 1 - Introduction to the antiquity of Dhāraṇī and Paritta

. Part 2 - Introduction to Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna

. Part 3 - Antiquity of the Dhāraṇī Texts and Paritta Suttas

. Part 4 - Dhāraṇī in the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra

. Part 5 - Dhāraṇī in the Laṅkāvatāra Sūtra

. Part 6 - Introduction to the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka Sūtra (Lotus Sūtra)

. Part 7 - Role of Tantra in Buddhism

. Part 8 - Mantra, Dhāraṇī and Paritta Literature

+ Chapter 5 - Buddhism among the common mass

. Part 1 - Introduction—Three major sects of Buddhism

. Part 2 - Introduction to Theravāda Buddhism

. Part 3 - Introduction to Mahāyāna Buddhism

. Part 4 - Introduction to Vajrayāna Buddhism

. Part 4.1 - Description of Deity yoga

. Part 4.2 - Description of Guru yoga

. Part 4.3 - Description of Death yoga

. Part 5 - Introduction to Kālacakra-yāna Buddhism

. Part 6 - Introduction to Sahaja-yāna Buddhism

. Part 7 - Buddhism in the Modern World

. Part 8 - Buddhism and its Cultural Aspects

. Part 9 - Buddhism and Contemporary Culture

Chapter 6 - Conclusion

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Last Updated: 02 January, 2026

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