Humo, Hū mó, Hu mo, Hù mó: 7 definitions

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

呼摩 [hu mo]—Hūmó — [Technical Term] (術語 [shu yu]) Homa, identical to Hùmó (護摩 [hu mo]). See the Hùmó entry.

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

護磨 [hu mo]—"" (hù mó) — A technical term (術語 [shu yu]) for "護摩 [hu mo]" (hù mó).

[The following represents an unverified English translation. For all purposes consult the original Chinese text.]

護摩 [hu mo]—(Homa)—[Term] Homa, also written as 護魔 [hu mo] or 呼麼 [hu me]. It is translated as "burning" (燒 [shao]). Originally, it was a fire ritual performed by fire-worshipping Brahmins (事火婆羅門 [shi huo po luo men]) to worship heaven/deities (祀天 [si tian]). They considered fire to be the mouth of the gods, believing that by burning offerings (饗物 [xiang wu]) in the fire, the gods would consume them and bestow blessings upon people.

Esoteric Buddhism (密教 [mi jiao]) adopted this practice, setting up fire altars (火爐 [huo lu]) and burning sacred wood (乳木 [ru mu]). Through the fire of wisdom (智慧之火 [zhi hui zhi huo]), it roasts the fuel of defilements (煩惱之薪 [fan nao zhi xin]), and with the intrinsic fire of truth (真理之性火 [zhen li zhi xing huo]), it symbolizes the elimination of demonic harm (魔害 [mo hai]). The Homa Chapter (品 [pin]) of the Mahavairocana Sutra (大日經 [da ri jing]) describes forty-four types of fire rituals (火法 [huo fa]) of the Brahmins, followed by twelve types of Buddhist fire rituals (佛法之火法 [fu fa zhi huo fa]).

The eighth volume of the Commentary on the Mahavairocana Sutra (大日疏 [da ri shu]) states: "Homa is the Tathagata's fire of wisdom (如來慧火 [ru lai hui huo]). It can burn away calamities (災橫 [zai heng]) arising from causes and conditions." It also states: "Defilements (煩惱 [fan nao]) are the fuel, wisdom (智慧 [zhi hui]) is the fire; by these causes and conditions, the meal of Nirvana (涅槃飯 [nie pan fan]) is prepared, allowing all disciples to relish it." The fifteenth volume of the same text says: "Homa means 'burning' (燒 [shao]). Through Homa, all karma can be burned away."

Huilin's Dictionary of Sounds and Meanings (慧琳音義 [hui lin yin yi]) volume 41 states: "Homa is a Sanskrit (梵語 [fan yu]) word. In the Tang Dynasty (唐 [tang]), it was called 'fire sacrificial ritual' (火祭祀法 [huo ji si fa]). It involves burning offerings for sages and saints (賢聖 [xian sheng]) in fire, similar to the sacrifices made to the four outskirts and five sacred mountains (祭四郊五岳 [ji si jiao wu yue]) in this region."

Xilin's Dictionary of Sounds and Meanings (希麟音義 [xi lin yin yi]) volume 1 states: "The two characters , or sometimes 呼麼 [hu me], are Sanskrit (梵語 [fan yu]). In the Tang Dynasty (唐 [tang]), they were called 'fire sacrifice' (火祭 [huo ji]). According to the Yoga Homa Sutra (瑜伽護魔經 [yu jia hu mo jing]), there are four types of altars (四種爐 [si zhong lu]): half-moon shape (半月形 [ban yue xing]), full-moon shape (滿月形 [man yue xing]), square (方 [fang]), and octagonal (八角 [ba jiao]). These correspond to four types of rituals (四種法 [si zhong fa]): summoning (鉤召 [gou zhao]), subduing (降伏 [jiang fu]), averting calamities (息災 [xi zai]), and attraction/veneration (敬愛 [jing ai]). Although the empowerments (加持 [jia chi]) differ, all involve burning offerings such as the three white foods (三白食 [san bai shi]) and three kinds of mixed flowers and fruits (三雜花果 [san za hua guo]) in the altar to make offerings to sages and saints (賢聖 [xian sheng]), similar to the burning wood sacrifice (燔柴之祭 [fan chai zhi ji]) in this country."