New Buddhist Book Explores Protective Chants and Blessings
A new Buddhist guidebook explains the origins and meanings of protective chants and blessings, featuring eight auspicious recitations with detailed commentary and illustrations to help readers develop spiritual wisdom.
The book 'Buddha Paritra: Section on Auspicious Eight-Syllable Chant' (with eight auspicious chants and detailed commentary), written by Panya Chai Bang Yang and colleagues and published by Dhamma Sabha Press for 650 baht, helps readers understand the origins and meanings of paritra protective recitations through detailed explanations of Buddhist chanting practices. The volume aims to promote the flourishing of dharma and the development of wisdom in Buddhism.
Paritra means protection or safeguarding, originating from all beings' fear of both visible and invisible dangers. Humans thus developed protective methods combining truth-statements, respectful invocations to revered beings, and consecration practices, blending merit-making with appeals for supernatural assistance. Buddhist texts relate that paritra chants can protect listeners, citing a tale from the Buddha's time when a boy destined to be devoured by a demon within seven days was saved through seven nights of chanting by monks, with the Buddha joining on the eighth night; the child survived to live 120 years and was named Ayuwardana Kumar, meaning 'the boy with long life'.
Beyond paritra, the book also explores the origins of the 'Eight-Syllable Blessing Chant', explaining its authorship and detailed meaning. The volume features beautiful illustrations by artists Kritsana Suriyakarn, who created paintings of all fourteen paritra forms, and Chalit Preecha-akul and Thana Ying Lert, who contributed artwork for the eight blessing chants. This book is recommended for all Buddhists.
Additional book recommendations: 'Trimurti: Supreme Deity of India' by Arun Sak Kingmani (Sarakhadi Publishing, 355 baht) explores the three highest Hindu gods—Brahma the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer—with illustrations showing Hindu influences across Southeast Asian art. 'Light of the Dharma' by Phra Bhavana Khem Khun (monk Surasakdi Khemrangsee) presents Buddhist teachings and step-by-step meditation practices aimed at developing wisdom through insight meditation.
