- Abhiseka
Abhiseka is the name used to describe a number of ritualistic practices in
Indian religions .Hinduism
Abhiseka is the name given to a late Vedic rite of anointing government officials, particularly heads of state, at the time of their taking power or to mark a signal achievement.It is also the bathing ceremony and
anointing performed on certain festival days for the temple deities. [http://www.krishna.com/en/node/1102 Image]Buddhism
The abhiseka ritual in
Shingon Buddhism is the initiation ritual used to confirm that a student of esoteric Buddhism has now graduated to a higher level of practice. The ritual was popular in China during theTang Dynasty , andKukai , founder of Shingon, studied there extensively before introducing this ritual to the Japanese Buddhist establishment of the time. [cite book | last = Abe | first = Ryuichi | title = The Weaving of Mantra: Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse | publisher = Columbia University Press | year = 1999 | isbn = 0231112866]The ritual utilizes the one of the two
Mandala of the Two Realms , depending on the occasion. In esoteric ritual, the teacher of the esoteric Buddhism assumes the role of the teacher, usually Mahavairocana Buddha, while the master and student repeat specific mantras in a form of dialogue taken from esoteric Buddhist sutras. The student, who is blindfolded, then throws a flower upon the Mandala that is constructed, and where it lands (i.e. which deity) helps dictate where the student should focus his devotion on the esoteric path. [cite book | last = Hakeda | first = Yoshito S. | title = Kūkai and His Major Works | publisher = Columbia University Press | year = 1972 | isbn = 0231059337 | pages=44] From there, the student's blindfold is removed and avajra is placed in hand.References
*Ferm, Virgilius: "Encyclopedia of Religion". New York:Philosophical Library, 1945. ISBN 802204902.
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
