Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Postscript on the common error in regard to the comparative prevalence of Buddhism in the world
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Rules for Pronunciation
- Pronunciation of Buddha, etc. Addenda and Corrigenda
- LECTURE I INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS
- LECTURE II THE BUDDHA AS A PERSONAL TEACHER
- LECTURE III THE DHARMA OR LAW AND SCRIPTURES OF BUDDHISM
- LECTURE IV THE SAṄGHA OR BUDDHIST ORDER OF MONKS
- LECTURE V THE PHILOSOPHICAL DOCTRINES OF BUDDHISM
- LECTURE VI THE MORALITY OF BUDDHISM AND ITS CHIEF AIM—ARHATSHIP OR NIRVĀṆA
- LECTURE VII CHANGES IN BUDDHISM AND ITS DISAPPEARANCE FROM INDIA
- LECTURE VIII RISE OF THEISTIC AND POLYTHEISTIC BUDDHISM
- LECTURE IX THEISTIC AND POLYTHEISTIC BUDDHISM
- LECTURE X MYSTRICAL BUDDHISM IN ITS CONNEXION WITH THE YOGA PHILOSOPHY
- LECTURE XI HIERARCHICAL BUDDHISM, ESPECIALLY AS DEVELOPED IN TIRET AND MONGOLIA
- LECTURE XII CEREMONIAL AND RITUALISTIC BUDDHISM
- LECTURE XIII FESTIVALS, DOMESTIC RITES, AND FORMULARIES OF PRAYERS
- LECTURE XIV SACRED PLACES
- LECTURE XV MONASTERIES AND TEMPLES
- LECTURE XVI IMAGES AND IDOLS
- LECTURE XVII SACRED OBJECTS
- SUPPLEMENTARY REMARKS ON THE CONNEXION OF BUDDHISM WITH JAINISM
- LECTURE XVIII BUDDHISM CONTRASTED WITH CHRISTIANITY
- OBSERVE
- Plate section
LECTURE XIII - FESTIVALS, DOMESTIC RITES, AND FORMULARIES OF PRAYERS
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 August 2010
- Frontmatter
- Preface
- Postscript on the common error in regard to the comparative prevalence of Buddhism in the world
- Contents
- List of Illustrations
- Rules for Pronunciation
- Pronunciation of Buddha, etc. Addenda and Corrigenda
- LECTURE I INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS
- LECTURE II THE BUDDHA AS A PERSONAL TEACHER
- LECTURE III THE DHARMA OR LAW AND SCRIPTURES OF BUDDHISM
- LECTURE IV THE SAṄGHA OR BUDDHIST ORDER OF MONKS
- LECTURE V THE PHILOSOPHICAL DOCTRINES OF BUDDHISM
- LECTURE VI THE MORALITY OF BUDDHISM AND ITS CHIEF AIM—ARHATSHIP OR NIRVĀṆA
- LECTURE VII CHANGES IN BUDDHISM AND ITS DISAPPEARANCE FROM INDIA
- LECTURE VIII RISE OF THEISTIC AND POLYTHEISTIC BUDDHISM
- LECTURE IX THEISTIC AND POLYTHEISTIC BUDDHISM
- LECTURE X MYSTRICAL BUDDHISM IN ITS CONNEXION WITH THE YOGA PHILOSOPHY
- LECTURE XI HIERARCHICAL BUDDHISM, ESPECIALLY AS DEVELOPED IN TIRET AND MONGOLIA
- LECTURE XII CEREMONIAL AND RITUALISTIC BUDDHISM
- LECTURE XIII FESTIVALS, DOMESTIC RITES, AND FORMULARIES OF PRAYERS
- LECTURE XIV SACRED PLACES
- LECTURE XV MONASTERIES AND TEMPLES
- LECTURE XVI IMAGES AND IDOLS
- LECTURE XVII SACRED OBJECTS
- SUPPLEMENTARY REMARKS ON THE CONNEXION OF BUDDHISM WITH JAINISM
- LECTURE XVIII BUDDHISM CONTRASTED WITH CHRISTIANITY
- OBSERVE
- Plate section
Summary
We must now turn to the consideration of some of the chief festivals, domestic rites, and prayer-formularies of Buddhism—a subject which follows as a natural sequel to the last Lecture.
It is well known that the Hindūs have certain festivals and holy days, celebrated at the junction of the seasons which in India are properly six in number—namely, spring, summer, the rains (Varsha), autumn, winter, and the season of dew and mist (see ‘Indian Wisdom,’ p.450; ‘Brāhmanism and Hindūism,’ p. 428).
Buddhism has adopted the old Hindū ideas on this subject, and has added others of its own, but generally only reckons three seasons—summer, the rains (Vassa = Varsha) and winter.
The festival of the New Year is, of course, universal. It is supposed to celebrate the victory of light over darkness, and, in Buddhist countries, of Buddhism over ignorance. The corresponding Hindū festival is called Makara-saṅkrānti. In India this marks the termination of the inauspicious month Pausha and the beginning of the sun's northern course (uttarāyaṇa) in the heavens. It is a season of general rejoicing.
In Burma, where a good type of Southern Buddhism is still to be found, the New Year's festival might suitably be called a ‘water-festival.’ It has there so little connexion with the increase of the New Year's light, that it often takes place as late as the early half of April (see Mr. Scott's ‘Burman,’ ii. 48).
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- BuddhismIn its Connexion with Brahmanism and Hinduism and in its Contrast with Christianity, pp. 340 - 386Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010