Mangala

Ratana

Metta

Khandha

Mora

Vatta

Dhajagga

Atanatiya

Angulimala

Bojjhanga

Pubbanha

DHAJAGGA SUTTA

uyyojanna

yassa-nussaranenapi, antalikkhepi panino;

patittham-adhigacchanti, bhumiyam viya sabbatha.

sabbupaddavajalamha, yakkhacoradisambhava;

ganana na ca muttanam, parittam tam bhanama he.

evam me sutam — ekam samayam

bhagava Savatthiyam viharati Jetavane Anathapindikassa arame.

tatrakho Bhagava bhikkhu amantesi "bhikkhavo" ti,

"bhadante" ti te bhikkhu Bhagavato paccassosum.

Bhagava etadavoca—

bhutapubbam bhikkhave devasura sangamo samupabyulho ahosi.

atha kho bhikkhave Sakko devanamindo

deve Tavatimse amantesi—

"sace marisa devanam sangamagatanam

uppajjeyya bhayam va chambhitattam va lomahamso va,

mameva tasmim samaye dhajaggam ullokeyyatha;

mamam hi vo dhajaggam ullokayatam yam bhavissati bhayam va chambhitattam va lomahamso va,

so pahiyissati.

no ce me dhajaggam ullokeyyatha,

atha Pajapatissa devarajassa dhajaggam ullokeyyatha.

Pajapatissa hi vo devarajassa dhajaggam ullokayatatm

yam bhavissati bhayam va chamhitattam va, lomahamso va

so pahiyissati.

no ce Pajapatissa devarajassa dhajaggam ullokeyyatha,

atha Varunassa devarajassa dhajaggam ullokeyyatha;

Varunassa hi vo devarajassa dhajaggam ullokayatatm

yam bhavissati bhayam va chamhitattam va, lomahamso va

so pahiyissati.

no ce Varunaassa devarajassa dhajagam ullokeyyatha

atha Isanassa devarajassa dhajaggam ullokeyyatha;

Isanassa hi vo devarajassa dhajaggam ullokayatatm

yam bhavissati bhayam va chamhitattam va, lomahamso va

so pahiyissati.

tam kho pana bhikkhave Sakkassa va devanamindassa dhajaggam ullokayatam,

Pajapatissa va devarajassa dhajaggam ullokayatam,

Isanassa va devarajassa dhajaggam ullokayatatm

yam bhavissati bhayam va chamhitattam va, lomahamso va,

so pahiyetha nopi pahiyetha.

tam kissa hetu

Sakko hi bhikkhave devanamindo

avitarago avitadoso avitamoho

bhiru chambhi utrasi palayiti.

ahanca kho bhikkhave evam vadami

sace tumhakam bhikkhave

arannagatanam va rukkhamulagatanam va sunnagaragatanam va

uppajjeyya bhayam va chambhitattam va lomahamso va,

mameva tasmin samaye anussareyyatha

"itipi so Bhagava araham, sammisambuddho,

vijjacaranaasampanno, sugato, lokavidu, anuttaro purisadammasarathi,

sattha devamanussanam, buddho bhagava " ti.

mamam hi vo bhikkhave anussaratam

yam bhavissati bhayam va chambhitattam va lomahamso va,

so pahiyissati.

no ce main anussareyyatha,

atha Dhammam anussareyyatha.

"svakkhato bhagavata Dhammo,

sanditthiko, akaliko,

ehipassiko, opaneyyiko

paccattam veditabbo vinnuhi" ti.

Dhammam hi vo bhikkhave anussaratam

yam bhavissati bhayam va chambhitattam va lomahamso va,

so pahiyissati.

no ce Dhammam anussareyyatha,

atha Samgham anussareyyatha.

"suppatipanno bhagavato savakasamgho,

ujuppatipanno bhagavato savakasamgho,

nayappatipanno bbagavato savakasamgho,

samicippatipannno bbagavato savakasamgho,

yadidam cattari purisayugani attha purisapuggala;

esa bhagavato savakasamgho,

ahuneyyo pahuneyyo, dakkhineyyo, anjalikaraniyo,

anuttaram punnakkhettam lokassa" ti.

Samgham hi vo bhikkhave anussaratam

yam bhavissati bhayam va chambhitattam va lomahamso va,

so pahiyissati.

tam kissa hetu?

Tathagato hi bhikkhave

araham sammisambuddho

vitarago vitadoso vitamoho

abhiru achambhi anutrasi apalayiti.

idamavoca Bhagava, idam vatvana Sugato

athaparam etadavoca Sattha.

aranne rukkhamuleva, sunnagare va bhikkhavo.

anussaretha sambuddham, bhayam tumhaka no siya.

no ce Buddham sareyyatha, lokajettham narasabham;

atha Dharnmam sareyyatha, niyyanikam sudesitam.

no cc Dhammam sareyyatha, niyyanikam sudesitam;

atha Samgham sareyyatha, punnakkhettam anuttaram.

evam Buddham sarantanam,Dhammam Samghanca bhikkhavo;

bhayam va chambhitattam va, lomahamso na hessati.

Dhajagga Suttam Nitthitam.

DHAJAGGA SUTTA

The Discourse on the Crest of Banner

       The Dhajagga Sutta is based on a tale narrated by the Buddha in the Book of the Kindred Sayings (Samyutta Nikaya) of Sakka Samyutta. When the gods (devas) and the titans (asuras) were engaged in battle, Sakka, the king of the gods, encouraged his soldiers that should they become frightened they need only look up at the crest of his banner, or the banners of other three chieftains of gods, Pajapati, Varuna, and lsana. Then the arising fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh will be overcome. But,. this act may or may not help. Because Sakka, though may he be king of the gods, is yet timid and given to panic, and is not yet free from passion, hatred, and ignorance. Hence, the Lord instructed his disciples to remember the Buddha, the Doctrine and the Order according to the extolled virtues of each of these three precious jewels. If the monks do so, the Lord promised, any fear, panic, creeping of the flesh that will have arisen will be overcome. Because the Buddha, unlike Sakka, is Supremely Enlightened, is free form passion, hatred and ignorance. He is without timidity or panic or fright, and He does not flee.

       This paritta becomes very important for the Burmese Buddhist rituals and monastic educational lessons. This paritta typically consists of scriptural passages of an entire chapter from Samyutta Nikaya. The most famous and short Buddhist spell is the recitation of the collection of the three Virtues the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Samgha, which is the core essence of this paritta. The stanzas (gatha) were originally recited by the Buddha following His narration of a martial story as briefly mentioned above. But now they are used as protection in battle and in time of war.

       Even when treating a patient, Burmese indigenous doctors recite the Virtues to empower the medicine to be potent. Some criminal and political prisoners also recite this spell as a way of obtaining their release. To generate the spiritual power of one self the Virtues are recited analytically while telling the rosary beads.

       The Buddha in the original sutta, prescribes their use merely as a means for overcoming fear. If, he promises the monks, any of the Three Jewels are contemplated with reference to their respective Virtues, fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh that will have arisen will be entirely overcome. To have full faith in the three Precious Jewels, that is, to equip oneself with sound confidence and ardent courage in carrying out the religious duties and practice is the main essence of this discourse.

7. DHAJAGGA SUTTA
The Discourse on the Crest of Banners

Introduction

      Just even by recollecting this discourse; the creatures get the foothold even in the sky by all means, just like on the ground.

       The number of those who had emancipated from the net-work of all dangers, created by devils, robbers, thieves and others, is indeed innumerable. Oh thou! Let us recite this protective discourse now.

      Thus I have heard: -

      The Exalted One once, stayed at the Jetavana, in Savatthi in the pleasaunce of Anathapindika.There and then he addressed the disciples on this incident.

      "Long ago, bhikkhus, a battle was raging between the gods and the titans. Then, Sakka, ruler of the gods, addressed the Thirtyt-three Gods saying; "If in you, dear sirs, when you are gone onto battle, fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh should arise, look up at the crest of my banner. If you do so, any fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh that will have arisen will be overcome.

      If you look not up to the crest of my banner, look up at that of Pajapati king of the gods,...

      Or at that of Varuna, king of the gods,...

      Or at that of Isana, king of the gods and any fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh that will have arisen will be overcome.

      Now, bhikkhus, in them that look up to the crest of one or other of these four banners, any fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh that has arisen may be overcome; or again it may not.

      And why is this? Because Sakka, ruler of the gods, is not purged of passions, hatred, or ignorance; is timid given to panic, to fright, to running away.

      But I say thus unto you, bhikkhu: If in you when you have gone into forests, to the roots of trees, to empty places, fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh should arise, do you in that hour only call me to mind and think:

       This Exalted One, is able supremely enlightened, proficient in knowledge and in conduct, the blessed One, understands the world, peerless tamer and driver of the hearts of men, the Master of gods and men, the Buddha, the Exalted One.

      For if you so call me to bhikkhus, any fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh that will have arisen will be overcome.

      And if you cannot call me to mind, call to mind the Dhamma and think:

      Well proclaimed by the Exalted One is the Dhamma relating to the present, immediate in its results, inviting and challenging all; giving guidance, appealing to each, to be understood by the wise.

      For if you so call the Dhamma to mind, your fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh will be overcome.

      And if you cannot call the Dhamma to mind, then call to mind the Order, and think:

      Well practised is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples, practised in integrity, in intellectual methods, in right lines of action - to with the four pairs, the eight groups of persons; - this is the Exalted One's Order of Disciples worthy of offerings, oblations, gifts, salutations, the world's peerless field for merit,

      For if you so call the Order to mind, Your fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh will be overcome.

      And why is this? Because the Tathagata, bhikkhus, is Arahant, Supremely Enlightened, purged of passion, hatred and Ignorance, without timidity or panic or fright, and fleeth not.

      Thus said the Exalted One, and the Blessed One so saying, the Master, spoke yet further:

      Whenever in forest or in leafy shade or lonely empty places you abide, Call to your mind, bhikkhu, the Enlightened One;

      No fear, no sense of peril will you know.

      Or if you cannot, on the Buddha, think -

      The most senior of the world, The Bull of men -

      Then call the Norm to mind, the well-taught guide.

      Or if you cannot think upon the Law -

      The well-taught doctrine where guidance lies -

      Then turn your thoughts to the Fraternity,

      Unrivalled field where men may sow good deeds.

      If you in Buddha, Law, and Order thus refuge take,

      Fear, panic, and creeping of the flesh will never rise.

      The Book of Kindred Sayings Ch. 11. p. 282. 283. The Top of the Banner.

The end of Dhajagga Sutta.

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