An investigation of the Buddhist concept and scientific profile of the pirith pavilion

An investigation of the Buddhist concept and scientific profile of the 

 pirith pavilion

Thalangalle Pesala Thero
Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
pesalat22@gmail.com

Introduction

The pirith pavilion is a key element of a pirith sermon. It was created with the customs and rituals associated with it. Also the creation of a pirith pavilion has its unique scientific methods. All these things such as lamps, pirith yarn, pirith water and betels are arranged according to a scientific method that displays the Buddhist norms, practices and concepts associated with it. In time people are distracting from these practices, it is topical to study the scientific methodology of  building  a pirith pavilion according to accepted Buddhist methodology and Buddhist norms and rituals associated with it.

Research problem

The research problem is to study the scientific methodology in building Pirith pavilion and Buddhist norm and rituals associated with it.

Research purpose and importance

The Objective of this research is to study the Buddhist concept and the scientific aspect of the pirith pavilion and by which to educate the modern Buddhists about the rituals and practices related to this.

In modern society, there is a great deal of controversy about the pirith and the practicality of the materials used. In the modern age of explaining everything scientifically, it is timely to study the scientific methodology contained in the pirith pavilion. Moreover, Pirith pavilion is gradually disappearing from our society and people are interested in hiring and buying the ready-made ones without building it by themselves. The current study will increase people’s attention to this while educating them on the importance of these traditional practices.

Methodology

The data for the study will be collected from the Buddhist canon. The experts of the subject and this rare creative work will be interviewed. Likewise both qualitative and  quantitative research methods will be used in analyzing the data collected from the Buddhist canon and the interviews. So this study is a mix research.

Discussion and results

The experts on the subject follow an accepted method in building the pavilion throughout the history. Following things are considered in designing a pavilion. The door of the pavilion should be made facing east or north. After that the ‘Indrakheela’ is created by digging a straight wood into the floor. Then in the pirith pavilion betel, na leaves, and other types of leaves are used as Upahara flowers. It is customary to place Punkalas, lamps, etc, in the pavilion. There should also be pirith yarn and pirith water. It is a concept that goes back to the Ratana sutta discourse by the Buddha in visala mahanuwara.

‘āyasmā ānando parittatthāya bhāsamāno bhagavatho pattena udakam ādāya abibhukkiranto’

[Khuddaka nikaya. ratana sutta]

There are 18 or 16 seats for the Bhikkus in this magnificent pirith pavilion. In this way, the pirith pavilion is created by combining Buddhist attitude and Buddhist concepts.Mustard, paddy, Saman kekulu, pori etc placed in the pirith pavilion were used in the vedic era for goods [Mangala]. There is a Special reason to hang betel, na leaves etc in the pavilion. The reason is that betel and  na leaves do not wither quickly and because of that the monks in the pavilion are less likely to feel tired. In medicine, betel leaves are used to eradicate the poison. Na leaves are also used to heal patients. Therefore, na leaves and betel leaves etc are used as a medicine to adorn the pirith pavilion. There, pirith yarn and pirith water are the things that attract the most attention of everyone. Those have been used for pirith since ancient times. Every monk who chants pirith is given a pirith yarn and when pirith is chanted loudly, universal energy is added to pirith yarn and water. A group of American scientists have conducted an experiment using water and pirith water. It has been revealed that there is a universal energy in the pirith water. Thus, everything in the pirith pavilion is created on a scientific basis. It makes more meaningful when it is combined with Buddhist concepts.

Conclusion

The structure of the pirith pavilion has remained unchanged over the period from the past to the present. The process of seating, decorating, door design etc in the pavilion is done according to some traditional and regular methods. So, it is clear that these systems are fostered by Buddhist concepts and scientific methods in order to gain the blessing and increase the effect.

key words: Pirith Pavilion, Buddhism, scientific method, rituals

Reference

Gamage, Gemunu, piritehi parināmaya, 2009
Khuddaka Nikaya, Khuddaka pata paali, Ratana sutta

Read More