护摩

(護摩, 护摩)

(sa) homa, also [lang id =1028]護磨; [lang id =1028]呼麽 described as originally a burnt offering to Heaven; the esoterics adopted the idea of worshipping with fire, symbolizing wisdom as fire burning up the faggots of passion and illusion; and therewith preparing (sa) nirvāṇa as food, etc.; cf. [lang id =1028]大日經; four kinds of braziers are used, round, semi-circular, square, and octagonal; four, five, or six purposes are recorded i.e. (sa) śāntika, to end calamities; (sa) pauṣṭika (or (sa) puṣṭikarman) for prosperity; (sa) vaśīkaraṇa, 'dominating,' intp. as calling down the good by means of enchantments; (sa) abhicaraka, exorcising the evil; a fifth is to obtain the loving protection of the Buddhas and bodhisattvas; a sixth divides (sa) puṣṭikarman into two parts, the second part being length of life; each of these six has its controlling Buddha and (sa) bodhisattvas, and different forms and accessories of worship.