Fire Puja

A MANUAL OF RITUAL FIRE OFFERINGS

Translated and compiled by

SHARPA TULKU and MICHAEL PERROTT

LIBRARY OF TIBETAN WORKS AND ARCHIVES DHARAMSALA

© 1987 Library ofTibetan Works and Archives

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Enquiries should be addressed to the publisher.

ISBN 81-85102-66-X

Published by the Library ofTibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, Distt. Kangra, H.P. (India), and printed at Indraprastha Press (CBT), Nehru House, New Delhi 110002.

CONTENTS Foreword

1x

Introduction

x1

Acknowledgements Part One THE FIRST ROUND OF OFFERINGS TO THE MUNDANE FIRE DEITY

xxi

1

Preliminary Procedures The Self Generation and Blessing of the Site 3 Making the Design of the Hearth 4 The Design for the Inner Circle of the Hearth for the Vajrayogin'i Ritual 8 Arranging the Offerings and Ritual Implements and Consecrating the Cleansing Water 9 The Prerequisite Ritual and the Manner of Sitting 11

3

The Actual Ritual The Ritual Cake Offering to the Lord of the Site 12 Blessing the Vajra and Bell 12 Cleansing and Blessing the Hearth, Offerings and Practitioner 13 Generating and Blessing the Offerings 14 Purifying and Blessing the Materials to be Burned 14 Lighting the Fire 15 Making the Kusa Grass Seat for the Deity 15

12

The Main Ritual 16 Generating the Hearth and the Mundane Fire Deity for the Vajrabhairava Ritual 16 Generating the Hearth etc., for the Vajrayogini Ritual 16 Generating the Hearth etc:., for the Guhyasamaja Ritual 17 Generating the Hearth etc., for the Heruka Ritual 18 Generating the Hearth etc., for the Cittamai).i Tara Ritual 18 Inviting the Wisdom Beings of the Fire Deity 19 Making Offerings and Praises to the Fire Deity 20 The Commitment 21

Vl

The First Round of Offerings to the Fire Deity Visualising the Tongue 21 Instructions on Holding the Ladle and Funnel 21 Offering the Liquid Clarified Butter as an Appetiser 22 The System for Joining the Mantras and Appended Lines ofRequest 22 The Actual Offering of the Materials to be Burned 23 Offering the Face Cooler and Cleansing Water 25 THE SECTIONS CONCERNING THE SUPRAMUNDANE DEITIES

21

Pa~;tTwo

THE THIRTEEN DEITY VAJRABHAIRA VA

29

In Conjunction with Generation ofthe MatJ4ala and Offering 31 Generating th~ Celestial Mansion 31 Escorting the Deities in Procession from the Max:u;lala to the Hearth 32 Calling the Deities by Their Mantras and Inviting Them to Their Seats 32 Seating the Deities 33 Offerings and Praises to the Deities 33 Visualising the Tongue 35 Not in Conjunction with Generation of the MatJ4ala and Offering 35 Generating the Celestial Mansion 35 Generating the Hand-implements from Seed Syllables 37 Generating the Deities in Full 37 Inviting and Uniting with the Wisdom Mal).