SEVEN BOWLS OF WATER
IN THE ALTAR OF THE SIKKIMESE BUDDHIST HOUSE HOLDERS. S.G. Dokhampa
To state the fact honestly,
Sikkimese Buddhists are the bigoted Buddhists and they follow the Himalayan
Buddhist Tradition in terms of Rites and Rituals. They received Buddhism through
the Eminent Buddhist Masters of Tibet who visited Sikkim in 17th to
18th century A.D. Prominent among them were 1. Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo, 2. Ngadag Sempa Chenpo and 3. Kathok Kuntu
Zangpo who paid visit to this ‘Sacred Land’ between 1641 to 1642 A.D, and
established the Buddhist Monarch. It is believed that in 8th century
A.D, Lord Guru Padmasambhava visited this land with his principle disciples in
order to sanctify the land, while in Tibet.
Later, the third successor of
Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo known as ‘Lama Jiged Pawo’ in the beginning of the 18th
century compiled all the prescribed prophecies (Lungten), description of the
sacred religious objects (Nayig) and route guides (Lamyig) with regard to this
land and brought them in a text form giving it a name as “Beyul Demojong gi Nayig”. Now a day, this book has become a main
reference for the writers who wish to discover the mystery of this ‘Hidden
Land’.
The original Sikkimese Bhutias
follow the tradition of the Nyingmapa and Kagydpa Sect of Tibetan Buddhism.
However, they differ from the Tibetans in the practices of many rites and rituals,
which are unique to this land only. If any family member falls ill they consult
with a Lama or an Astrologer and perform the Rites or Rituals according to the
prescriptions to heal the ailing member.
The Foreign Tourists are often
found interested to learn about the significance of the ‘Seven Bowls of Water’
offered in the Altar of the Buddhist Monasteries in Sikkim. Nothing is put into
practice without significance in a religious tradition. The items illustrated
in the picture above are the actual offering items made during the ceremony.
However, they are replaced with the seven bowls of water on daily basis. The descriptions
of the seven items are given in the table below to visualize while offering the
‘Choepa’ or seven bowls of water in
the Altar:
Sl N0
|
TIBETAN
|
SANSKRIT
|
MEANING
AND SIGNIFISNCE IN ENGLISH
|
1.
|
CHOEYON
|
ARGAM
|
Excellent drinking water meant for quenching the
thirst of the Deities/Gods who are invoked.
|
2.
|
SHABSIL
|
PADYAM
|
The cool water meant for washing the feet of the
Deities/Gods who are invoked.
|
3.
|
METOK
|
PUSHPE
|
The flower for decking the hair of the
Deities/Gods.
|
4.
|
DHUKPOE
|
DHUPE
|
The incense for purifying the environment of
Deities/Gods who are invoked.
|
5.
|
MARME
|
ALOKE
|
Lamp for lightening the darkness of the shrine
where the Deities seated.
|
6.
|
DRICHAB
|
GANDHE
|
Perfumed water meant for anointing the body of
the Deity who is invoked.
|
7.
|
ZHALZE
|
NAIWIDYA
|
A sacred cake meant for offering as food to the
invited Deities/Gods.
|
The above described items are pre
requisite in every ceremony and a simple way to earn the merit even by a
poorest household in the society. After offering the above mentioned Items the
invited Deities and Gods are entertained with ritual music. A pair of small
cymbal on the last rice bowl shown in the picture above signifies a musical
offering and it also forms the 8th part of the offerings. Some Sects
of the Lamaism reversed the order of the offering items when doing a certain
kind of ‘Yidam’ or Tutelary deity worship. A more elaborate arrangement of
offering items can be seen in the banquet to the whole assembly of the Deities
and Gods such as “Konchog Chidue” or
“Shitho”, etc. which are occasionally held in the monasteries.
When these offerings are made in thousand
forms, it is called “TONGCHOE” we
normally do this after the death of the dear and near relatives. Of course you
can also do ‘Tongchoe’ in your lifetime to earn a merit. It is not that
‘Tongchoe’ is done only after relative’s death. For a poor people who is unable
to bear the expenses for the ‘Tongchoe” can do “Choepa” daily in his own shrine
with profound faith. The merit is equal when it reaches thousand in number.
A picture of 'Tongchoe' set.
Every Sikkimese Household follow
the practice of offering seven bowls of water with a butter lamp daily in their
own shrine to earn the merit. The Children carry further the father’s Cultural
heritage without any difficulty.
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