གཎ་ཌའ་དས་ཀྱ་མད intro.3

intro.3

Whereas the sūtra immediately preceding this in the Degé Kangyur, The Gaṇḍī Sūtra ³ describes the construction, consecration, benefits, and symbolism of the gaṇḍī—the sound of which is said to quell conflict and symbolize the Perfection of Wisdom—the present sūtra is concerned exclusively with the times at which the gaṇḍī should be struck during the various seasons and months of the year. Two times are given per month, and the times indicated are before noon. The timings given in this sūtra may relate to the bi-monthly gatherings for the poṣadha or Restoration Rite held on the new moon and full moon of every month, at which monastics reaffirm their commitments.⁴ However this remains a conjecture since the gaṇḍī may be used on a variety of ritual occasions, and The Sūtra on the Timings for the Gaṇḍī does not specify what event the timings prescribed in the text relate to.