釋摩訶衍論 9.26

9.26

Having explained the approach of image-making, next I shall explain the approach of sacrificial worship. In bringing a deva-image to completion, since the approach of dhāraṇī mantras makes it completely whole without deficiency, what inadequacy is there that necessitates using the approach of sacrifice? Although the approach of dhāraṇī mantras is complete in its principle, its temporal span cannot abide for long—only for a span of seven days, and does not exceed this. If one uses the approach of sacrifice to cause the image to remain, it will be for seventeen days, or one hundred and seven days, or even up to a thousand. For this reason, one uses the approach of sacrificial worship. What is the characteristic of the approach of sacrificial worship? It means that having fashioned the image, before that image one performs sacrificial acts with various offerings. When the sacrificial act is completed, that painted image enjoys and partakes of them with joy. Having partaken, it then addresses the person, saying: 'For one day, two days, three days, four days, five days, six days, seven days, and up to one hundred days, even up to thousands of millions of days, abide in my body and mind, according with whatever you delight in, according with whatever you seek, compliant and not contrary.' Now we take this matter as the essential aspect of this approach.