法苑珠林 35.64

35.64

Furthermore, the Abhiṣeka-sūtra says: The Bodhisattva Trāṇamukta addressed the Buddha, saying: 'If there are men or women of good family who are emaciated, bedridden, in pain and distress without savior or protector, I shall now urge the saṃgha to observe the fast and purify their minds with single devotion for seven days and seven nights, maintain the eight precepts, practice the Path during the six periods, read this sūtra forty-nine times, light seven tiers of lamps, and hang five-colored spirit banners for extending life.' Ānanda asked: 'What are the rules for the banners and lamps for extending life?' [The Bodhisattva said]: 'The spirit banner is of five colors and forty-nine feet long; the lamps are also like this: seven tiers of lamps, seven lamps per tier, the lamps like chariot wheels. If someone encounters distress, is confined in prison, with cangue and fetters on the body, they should also erect banners and lamps, and release various kinds of sentient beings up to forty-nine; then they may cross over the distress of danger and calamity, and not be seized by untimely evil ghosts.'