A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.12

v2.c19.s3.t2.12

Seven of these nine texts are still used at the Buddhist Parittā-ceremony or “Pirit,” as the Buddhists of Ceylon call it. The word Parittā means “protection, warding off,” and already in the Tipiṭaka it is used in the sense of “Pirit” or “exorcism-formula, benediction.” “At the present day in Ceylon, Parittā (Singhal. Pirit) has come to mean the recitation (or reading) by the Bhikkhus, of some thirty texts belonging to the Canon, for the purpose of banishing the influence of evil powers. The Parittā-ceremony is performed on all possible occasions, *e.g.*, at the building of a new house, in cases of death, diseases and so on.”¹ I cannot help agreeing with K. *Seidenstücker* when he takes Suttas 5–9 to be old exorcism-songs, and, as the first four pieces also present a formula-like appearance, I do not regard it as unlikely that the Khuddakapāṭha was compiled for similar purposes as the Parittā-text-book still in use in Ceylon to-day.