A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t5.40

v2.c19.s6.t5.40

Then follow the actual Dhāraṇīs, which consist of numerous invocations to female deities (as "holder," "supporter," etc.), to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, between which sentences (such as "Shake off the evil," "Cleanse the paths") and exorcisms against snakes (such as "Come, O great snakes...rain in India") are inserted, and lastly, of syllables scattered here and there (such as "sara sire sire suru suru nāgānāṃ java java jivi jivi juvu juvu," etc.). A description of the magic rites which are performed with these Dhāraṇīs is added, and it ends with the assurance that, in times of drought, there are no better means of inducing rain to fall, than the use of this Sūtra.¹