THE UNIQUE FEATURES OF NEWAR BUDDHISM16 See John Locke, Karur.ziimaya, Kathmandu 1980, 175-181, for a description of the
more complete rituals still performed at Jana Baha in Kathmandu. Hemraj Sakya
gives the following schedule of rituals formerly followed at Bhinchu Baha in Patan:
Early in the morning, about 4:30, the dya-piilii should rise and open the outer
door of the shrine of the kwiipii-dya.
2 The dya-piilii goes for a ritual bathing (paiica-sniina).
3 He sweeps the floor of the shrine.
4 He washes all of the piijii vessels.
5 He prepares the materials for the paiicopaciira-piijii (flowers, incense, a light,
scent and food). While he is doing this a group of devotees gather to recite the
Niimasaliglti and other Mahayana siitras.
6 In order to arouse the mind of enlightenment in himself the dya-pii/ii recites a
hymn (giithii) known as the Akiisii-dhiitu.
7 He recites verses from the Mahayana siitras.
8 As the group in front of the shrine recite the Niimasaliglti, begging bowls are
offered to the Buddha.
9 The dya-piilii opens the inner door of the shrine and laying aside his street
clothes, he dons the saffron robe of a monk.
I 0 He takes the large metal plate used for the offerings to the Buddha and meditates
on its meaning as he recites an appropriate verse.
11 He performs a niiga-piijii to the water vessel used for the rituals.
12 Before going into the inner sanctum of the shrine, he places the ceremonial metal
mirror on the ground in front of the shrine and draws the letter 'Orp.'.
13 Ringing a bell and offering grains of rice three times he performs the ritual
known as the purification of the body (kiiya-sodhana).
14 Pouring a stream of water over the metal mirror he recites a hymn (giithii) called
Yan-maligalam-sakalasattva-hrdi-sthitasya. (This is the daily, ritual bathing of
the image of Buddha.)
15 Taking the mirror in his hand, he recites the giithii Prativimva-samadharma as he
goes round the deity three times.
16 He sprinkles the worshippers who have gathered with the bathing water as he
recites the giithii Abhi$eka-mahiivajra.
1 7 Pouring out the remaining water he traces a mar.zqala known as the dhara-
mar.zqala.
18 Just before dawn he touches this dhara-mar.zqala which he had traced earlier and
draws on it a crossed vajra.
19 On this spot he places the 'shoes' of the kwiipii-dya.
20 He takes the wooden gong outside and striking it I 08 times he recites the
Aparamitii-dhiirar.zl.
21 He offers a libation to the seven Tathagatas (Vipasin, Sikhin, Visvabhii, Krakuc-
chanda, Kanakamuni, Kasyapa, Sakyamuni).
22 He offers the paiicopaciira-piijii with a meditation. (This is the main part of the
morning worship, the nitya-piijii.)
23 While this is going on, the group that gathered to recite the Niimasaliglti recites a
number of giithiis, a hymn to Vairocana and another hymn.
24 Recitation of the Saptavidhiinuttara-piijiistotra.
25 Recitation of the two dhiirar.zls, one in honour of Sakyamuni and the other in
honour of Aparamita.
26 Recitation of the Dasapiiramitii-stotra and the Buddhatrailokyaniitha-stotra.
27 Recitation of the Bodhiparir.ziimana-giithii and the Anuttarabodhi-jiiiinapada.
(This concludes the early morning rituals.)
28 In the middle of the morning, between eight and nine AM the dya-piilii places a