Popular Buddhist Texts from Nepal_ Narratives and Rituals of Newar Buddhism

Abstract

Foreword by Gregory Schopen ; Preface ; Chapter 1. Introduction:Buddhism as a Pragmatic Religious Tradition ; Popular Narratives and their “Domestication”in Buddhist Communities ; The Development of Buddhist Ritualism ; The Ritual Innovations of Mahayana Buddhism ; Nepal and Newar Buddhism ; The Context and Paradoxes of Modernity ; Chapter 2. Stupas and Spouses:The ShrngabheriAvadana ; Background ; Translation 28 The Domestication of the Text ; Observations on the History of Practical Buddhism ; Chapter 3. Merchants,Demonesses,and Missionary Faith: The Simhalasarthabahu Avadana ; Background ; Translation ; The Domestication of the Text ; Observations on the History of Practical Buddhism ; Chapter 4. Devotions to a Celestial Bodhisattva: The TaraVrata ; Background ; Translation ; The Domestication of the Text ; Chapter 5. Invoking the Powers of the Buddhist “Dark Lord”:The CaturdashiVrata of Mahakala ; Background ; Translation ; The Domestication of the Text ; Vratas and the History of Practical Buddhism ; Chapter 6. The Refuge of Recitation:The Pañcaraksa ; Buddhism amid Disease in the Premodern World ; Background ; Translation ; The Domestication of the Pañcaraksa Texts ; Observations on the History of Practical Buddhism ; Chapter 7. Summary and Conclusions ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index ;