Buddhābhiṣeka


Buddhābhiseka refers to a broad range of Buddhist rituals used to consecrate images of the Buddha and other Buddhist figures, such as bodhisattvas.

Terms

Buddhābhiseka is known by a number of different terms in various languages. The terms kaiyan, kaiguang, and dianyan and their derivative forms are used in the Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese languages, while buddhābhiseka is used in predominantly Theravada Buddhist countries.

Theravada Buddhism

Burmese rituals

Burmese Buddhists perform consecration rituals for images of the Buddha used for veneration both at home and at public places of worship, such as monasteries and pagodas. Before a Buddha statue is used for veneration, it must be formally consecrated in the buddhābhiseka maṅgala ritual. The Burmese language verb for consecrating a Buddha image is anegaza tin. This consecration ritual is led by a Buddhist monk, who recites aneka jāti saṃsāraṃ, the 153rd verse of the Dhammapada, which is believed to be the first words uttered by the Buddha upon attaining Buddhahood. The consecration rite, which can last a few hours, is held in the morning and consists of four primary parts:
  1. Offerings made to the Buddha
  2. Chanting of paritta
  3. Recitation of aneka jāti saṃsāraṃ
  4. Recitation of the Twelve Nidānas
The consecration rituals are believed to imbue the Buddha image with a sacred quality that can protect the home and surroundings from misfortune and symbolically embody the powers of the Buddha.

Mahayana Buddhism

Chinese rituals

Kaiguang is the Chinese term for consecration of a statue of a deity. In Chinese, the literal meaning of Kaiguang is "opening of light". While it is often performed in the Chinese Buddhist and Taoist faiths, it is also well known as the ceremony of consecrating new lion costumes used for the traditional lion dance.
A Kaiguang ritual varies among Chinese religious traditions, but it is essentially the act of formal consecration for proper usage by dotting the eyes of a statue of the deity using a calligraphy brush, traditionally coated with cinnabar powder. The ritual is performed by daoshi, bhikkhus or by inviting a specific deity through the appointed spirit medium. For a lion costume, a senior secular dignitary may also be invited to perform the task. The general purpose is to invite the divinity to consecrate an "empty" effigy of themselves and to fill it with divine power. The usage of a mirror and a dry towel is also employed.
It is believed that if a statue or lion costume has not been consecrated, it cannot be worshiped or used for performance, as the eyes are still "closed".