The Great Book of Protection (Maha Paritta Pali)

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Born in Imphal, Manipur, graduated as an engineer in Kolkata, having participated in the Indian Freedom Movement, this extraordinary person joined the army and saw enough violence of the II World War. That led him to renounce everything and he went in search of peace and truth. At last through reading the holy Dhammapada, he came to the path of the Buddha and got ordained in Kushinagar under the most Venerable Chandamani Mahathera and came to be known as Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita.

A visionary and hard working Buddhist monk, he scarified his whole life in study, practice and teaching of the Buddha's words and putting that compassionate teachings into practice by establishing Maha Bodhi Society, Bengaluru in 1956. Since then he worked tirelessly in the field of spirituality, education, medical and social services and established meditation centers, hospitals and educational institutions in India and abroad. He had the distinction of being a member of the Editorial Board of the Sixth Buddhist Synod (Chattha Sangayana) in Yangon, which brought out a complete edition of the Buddhist scriptures in the original Pali language.

This is the centenary year of his birth and Mahabodhi organizations and his countless disciples are celebrating the Birth Centenary with meaningful activities as mark of paying respect to the great teacher Most Venerable Acharya Buddharakkhita. We feel privileged to present this book as a part of this centenary celebrations series.

The Great Book of Protection, Mahā Paritta Pali, is an anthology of twenty-nine Suttas culled out from the Sutta Pittaka, the Basket of Discourses of the Buddha. It is also referred to as Catübhānavāra Pāli, Four-part Texts for Protection (Paritta) chanting.

The term 'Paritta' simply means protection against evil forces, on one hand, and bringing good fortune on the other. These Suttas have special power, in the sense that they are spiritually vitalized by the Buddha to provide protection and to bring blessings of all kinds.

In Buddhist countries varieties of paritta ceremonies are conducted in which crowds of devotees flock to participate and to receive the blessings from the Venerable bhikkhus who conduct the chanting ceremony.

There are twenty-nine Parita Suttas which are chanted by the Venerable Theras and bhikkhus for the purpose of removing any evil influence or affliction and at the same time bringing good fortune.

Paritta ceremonies are performed on all kinds of occasions, such as, the birth of a baby. marriages, sickness or death in the family, entering a new house, starting a new venture etc.