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PUSHAPA-PŪJĀ, FLOWER OFFERING IN BUDDHISM

1958; Brill; Volume: 11; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/19606028_026_01-08

1877-8372

Susumu W. Nakamura,

Indian and Buddhist Studies

On the occasion of the Buddha's birth, heaven and earth trembled and flowers rained from the skies describes Lalitavistra (Taisho Showa Tripitaka, abbreviated henceforth as TST, v. I6, p. 493). It also mentions Indra and the Four Deva Kings descended and bathed Him with perfumed water and sprinkled flowers over Him. Such are very familiar scenes in the many stone carvings of Amaravati preserved in the Calcutta Museum and elsewhere in paintings. Pushapa-puija, flower offerings, is but one of the numerous homages that His disciples paid honoring the Buddha whenever they appeared in His presence as we read in the Smaller Sukhavati-vyiiha (TST, v. 12, p. 347a), Heavenly beings, or devas, showered Him with heavenly flowers in token of esteem and gratitude. Or, from a discourse from Mahaprajfin-paramita Sastra (TST, v. 25, p. I23b): Question: Why are flowers showered upon the Buddha? Answer: To honor Him with homage in token of reverence and esteem.