What Does the Image Consecration Ritual Do?

by **sukhamanveti** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:29 am

Hello.

What exactly is the aim of the image consecration ritual in Theravada? Is it intended to accomplish something in the Buddha image, in the participants, or both? Is it just a commemoration of the Buddha? Does it make a statue spiritually potent like a relic? Does it affect the merit of offerings? Is it perceived differently in different Theravada countries? Do the commentaries say anything about it?

I have been wondering about this for some time.

Thank you to the person with the patience and the knowledge to answer this for me.

Ed

by **SeerObserver** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 8:17 pm

Well some statues actually have relics embedded within. There are many statues with sarira, bones, etc. embedded. From the practitioner's point of view, there are people of the belief that devas will reside nearby. On the other hand, merit fields are be created by other means and many people feel that is more important/potent than embedding relics which may or may not change the constitution of the congregationers.

by **Peter** » Tue Apr 07, 2009 11:48 pm

sukhamanveti wrote:What exactly is the aim of the image consecration ritual in Theravada?

To consecrate images. :tongue:

by **gavesako** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:17 am

Becoming the Buddha: The Ritual of Image Consecration in Thailand (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series) (Hardcover)
by Donald K. Swearer

http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Buddha-C ... 0691114358

Has anyone read this book?

Or this one:

Relics of the Buddha (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series) (Hardcover)
by John S. Strong

by **thornbush** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:41 am

Hehehe I recall this thread on another Forum :rolleye:

http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index. ... opic=77613

Happy reading :tongue:

by **sukhamanveti** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 7:51 am

Thank you all for the information.

Peter, you crack me up. :jumping:

I thought you were such a serious person.

I haven't had much time on the computer the last few days. Looks like I've got some reading to do.

Thanks again.

Ed

by **sukhamanveti** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 8:06 am

gavesako wrote:Becoming the Buddha: The Ritual of Image Consecration in Thailand (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series) (Hardcover)
by Donald K. Swearer

http://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Buddha-C ... 0691114358

Has anyone read this book?

Or this one:

Relics of the Buddha (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series) (Hardcover)
by John S. Strong

Thank you, Bhante. I am putting these on my reading list.

Ed

by **sukhamanveti** » Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:58 am

thornbush wrote:Hehehe I recall this thread on another Forum
http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index. ... opic=77613

Happy reading

Hi thorn,

Thank you as always for digging info up for me. I loved Ven. Appicchato's concise comment. It was perfect.

Ed

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