I found this Paritta recited by most of the Burmese monks, particularly those from the Mahasi Sayadaw lineage. However, forgive me if I sound offensive, I have doubt about this Paritta because it sounds more like a Mahayanese text than a Theravada text. In this text, it apparently says that the Buddha has His own protective Paritta for His disciples and He passed this to Ven Ananda and asked him to RECITE for protection. It further says that those who recite it will be protected from all evils. I mean, there is nothing wrong with that, as most protective parittas have that kind of function as well- to ward off evil, just as those like Ratana Sutta, Mangala Sutta, Dhajagga Sutta, etc, but this Paritta , to me, is portrayed in such a way like how a Mahayana text is portrayed, to be more exact like the Shurangama Mantra “if you recite this, all those evils will not approach you” kind of attitude. Its another name is also known as Buddhassa Attharasa Avenika Dhamma (The 18 Distinguished Marks of the Buddha), and it is found in the Burmese Tipitaka Pathikavagga-Tika (p.98). Below is the full text I found on a chanting book, and I highly appreciate your thoughts (and would further appreciate if you can convince me that this is indeed a Theravada text).
"1. One could not endanger the life of the Buddha. Similarly, let it be the same for me. The Buddha, replete with six glories, possessing uninhibited wisdom of the past, of the future and of the present. The wisdom of the Buddha, replete with six glories and possessing the afore-mentioned three attributes, determined all His physical actions. All physical actions were in accordance with His wisdom. All of the Buddha’s verbal actions were determined by His wisdom and in accordance with His wisdom. All of the Buddha’s mental actions were determined by His wisdom and in accordance with His wisdom.
2. The noble goal of the Buddha, replete with these six attributes and six glories, to bring benefit to all sentient beings never diminished. His giving of Dhamma discourses never diminished. His effort to benefit others never diminished. His insight of Vipassaana, whereby all phenomena were analyzed as reflecting the three characteristics such as anicca never diminished. His concentration of mind never diminished. His realization of fruition or arahata phala never diminished.
3. The Buddha, replete with these twelve attributes and six glories, never behaved or spoke frivolously, never behaved or spoke absent-mindedly, never encountered any phenomenon that was incomprehensible to His wisdom, never acted hastily without due consideration but was guided by His wisdom, never had an attitude without concern for others, and never acted indifferently without contemplating wisely.
4. I pay homage to the Buddha with his eighteen attributes and six glories, together with His predecessors of Gautama such as Vipassi, Sikhi, Vesabhu, Kakusanda, Konagammana and Kassapa. In the same rein as previous Buddhas before Him, our Buddha, whose coming was auspicious, never indulged in unwholesome speech and thoughts.
5. For the Buddha with his glories, there was no inhibition to His wisdom of the past, no inhibition to His wisdom of the future, no inhibition to His wisdom of the present. For the Buddha, there was no action not led by wisdom, not following wisdom. There was no verbal action not led by wisdom, not following wisdom. There was no mental action not led by wisdom, not following wisdom.
6. This Dharana Paritta, which should be embraced, is incomparable, is unequal to anything. It is the refuge for all beings, a hide-out and resting place, an excellent barrier for those who are afraid of the cycle of birth and death, a powerful, glorious and effective barrier indeed.
7. My beloved Ananda, do recite and embrace this powerful, glorious and effective Dharana Paritta, do learn and note it, do query, inquire and ponder it. Those who recite, embrace, learn, note, query, inquire and ponder it would be immune to poisons of snakes and serpents, would not drown, would not be consumed by fire, and would be free from all kinds of dangers. One would be immune from the evil designs of anyone who concocts an evil scheme for one day, or two days, or three days or four days. One would not become insane or stupefied nor confused but would have a stable mind. One would not become the victim of evil-persons or ogres or ghosts who could not torture nor torment nor destroy you.
8. That Dharana Paritta is such that its power and efficacy in extinguishing all dangers akin to that of the seven suns which could burn and consume all the ten thousands worlds of the universe. It has the power and efficacy similar to a steel cage barring all celestial beings, serpents and dragons, garudas, ogres and demons. It can neutralize and stop enemies and dangers such as floods, fires, despots, thieves and the ones whom you do not like. One could escape from the three kappas, viz the scourge of famine. On conception in the mother’s womb, one would be free from becoming mute, deaf, insane and ill. Even if one falls from a tree, or off a cliff, or a canyon, one would escape death. One would gain wealth and possession already accumulated would grow and multiply. One would be delivered from darkness into light, truth and goodness.
9. My beloved Ananda, past Buddhas numbering some seventy seven croes (a unit of 10 million) have also delivered their Dharana Paritta. It is associated with good and wholesome effects, not with unwholesome and evil effects. It bears the taste and fragrance of good and wholesome nature, not of evil and unwholesome nature. Ir bears food and wholesome mental attitudes, not evil and unwholesome ones. It leads one to be associated with moral and good persons, not with evil and bad persons. It engenders wholesome physical attributes, not unwholesome attributes. It allows meritorious actions to be performed, not unwholesome ones. It brings pleasant dreams, not nightmares. It brings good visions and oracles, not bad ones. It can resuscitate dead plants. It can enhance living plants with blossoming foliage, branches and leaves. It can deliver one from darkness to light in truth and probity.
10. My beloved Ananda, past Buddhas numbering some ninety nine croes have delivered this Dharana Paritta. It can reveal the evil designs of schemers. One cannot be hurt by swords, lances weapons, arrows, firearms and cannons. It can increase the efficacy and power of mantras and recitations. It can dispel all kinds of illness and dangers. One cannot be struck by violent afflictions and illness. One can escape from the confines of ropes, handcuffs, manacles, chains, stocks and other forms of confinements and restraints.
May you be well and happy at all times due to the truth thus uttered. "
These weren't used for another thousand years or so after the Buddha.