prayers

Incomplete. Complete at beginning and end, but missing one folio (using the manuscript's own numbering system, it should be f.68) between folios 3 and 4 and one folio (f.81) between folios 15 and 16. The item is a book of prayers to be recited at the construction of astūpa, with relevant teachings at the beginning and end. Note that the title distinguishes betweenstūpaandcaitya(1r.1 ce ti, a term also seen inIOL Tib J 433/2, 4r.3, a work written in the same hand and on paper of a similar size). A connection between the present item andIOL Tib J 433/2is also indicated by the appearance of theVimaloṣṇīṣa dhāraṇīat2r.4(compare3893: 181b.6-182a.6).

The work opens with an analysis of the symbolism of thestūpa. The analysis is divided into teachings on the causes and teachings on the results. These two are then subdivided into a variety of Buddhist doctrines, each with a corresponding architectural component (compare3896and3897). Thus we read, for example, "1r.2-3 the first tier represents the four applications of mindfulness; the second tier represents the four correct things to abandon," and so on. The doctrines listed then provide the structure for the rest of the work, so that a prayer is offered for each doctrine to be accomplished, presumably as the corresponding architectural feature is constructed. Finally, prayers for each of the ornaments are provided (14r.4), followed by some closing words comparing thestūpato the body of the buddha (dharmakāya).