Nepal: Artists in Lalitpur repaint Buddhist manuscript with gold as religious rituals

Aug 01, 2023

Lalitpur (Nepal), Aug 01 (ANI): A group of painters are restoring a Buddhist book that is eight centuries old with gold in the courtyards of the Golden Temple in Nepal's historic Patan Durbar Square. The 800 years old “Pragya Paramita” Buddhist scripture is being renovated by artists by reinstating the faded words and rewriting those damaged over the course of time. All the scripts in this holy manuscript are in the “Ranjana” script (the oldest form of Newa: scripture) and are written with gold. Believed to have been first inscribed during Abhaya Malla’s regime before the unification of modern Nepal, the scripture is believed to have been prepared by Ananda Bhichhu (monk). Kept in the Golden Temple at other times and recited on a daily basis, the Purushottam Maas (also called Mala Maas) gives a break to daily recitation when the artists gather together to renovate the ancient manuscript. The word “Pragya” means ‘intellect’ and “Paramita” means ‘wholeness’ thus making the meaning intellectual wholeness. It is followed and read in those countries which follow Mahayana Buddhism which aims to secure enlightenment. In this golden word manuscript, the eight thousand verses delivered by Gautam Buddha to one thousand three hundred and fifty disciples are recorded. It is believed that Buddha delivered those verses some 2500 years before. The month which does not have Surya Sakranti is called Mala Maas which means there is no solstice of the Sun between one Aunsi “Amavasya” to another “Amavasya”. Sankranti means the entry of the Sun from one zodiac to another. Purusottam Maas comes with a difference of 32 months, 16 days and 6 hours. This Buddhist manuscript in case of tearing or permanent damage beyond repair is rewritten on a special “Lokta” commonly known as “Nepali Kagaj” and locally known as “Nilpatra” which is made from the fibres of a plant called “Daphne Papyracea”- only found in Nepal.