Chanting of Pirith is a Buddhist Religious ritual. It deals with the chanting of selected "Sutras"  loudly and ceremoniously. Sutras are a religious precept which are composed in to hymns with a story behind them. They can be sung in rhythm and can be kept in mind easily. The selected Sutras contain precepts that relate to needs and day-to-day affairs of both lay men and priests. As singing is done ceremoniously the preparation for it is important.

First of all, the selected place where Pirith Chanting is going to be held  should be cleaned and kept tidy. A low stage is erected and on which an octagon shaped enclosure will be built. The enclosure will be decorated with natural leaves or paper cuttings which are embalmed according to the traditional art of the island. In the middle of the enclosure there will be four doors and four windows. A ceiling will be fixed above the enclosure with white cloths and it will be decorated with flowers, leaves and young coconut leaves. In the middle of the enclosure there will be a table and, a round it, chairs will be placed to sit monks others who will  chant Pirith . The table is laid with white cloth and on the white cloth and in the enclosure, flowers named as "Ladha Pas mal" will be scattered. The Ladha pas mal consists of parched grain, broken rice, white mustard, Jessamine buds and panic grass. On either side of each gate "Puncalasa", a kind of pot, is placed. On each pot there will be a lamp. On the table decorated pots filled with pure water will be placed. And from the water a thread will be issued out.

                 If a Pirith is chanted by priests the high priest of the village temple will be invited to do so. The invitation is done according to accepted custom and manners with tray of beatle leaf  etc. If Pirith is conducted by nuns the Superior nun will be invited. If Pirith is chanted by lay men the chief of the Upaasakas (the lay followers of buddha) will be invited to hold the Pirith Ceremony. It is a duty of each head to invite others to preach Pirith. The minimum required quantum is fiv

     Usually the chanting of Pirith is started in the evening. On the evening when Pirith will be started the person who is going to hold Pirith ceremony has to invite the chanters. The chanters will come and the lamps of the enclosure will be lighted, drums  are beat,  incense will be burnt and the aims of chanting Pirith will be declared by Pali Stanzas, such as "Vipaththi Patibahaya Sbba sampaththi Siddiya". The meaning of this is ' the Pirith will be chanted to avoid evils to heal all sufferings and to achieve all wealth'.

The members who chant Pirith will sit a round the table and their hands are cleaned with special liquid made out of sandle wood paste, milk, and water. They instruct the audience, who have also cleaned their hands with the special mixture, to observe pansil or five precepts of buddhism and worship triple gems. After this the god's will be invited and the Pirith will be begin. At first the worshipping stanzas of Triple gems "Patichcha Samuppadaya Jayamangala Gatha, will be chanted. After it the cord which comes out of the water pot on the table will be extended to all preachers and listeners. The cords will be passed through loops which have been made of young coconut leaves and which are hanging on the four corners of the enclosure with each loop  knotted. At the end of the Pirith these knots will be loosed.

        At the end of the chanting of the above said "Sutras", the number of preachers will usually be limited to two. After that they will chant Sutras such as "Dajjagga Sutra, Maha Kashapa Bojjana Sutraya , Isigilia Sutra, Damma Chakka Sutraya". At this stage drums will be beat and incense will be burnt ceremoniously. Usually there are about thirty Sutras. The ceremony is continued from dusk to dawn when "Karaniya Meththa Sutraya, Atavisi Piritha, Jinapangaraya, Maha Jaya Mangala Gatha" will be chanted. Thanks will be given to gods or sprits and all those who participated.

        The water in the pot which has been on the table of the enclosure will be served to all and so is the cord Pirith.

The question why Pirith is sung is asked by many. It is a rather difficult question to answer. The sound waves we can hear are limited by our abilities and nature. But we know their are sounds which we cannot hear. These sound waves which reach our ears are rich enough to move the ocean of air around us and so it is that these movements of air and the sounds that this brings, has the power to change our minds, sense and thoughts. The sound waves and sounds  bring mysterious good effects to listeners of Pirith. Furthermore, evil spirits will also be affected by these sound waves. Devotees believe that evil spirits will leave our places or they will be made to treat us kindly. It is an age old belief that Chanting of Pirith will soothe both our body and mind.

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End of pirith