Homa Variations: The Study of Ritual Change across the Longue Durée (Oxford Ritual Studies)

Found in many different religious cultures, the practice of making votive offerings into fire dates back to the earliest periods of human history. Throughout the tantric world, this kind of ritual offering practice is known as the homa. With roots in Vedic and Zoroastrian rituals, the tantric homa was formed in early medieval India. Since that time tantric Buddhist practitioners transmitted it to East and Central Asia, and more recently to Europe and the Americas. Today, Hindu forms of the homa are being practiced outside of India as well. Despite this historical and cultural range, the homa retains an identifiable unity of symbolism and ritual form. __Homa Variations__ is the first volume to provide a series of detailed studies of a variety of homa forms. This collection of essays provides an understanding of the history of the homa from its inception up to its use in the present. The book also covers homa practice throughout a wide range of religious cultures, from India and Nepal to Tibet, China, and Japan. The theoretical focus of the collection is the study of ritual change over long periods of time, and across the boundaries of religious cultures. The identifiable unity of the homa allows for an almost unique opportunity to examine ritual change with such a broad perspective. The Practice Of Making Votive Offerings Into Fire Dates From The Earliest Periods Of Human History, And Is Found In Many Different Religious Cultures. Throughout The Tantric World, This Kind Of Ritual Offering Practice Is Known As The Homa. With Roots In Vedic And Zoroastrian Rituals, The Tantric Homa Developed In Early Medieval India. Since That Time It Has Been Transmitted To Central And East Asia By Tantric Buddhist Practitioners. Today, Hindu Forms Are Also Being Practiced Outside Of India As Well. Despite This Historical And Cultural Range, The Homa Retains An Identifiable Unity Of Symbolism And Ritual Form. The Essays Collected In Homa Variations Provide Detailed Studies Of A Variety Of Homa Forms, Providing An Understanding Of The History Of The Homa From Its Inception Up To Its Use In The Present. At The Same Time, The Authors Cover A Wide Range Of Religious Cultures, From India And Nepal To Tibet, China, And Japan. The Theoretical Focus Of The Collection Is The Study Of Ritual Change Over Long Periods Of Time, And Across The Boundaries Of Religious Cultures. The Identifiable Unity Of The Homa Allows For An Almost Unique Opportunity To Examine Ritual Change From Such A Broad Perspective-- Throughout Human History, And In Many Religious Cultures, Offerings Are Made Into Fire--known In The Tantric World As Homa. This Collection Provides Detailed Studies Of The Homa From Its Inception Up To The Present, Allowing For The Study Of Ritual Change Over Long Periods Of Time, And Across Religious Cultures-- Introduction / Richard K. Payne -- Symbolic And Comparative Studies: The Ritual Interplay Of Fire And Water In Hindu And Buddhist Tantras / Holly Grether; Buddhist Permutations And Symbolism Of Fire / Tadeusz Skorupski; The Structure Of Japanese Buddhist Homa / Musashi Tachikawa -- Textual Studies: The Vedic Homa And The Standardization Of Hindu Pūjā / Timothy Lubin; Oblation, Non-conception, And Body: Systems Of Psychosomatic Fire Oblation In Esoteric Buddhism In Medieval South Asia / Tsunehiko Sugiki; The Three Types Of Fire Sacrifice According To Kāṇha's Śricakrasaṃvara-homavidhi / David B. Gray; Fire Rituals By The Queen Of Siddhas: The Aparimitāyur-homa-vidhi-nāma In The Tengyur / Georgios T. Halkias; Homa Rituals In The Indian Kālacakratantra Tradition / Vesna A. Wallace; Ritual Subjects: Homa In Chinese Translations And Manuals From The Sixth Through Eighth Centuries / Charles D. Orzech -- Descriptive Studies: Newar Buddhist Homa Ritual Traditions / Todd Lewis And Naresh Bajracarya; The Navarātra Homa: Liver, Enchantment, And Engendering The Divine Śakts / Nawaraj Chaulagain; Fire On The Mountain: The Shugendō Saitō Goma / Richard K. Payne; Agnihotra Rituals In Nepal / Michael Witzel. Edited By Richard K. Payne And Michael Witzel. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Content: Preface Acknowledgments Contributors Introduction, Richard K. Payne Symbolic and Comparative Studies 1. The Ritual Interplay of Fire and Water in Hindu and Buddhist Tantras, Holly Grether 2. Buddhist Permutations and Symbolism of Fire, Tadeusz Skorupski 3. The Structure of Japanese Buddhist Homa, Musashi Tachikawa Textual Studies 4. The Vedic Homa and the Standardization of Hindu Puja, Timothy Lubin 5. Oblation, Non-conception, and Body-Systems of Psychosomatic Fire-oblation in Esoteric Buddhism in Medieval South Asia, Tsunehiko Sugiki 6. The Three Types of Fire Sacrifice According to Kanha'sSricakrasamvara-homavidhi, David B. Gray 7. Fire Rituals by the Queen of Siddhas: The Aparimitayur-homa-vidhi-nama in the Tengyur, Georgios T. Halkias 8. Homa Rituals in the Indian Kalacakratantra Tradition, Vesna A. Wallace 9. Ritual Subjects: Homa in Chinese Translations and Manuals from the Sixth through Eighth Centuries, Charles D. Orzech Descriptive Studies 10. Newar Buddhist Homa Ritual Traditions, Todd Lewis and Naresh Bajracarya 11. The Navaratra Homa: Liver, Enchantment, and Engendering the Divine "Sakti-s", Nawaraj Chaulagain 12. Fire on the Mountain: The Shugendo Saito Goma, Richard K. Payne 13. Agnihotra Rituals in Nepal, Michael Witzel Index "The practice of making votive offerings into fire dates from the earliest periods of human history, and is found in many different religious cultures. Throughout the tantric world, this kind of ritual offering practice is known as the homa. With roots in Vedic and Zoroastrian rituals, the tantric homa developed in early medieval India. Since that time it has been transmitted to Central and East Asia by tantric Buddhist practitioners. Today, Hindu forms are also being practiced outside of India as well. Despite this historical and cultural range, the homa retains an identifiable unity of symbolism and ritual form. The essays collected in Homa Variations provide detailed studies of a variety of homa forms, providing an understanding of the history of the homa from its inception up to its use in the present. At the same time, the authors cover a wide range of religious cultures, from India and Nepal to Tibet, China, and Japan. The theoretical focus of the collection is the study of ritual change over long periods of time, and across the boundaries of religious cultures. The identifiable unity of the homa allows for an almost unique opportunity to examine ritual change from such a broad perspective"--Résumé de l'éditeur Throughout human history, and across many religious cultures, offerings are made into fire. The essays collected in Homa Variations provide detailed studies of this practice, known in the tantric world as the "homa," from its inception up to the present.