Toh 735The Sūtra of Parṇaśabarī

THE SUTRA OF PARNASHABARI

Background

The Sutra of Parnashabari (the scripture concerning the goddess of leaves) is a precious Mahayana sutra in the Northern Tibetan tradition, preserved in the Kangyur, the Sutra section of the Tibetan Buddhist canon. It is an independent scripture belonging to the group of scriptures that speak about female bodhisattvas and female divinities capable of protecting those who practice the Buddha Dharma.

Parnashabari (a Sanskrit name meaning “goddess of leaves”) is regarded as a female bodhisattva or a special protective goddess in the Tibetan tradition. This scripture reflects the Mahayana idea that awakened beings have the capacity to help sentient beings overcome suffering and illness. The context in which the scripture appears is connected with practical needs in cultivation: seeking protection from divine forces acknowledged by the Buddha Dharma.

Main Content

The Sutra of Parnashabari focuses on presenting the vows, sacred qualities, and methods for requesting the assistance of this goddess. According to the Tibetan tradition, Parnashabari is a female bodhisattva from countless past eons who lived amid nature and performed compassionate actions, especially healing illness and protecting those who were lost.

This scripture may recount methods of recollecting this goddess, verses and related mantras, as well as miraculous accounts of Parnashabari’s spiritual efficacy. According to Tibetan legends, she has the power to heal incurable diseases, especially illnesses caused by spirits, and to protect those in distress from dangers.

The content of the scripture emphasizes selflessness (anatman) and universal compassion. Parnashabari is not an independent great deity, but a being who has realized the Buddha Dharma, awakened to the unreal nature of all phenomena, and from there applies wisdom and inexhaustible compassion to help beings.