Chanting Angulimala Piritha for Pregnant Mothers.

Being a mother is a wish of a every woman and it is considered the World's best role to be played as a woman. Therefore pregnant mothers are looked after by the family members with a great care in the Sri Lankan culture.

People strongly believe that either good or bad situations a pregnant mother goes through till she gives her birth to her baby can directly affect on the baby in her womb. Hence, the maintenance of a happy, relaxed and powerful mental status help a pregnant mother for an easy delivery as well as the baby who born will be a healthy, virtuous and obedient child when he grows up.

Chanting 'Angulimala Piritha' is one of the important rituals practiced by the Sri Lankan Buddhists when the mother is ready for the delivery. There are many aspects of chanting 'Angulimala Piritha'.

The popular aspect that Sri Lankan Buddhists believe is chanting 'Angulimala Piritha' helps mother to deliver the baby easily of having less pain and difficulties. Though this belief has a reasonable amount of truth, the real reason is far more deeper. To know the real reason, you need to be familiar with the story of Angulimala.

Angulimala was a criminal who lived in Buddha's society killed 999 people to create a necklace of fingers from the people he killed. When he was trying to kill his mother to get one more finger to reach his limit of 1000 Buddha saw in His wisdom that Angulimala is going to do such a horrible sin which is called in Buddha's word as 'Ananthariya Papa Karma'. It means that one who does such a sin will get its dangerous result in the same life. Buddha prevented it and He Himself faced Angulimala. Angulimala then tried to kill Lord Buddha and chased after Him. Buddha did not move and stayed where He was. He let the magic sight view to show the walking Buddha's image far away for the distance that Angulimala never be able to reach how much he attempts.

Buddha preached Angulimala to stop running to reach him. The actual idea that Buddha wanted to emphasize was that running after something or someone without stopping is similar to 'Sansara'. The spiritual meaning of this is once you are able to control the thoughts of your mind and you practiced it continuously to your maximum level you will be able to reach Buddhahood.

The people suffer only because of the thoughts arise in mind. The happiness or sadness in one's mind depend on the way that person thinks. The true aspect of chanting  'Angulimala Piritha' during pregnancy is to transmit Buddha's message to the baby in the womb. Rembering and following this valuable teaching of Buddha will help to face good and bad, to bear happiness and sadness equally with a balanced state of mind.

Hence in each and every Buddhist household, where a pregnant mother lives, the 'Angulimala Piritha' is chanted to bless the mother and the baby by inviting a Buddhist monk to the house approximately one or two months before she delivers the baby.

  Photo courtesy - Mr. Gamini Mendis