Ingredients: Exclusive Tibetan Buddhist formula, incense powder, medicinal herbs, barley flour, Sichuan safflower
Size: 75gm, 8" stick
Description:
King Gesa Victory Incense (Strong Luck and Victory) Protect happiness and success, and enhance fortune.
King Gesar, blessed with exceptional qualities, is a renowned Tibetan deity known for his ability to dispel all obstacles to success. By burning King Gesar's incense, we can strive forward without fear, transform adverse conditions into spiritual enlightenment, and preserve the accumulated merits. The unique fragrance of King Gesar's incense is a breath of victory and success!
To create this authentic incense, we use many rare incense materials, including precious nectar, blessed by Tibetan masters. Precious herbs and medicinal materials, as well as rare minerals, contribute to the high quality of this incense, which we believe will bring profound and incredible support to everyone.
King Gesar (Tibetan: གེ་སར་རྒྱལ་པོ་, Gesar) King Gesar is a legendary hero in Tibetan culture and an important cultural and religious symbol in Tibetan Buddhism. His story is primarily based on the "King Gesar" epic, considered one of the world's longest oral epics. It blends Tibetan folklore, Buddhist teachings, and elements of the indigenous Bon religion. The following describes King Gesar's influence and status in Tibetan Buddhism and the origins of his usage:
I. King Gesar's Influence and Status in Tibetan Buddhism
1. **Cultural and Religious Symbol**:
- King Gesar is regarded as a half-human, half-god hero. Legend has it that he is the incarnation of Avalokitesvara, descended to the world to eliminate evil and protect all living beings. His story is not only a heroic legend but also carries Tibetan Buddhist teachings such as compassion, wisdom, and the spirit of conquering demons.
- In Tibetan Buddhism, King Gesar is revered as a Dharma Protector (Tibetan: ཆོས་སྐྱོང་, Chökyong). Particularly within the Nyingma school, his image is often associated with war gods and Dharma protectors, used to ward off evil and protect the Dharma.
- His story, through oral and textual transmission, has profoundly influenced the spiritual lives of Tibetans, Mongolians, and other ethnic groups on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, serving as an important vehicle for uniting ethnic groups and preserving their culture.
2. **Role in Religious Practice**:
- King Gesar's image frequently appears in Tibetan Buddhist thangkas, murals, and monastery offerings, where he is worshipped as a Dharma Protector. He is typically depicted in warrior attire, armed with weapons, symbolizing victory over both internal and external demonic obstacles.
- In certain rituals, particularly those related to subduing demons and praying for blessings, passages from the "King Gesar" story are recited or related offerings are performed to pray for peace and the removal of obstacles. The legend of King Gesar has also been used to educate believers, conveying Buddhist moral values such as loyalty, justice, and selflessness through his heroic deeds.
3. **Influence on Literature and Art**:
- The Legend of King Gesar is a treasure of Tibetan literature, encompassing topics such as war, love, religion, and philosophy, and has influenced Tibetan art forms such as drama, music, and dance.
- In Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, the story of King Gesar is often adapted into Tibetan opera (ལྷ་མོ་, Lhamo), performed during festivals to engage believers and spread Buddhist values.
II. The Origin of King Gesar
1. **Origin of the Legend**:
- The legend of King Gesar originated in Tibetan society between the 7th and 11th centuries AD, blending historical figures, Bon mythology, and Buddhist beliefs. King Gesar is said to have been the ruler of Ling (Tibetan: གླིང་, Ling), who unified the tribes of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau through force and wisdom, protecting the Dharma and its people.
- His story was originally spread orally by bards (Tibetan: སྒྲུང་མཁན་, Drungkhen), who were believed to be inspired by the gods and could improvise epic poems of hundreds of thousands of lines.
2. **The Process of Buddhistization**:
- With the rise of Tibetan Buddhism, the image of King Gesar gradually became incorporated into the Buddhist framework, being bestowed with the status of a bodhisattva incarnation and a guardian deity. The Nyingma school holds Gesar in particular accountable, viewing him as an incarnation of Guru Padmasambhava and associated with the work of subduing demons. - In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of terma (Tibetan: གཏེར་མ་, Terma), some tertons claimed to have discovered texts related to King Gesar, further strengthening his religious status. These terma texts integrated the story of Gesar with Buddhist teachings, making it a tool for promoting the Dharma.
3. **Evolution of Usage**:
- **Religious Rituals**: Images of King Gesar are used in offerings to guardian deities, exorcism rituals, and prayers. For example, in the Kham and Amdo regions of eastern Tibet, monasteries chant the "Legend of King Gesar" on specific festivals to pray for favorable weather or victory over disasters.
- **Cultural Heritage**: Bards still perform the Gesar story in Tibetan areas, particularly during festivals and religious events. These performances serve not only as entertainment but also as religious and educational tools.
- **Modern Applications**: With the spread of Tibetan culture, the legend of King Gesar has been adapted into films, animations, and literary works, serving as a medium for promoting Tibetan culture and Buddhist values. As Tibetan Buddhism spreads abroad, the story of King Gesar has attracted the attention of international scholars and Buddhist believers.
III. Summary
King Gesar is not only a heroic figure in Tibetan Buddhism, but also a guardian deity and cultural symbol of profound religious significance. His legend blends indigenous Tibetan beliefs with Buddhist teachings, influencing Tibetan society for centuries through oral tradition, literature, art, and religious rituals. His use has evolved from an oral epic to religious rituals, cultural performances, and modern media, demonstrating Tibetan Buddhism's flexible integration of local culture. The legend of King Gesar remains a crucial link between Tibetan cultural identity and Buddhist faith.
Storage: Keep in a cool, dry place.
Shelf Life: Indefinite if properly stored. |
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