Material: Brass. Cast. Ritual. Buddhist Utensil

Size: 2 pieces per set, approximately 50-75 cm in length

Description:

The Origin of Fire Tsatsas

Fire Tsatsas are a unique combination of religious artwork and ritual offerings in Tibetan Buddhism. They refer to the Tsatsas (from the Sanskrit word "satchāya," meaning "copy" or "mold") used or blessed during the Homa ("fire offering") ritual. Tsatsas themselves originated in ancient India and arrived in Tibet around the 7th century with the spread of Buddhism. They evolved from the Indian custom of placing sacred objects within stone stupas. Using concave metal molds, soft clay (or clay) was pressed into small, mold-free clay sculptures depicting Buddha statues, stupas, mantras, or mandalas. Early tsa-tsa patterns were mostly Indian in style, featuring designs such as sky-dropped stupas, bodhi stupas, or verses from the Heart Sutra. They featured irregular edges and were often crafted from red clay.

In Tibet, tsa-tsa became popular during the 10th century, when Atisha arrived in Tibet to teach. Gradually, tsa-tsa patterns became localized, with designs shifting to Tibetan Buddhist deities such as Sakyamuni, Tara, Manjushri, and Tsongkhapa, incorporating the six-syllable mantra (Om Mani Padme Hum) or mandala motifs. During the production process, wheat grains, precious stone powder, spices, and even the cremated ashes of deceased monks were often incorporated to enhance their blessings. This practice was more than just artistic reproduction; it was a religious practice for accumulating good karma, reflecting the Tibetan Buddhist tradition of "re-imagery" (using images to educate illiterate believers). The specific use of Tsa-tsa fire offerings stems from the Bon (an indigenous Tibetan religion) worship of the element of fire, which dates back to the four elemental worship of the Zhangzhung civilization around 1600 BC. It was later incorporated into Tibetan Buddhist fire offerings, where Tsa-tsa is burned as a "blessing object" (offering) to symbolize the transformation of merit into nectar for the deity, dakinis, and guardian deities.

When to Use It

Tsa-tsa fire offerings are primarily used in Tibetan Buddhist fire offerings. These rituals are a prerequisite for the four types of practices: pacifying (pacifying disasters), increasing (increasing merit), controlling (controlling negative karma), and subduing (subduing demonic obstacles). These offerings are often performed at specific times to ward off disasters, pray for blessings, liberate the deceased, or accumulate merit. Specific occasions include:

- **During periods of frequent disasters or New Year prayers**: For example, on the eve of the Tibetan New Year (Losar), or after natural disasters such as earthquakes and epidemics, monks perform fire offerings to pacify karmic obstacles, burning Tsa-tsa as a blessing object to pray for the cessation of karmic obstacles. **For the deceased's soul or afterlife ritual**: After a loved one's cremation or sky burial, the ashes are mixed with a tsa-tsa to be made. This is then performed in the evening or night (when the hungry ghost realm is active and the dakinis gather) for a fire offering. The tsa-tsa is placed on the deceased's body or on a mandala and burned to help eliminate their karmic obstacles and allow them to be reborn in the Pure Land.

**For temple consecration or mandala offering**: Before building a stupa, consecrating a Buddha statue, or cultivating a mandala, a tsa-tsa is made and blessed and offered during a fire offering to enhance the mandala's blessing. This is often done at the end of a seven-day mandala ritual at a temple, when the merits are dedicated.

**For personal practice or pilgrimage**: Believers make tsa-tsa at home or during a pilgrimage and burn it in a small fire offering as a personal blessing, especially around full moons or auspicious days.

Tsa-tsa is not limited to fire offerings; it can also be used for daily merit-building, such as by placing it in a mani pile, a retreat cave, or wearing it in a ga'u box. However, fire offerings are the most symbolic occasion for its "transformation," transforming the material tsa-tsa into smoke and nectar, symbolizing impermanence and refuge.

How to Use

The use of tsa-tsa for fire offerings strictly follows Tibetan Buddhist ritual, combining the three steps of making, blessing, and burning, emphasizing visualization and dedication. The following are the detailed steps:

1. **Making**:

- Material Selection: Use red clay, yellow clay, or sacred temple soil as a base, and incorporate wheat grains (symbolizing abundance), spices (for fragrance), precious stone powder (for wealth), or the ashes of a revered monk (for increased possession). For fire offerings, black sesame seeds or grains can be added as a blessing ingredient.

- Molding: Place the soft clay into a metal or copper mold (engraved with a deity image, such as the Buddha of Longevity or a mandala), press firmly to release the mold, and trim the edges. The compact size (usually 2-10 cm) makes it easy to carry. - Drying: Place the tsa-tsa in a cool, dark place to dry naturally, or bake over a low flame to prevent cracking. During this process, recite the deity's mantra over a thousand times to infuse it with blessings.

2. **Blessing and Offering**:

- Placement in the Mandala: Place the tsa-tsa in front of a fire altar (triangular or circular), offering water, lamps, and incense. Visualize the deity emerging from the tsa-tsa. A monk or guru chants and consecrates the tsa-tsa for one to seven days.

- Personal Use: Believers can carry the tsa-tsa in a ga-u box, visualizing and worshipping it daily as a protective amulet.

3. **Fire Offering**:

- Prepare the offerings: Mix the tsa-tsa with other offerings (such as tsampa, grains, or medicinal herbs) and place them in the center of the fire altar. Visualize the fire as the fire of wisdom, and transform the tsa-tsa into a cloud of nectar to offer to the Three Jewels and sentient beings in the six realms. - Burning Ritual: The guru leads the group in chanting mantras (such as the deity's mantra). The main fire (using sandalwood or pine branches) is lit, and the tsa-tsa is gradually added. As the burning progresses, visualize the smoke rising into a lotus cloud, carrying the merit and dedicating it to all sentient beings. The entire process should be performed in a clean area, avoiding strong winds or rain.

- Dedication: After burning, scatter the ashes in a sacred place or river, dedicating them to ward off disasters and longevity. For the tsa-tsa rebirth, visualize the deceased passing away with the smoke.

The tsa-tsa fire offering is not only a material offering but also a symbol of spiritual transformation. It emphasizes the principle of "absence of attachment and the arising of mind." Through burning, one is reminded of impermanence and accumulates immeasurable merit. For home practice, it is recommended to follow the instructions of a guru and avoid performing the ritual on one's own, as this may violate the ritual.