Material: Black barley flour (special price without discount)

Size: 500 g +/-10g

Description:

Black barley flour has important cultural and religious significance in Tibetan Buddhism. Its influence, status and usage are closely related to Tibetan traditions, Buddhist rituals and daily life. The following will describe its origin, religious status and usage:

1. The origin of black barley flour

Black barley (often called "nas" in Tibetan) is a variety of barley (Hordeum vulgare var. nudum). It is a common crop on the Tibetan plateau and is adapted to the harsh environment of high altitude. Barley is one of the staple foods in Tibetan culture, and black barley has gradually been given special significance in religion and culture due to its dark appearance and nutritional value.

The origin of black barley flour can be traced back to the historical period of the formation and development of Tibetan Buddhism (about the 7th century AD). Tibetan Buddhism combines elements of Indian Buddhism and the native Tibetan Bon religion, and barley, as the main food crop in Tibetan areas, is naturally incorporated into religious rituals. Black barley, due to its unique color, may be seen as having a stronger symbolic or spiritual power and is often used in specific rituals. According to Tibetan Buddhist literature, barley is related to the offering tradition of Bon religion, which often uses grain as an offering, a custom absorbed and transformed by Tibetan Buddhism. The production method of black barley powder is to fry black barley and grind it into fine powder, which is often used to make tsampa or for offering purposes.

2. The influence and status of black barley powder in Tibetan Buddhism

1. **Religious symbolism**:

- Black barley powder is often used as an offering in Tibetan Buddhism, symbolizing purity, harvest and nourishment of life. In Tibetan Buddhist rituals, offerings are the medium between people and the sacred. Black barley flour is often used in specific Tantric rituals or for offerings to deities such as Tara because of its unique color and rarity. According to Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, such as the "Shengtara Bodhisattva Relieves the Eight Difficulties Sutra", the items used for offerings must have the characteristics of purity and auspiciousness. Black barley flour is considered an ideal choice because of its unique properties on the plateau.

- In Tantric rituals such as Kalachakra, black barley flour may be used as a material for making mandalas, symbolizing the integrity and harmony of the universe.

2. **Cultural and social impact**:

- Black barley flour is not only a religious offering, but also an important ingredient in the daily diet of Tibetans, especially for making tsampa. It is an indispensable food in the lives of Tibetans when paired with butter tea. This interaction between daily life and religion

- In Tibetan areas, tsampa is regarded as a "sacred food" because barley is one of the few crops that can grow stably on the plateau, symbolizing the continuation of life, and is thus given the meaning of offering in religious occasions.

3. **Status in sects**:

- In Tibetan Buddhist sects such as the Gelugpa and Nyingma sects, black barley flour is often used to make special tsampa for offerings, especially in the "Great Perfection" related rituals of the Nyingma sect, as a sacred object for offering to the deity.

- Compared with ordinary barley flour, black barley flour is considered more sacred in some temples due to its rarity, and is often used in high-level religious activities, such as ceremonies or reincarnation ceremonies of living Buddhas.

3. How to use black barley flour

1. **Use in religious ceremonies**:

- **Offering**: Black barley flour is used to make offerings, such as tsampa balls, placed on the altar or mandala plate as an offering to the Buddha, the deity or the guardian deity, symbolizing piety and gratitude.

- **Mandala plate making**: In Tantric ceremonies such as Kalachakra, black barley flour may be used to draw or fill the mandala plate as a symbol of the universe to assist meditation and rituals.

- **Rituals and blessings**: In large ceremonies or blessing ceremonies, monks may sprinkle black barley flour on believers to symbolize purification and blessings.

2. **Daily and cultural uses**:

- **Food**: Black barley flour is the main raw material for tsampa. Tibetans mix it with butter, tea or water for consumption. Especially during religious festivals or pilgrimages, eating black barley tsampa is believed to have the effect of purifying the body and mind.

- **Medical and health care**: Tibetan traditional medicine believes that black barley flour has a warming and tonic effect and is often used to regulate the body, especially during religious practice, as a simple and pure food source.

IV. Summary

Black barley flour is not only an important offering and ritual material in Tibetan Buddhism, but also carries a profound cultural and religious significance. Its origin is closely related to the farming tradition and Bon worship customs in Tibetan areas. It was later absorbed by Tibetan Buddhism and given a sacred symbol. The rarity and unique color of black barley flour give it a special status in Tantric rituals. It is widely used in offerings, Mandala plate making and blessing activities. It is also an important part of the daily diet of Tibetans, reflecting the close integration of religion and life.