Mahakaruna Dharani Sutra

Chant the lovely and powerful Maha Karuna Dharani Sutra with Ajahn Achalo, a Thai
Forest monk and student of Ajahn Cha, with a Malaysian Choir. This is a chant to
Avalokiteshvara which is chanted in all the South Asian Buddha lands. I consider this to
be a key chant for tantric Theravada.

The Nilakantha Dharani or Maha Karuna Dharani, popularly known as the Great
Compassion Mantra in English, is a dharaṇi of Mahayana Buddhist origin.

This dharani cites 84 of the manifestations that Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara will take to
help people along the spiritual way. The sutra that this dharani points to, narrates a
discourse between Buddhas and the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva wherein one learn
that He brings salvation from all sins.

The short chant:

Namo Ratna Trayaya, Namo Arya Jyana, Sagara Vairochana

Vyuha Rajaya Tathagataya Arhate Samyak Sambuddhaya

Namah Sarva Tathagatebyah Arhatebyah

Samvak Sambuddhe Byah, Namo Arya Avalokite

Svaraya Boddhisattvaya, Mahasattvaya, Mahakarunikaya

Tadyatha Om, Dhara Dhara, Dhiri Dhiri, Dhuru Dhuru

Iti Vait te Chale chale, Pra Chale, Pra Chale

Kusuma Kusume Vare Ili Mili Chiti Jvalam Apanaya Svaha

The short chant, Sanskrit:

Namo Ratna Trayāya Namaḥ Ārya Jñāna Sāgara

Vairocana Vyūha Rājāya Tathāgatāya Arhate Samyak Sambuddhaya Namah
Sarva Tathagatebyah Arhatebhyaḥ Samyaksaṃbuddhe Byaḥ Namaḥ
Arya Avalokite Śvarāya Boddhisattvāya Mahāsattvāya Mahākāruṇikāya Tadyathā
Oṃ Dhara Dhara Dhiri Dhiri Dhuru Dhuru Ite Vatte Cale Cale Pra Cale Pra Cale Kusume
Kusume Vare Ili Mili Citijvala Māpanāye Svāhā.

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From the Maha Karuna Sutra:

The Sakyamuni Buddha was at Potalaka Mountain. At that time, the Tathagata, who
was sitting on his throne, intending to explain a teaching of the Total Retention
Dharani, was along with innumerable Bodhisattva –Mahasattvas. That time Great
compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva arose from his seat, tidied up his clothes,
joined his palms towards the Buddha and said:

“Bhagavan, I have a mantra of Great –compassionate Heart Dharani and now wish to
proclaim it, for comforting and pleasing all living beings; for healing all illness; for living
beings to attain additional lifespan; for living beings to gain wealth; for extinguishing
all evil karma and weighty sins; for keeping away from hindrance and disasters; for
producing merits of all pure Dharmas; for maturing all virtuous roots; for overcoming
all fears; for fulfilling all good wished. Bhagavan, please be merciful and allow me to
speak ”
The Buddha said: “Virtuous man, you have great kindness and great compassion, in
order to comfort and please all living beings, you wish to speak the holy mantra, it is
the proper time now, please speak it soon, the Tathagata approves and rejoices it, and
so do all Buddhas.” [1] Then Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva explains about this Dharani
sutra and it benefits.”