This article examines the Tibetan version of the Ṣaḍakṣara-vidyā, an apotropaic text extracted from the Śārdūlakarṇāvadāna, and discusses its position in early Buddhist rakṣā literature as well as the effects of its mantra, which was employed for healing purposes. The diseases, sores, and different kinds of fever against which the mantra shall be efficacious are given in a long list, which became a common feature throughout Buddhist protective texts. It is the sound substance of the mantra, which brings about the desired effect only when recited correctly. Thus the precise wording of the spell is essential, and this article therefore offers next to a full translation of the Tibetan sūtra also an edition of the mantras.
目次
1 The Sadaksara 230 2 Translation 231 3 Edition of the mantras 232 4 Position in early raksa literature 234 5 The effects of the mantra 237 6 Conclusion 240
