The Cham ritual of Padmasambhava in Tibetan Buddhism

Abstract

This paper discusses the origins of Cham or ritual dance in Tibetan Buddhism, structure»and components of the Cham ritual of Pamasambhava. The first part of the paper explains the Cham ritual dedicated to Padmasambhava and its three main sections ： the ritual of making offerings and reading scriptures; the performing of the ritual dances; and the empowerment of Padmasambhava»known as “Light of the Lotus”. The second part of the paper gives some details of the Padmasambhava Cham, which takes place on the ninth and tenth days of the eleven day ritual»with the Cham on the ninth day known as kya'cham and that on the following day as the dngos gzhi. The Padmasabhava Cham has eighteen parts and one of these parts has seventeen sub-sections»so all together there arc thirty-seven parts performed on the tenth day.