Drum Example

[G.J. Meulenbeld]

Dear colleague,

An ointment on drums (dundubhilepa) with wonderful results when these drums 
are sounded is described in the Su'srutasa.mhitaa, Kalpasthaana six 
(dundubhisvaniiya).
The A.s.taangasa.mgraha (Suutrasthaana 8.5)  prescribes the sounding of 
dundubhis during the meal of a king.
Magical practices with a dundubhi are already known in the Atharvaveda 
(5.31.7).
Hoping this is of some interest to you,
with best wishes,

Jan Meulenbeld

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stephen Hodge" <s.hodge at PADMACHOLING.PLUS.COM>
To: <INDOLOGY at liverpool.ac.uk>
Sent: Friday, October 24, 2008 1:52 AM
Subject: Drum Example


> Dear all,
>
> I have come across a rather odd example, used in at least three texts to 
> my knowledge (Mahābherikāhara-sūtra, Śuraṃgama-samādhi-sūtra and 
> Mahā-parinirvāṇa-sūtra). With slight variances, the basic outline of the 
> example is that there exists an extremely potent drug which is smeared on 
> the tops of drums. Then, when these drums are beaten, arrows and so forth 
> spontaneously extract themselves from wounds suffered in battles, even at 
> a considerable distance. My query is i) has anybody come across this same 
> example elsewhere in Buddhist materials, and ii) is it known in the wider 
> Indian literature ? It seems such an implausible feat, I would like to 
> know if there is any detailed story concerning this anywhere.
> Best wishes,
>
> Stephen Hodge
>