8. Expiatory Rites in Buddhism

Buddhism was a vital religion spread in India and the subcontinent in opposition to the Vedic and Brahminic religious power. Buddhism has little to discuss on expiation in its early stage. However, in later periods the concept of Karma, Pāpa and Prāyaścittas attain a plentiful position in Buddhist religion. The Pāli word Pācittiya included in Vinayapiṭaka stands for expiation for the offences to be atoned by confession coupled with the forfeit of the things wrongfully acquired.^[1] No bodily degradation is prescribed in Vinayapiṭaka for cleansing the sins due to the consumption of inedible things and other misbehaviors. Dīghanikhāya suggests Tapas as a way to acquire relief of sin.^[2] The Buddhist religion has given importance to expiation mainly in their ascetic life. The Buddhist canons have not described expiatory rites in rituals and related ceremonies. Mostly they practiced this expiation for a good moral conduct and dignity in social life. The impact of Karma theory is found in the Buddhist concept of expiation. However, it is different from that of the Brahmanical Karma theory based on caste system.