In short: Paritta means "protection". It is a group of chants from the early Buddhist texts that monks and lay people recite for safety, healing and blessing: at a new home, a birthday, before a journey, during an illness. In Theravāda countries it is one of the most common reasons people hear chanting at all.
New to chanting? Start with Buddhist chanting for beginners. Or chant along, line by line.
Where the idea of protection comes from
The early texts tell several stories in which reciting the Dhamma protects or heals. Read in full, they share one idea: the protection comes from the state of mind the words create, love, truthfulness and recollection of the Buddha, more than from the sounds themselves.
- Healing. When Venerable Mahākassapa was gravely ill, the Buddha recited the seven factors of awakening to him, and the text says that is how he recovered from that illness (SN 46.14).
- Love as protection. After a monk died of a snake bite, the Buddha taught the monks to spread a mind of love to the families of snakes, for their own safety and protection (AN 4.67).
- Truth as protection. The former bandit Aṅgulimāla, now a monk, blessed a woman in a difficult childbirth with an act of truth: "By this truth, may both you and your baby be safe" (MN 86, translated by Bhikkhu Sujato).
- Recollection against fear. The Buddha taught monks afraid in lonely places to recollect the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṅgha (SN 11.3).
Read the full guide
The main paritta chants
| Chant | Theme | Often chanted for |
|---|---|---|
| Mangala Sutta | The 38 highest blessings | New beginnings, birthdays, weddings |
| Ratana Sutta | The Buddha, Dhamma and Saṅgha as jewels | Danger, illness, a new home |
| Karaniya Metta Sutta | Loving-kindness for all beings | Fear, conflict, everyday blessing |
| Khandha Paritta | Love for snakes and all creatures (AN 4.67) | Safety from harm by animals |
| Dhajagga Paritta | Recollecting the three jewels (SN 11.3) | Fear and anxiety |
| Bojjhaṅga Paritta | The seven factors of awakening (SN 46.14) | Illness |
| Aṅgulimāla Paritta | The act of truth (MN 86) | A safe birth |
Most ceremonies open with Namo tassa, the Three Refuges and the Five Precepts, then a selection of these chants.
The white thread and blessed water
In a traditional paritta ceremony, a white cotton thread (called sai sin) runs from a Buddha image through the hands of the chanting monks, and a bowl of water sits before them. Afterwards the thread is tied around people's wrists and the water is sprinkled or taken home. These are cultural customs: reminders of the blessing and of the good wishes of the community.
How to chant paritta at home
- Sit quietly and take one slow breath.
- Say Namo tassa three times, then the Three Refuges.
- Chant one paritta, slowly, knowing what the words mean. The Karaniya Metta Sutta is the best first choice.
- End by wishing well to someone who needs protection today, by name.
Paritta is a source of comfort and steadiness. If you or someone you love is ill, it goes alongside medical care, never instead of it.
The three best-known protection chants in one place: Buddhist prayer for protection.
Try it
Begin with a 5-minute metta meditation, or take the 3-minute evening practice.
Questions people ask
What is paritta?
Paritta means 'protection'. It is a set of Pāli chants from the early Buddhist texts that monks and lay people recite for safety, healing and blessing, for example at a new home, a birthday, an illness or a funeral.
What are the main paritta chants?
The best known are the Mangala Sutta (blessings), the Ratana Sutta (the three jewels), the Karaniya Metta Sutta (loving-kindness), the Khandha Paritta (love for snakes), the Dhajagga Paritta (the banner's crest), the Bojjhaṅga Paritta (the factors of awakening) and the Aṅgulimāla Paritta (for a safe birth).
Does paritta chanting really protect you?
Many Buddhists believe it does, and it is a living tradition. The early texts describe protection coming from what the chant brings to mind: love, truthfulness and recollection of the Buddha, which calm fear and steady the heart. It is not a replacement for medical care.
What is the white thread in paritta chanting?
During paritta ceremonies monks hold a white cotton thread (called <em>sai sin</em>) that is then tied around people's wrists as a reminder of the blessing. Water blessed during the chanting is sprinkled or given to take home.