Aka - Red

A transliteration of the Sanskrit word argha, also written as aga or ryaga. It translates to vessel, merit water, or water. The original word means "something of value," referring to the water most necessary for entertaining guests, and by extension, the meaning of offerings made to the gods, and the general term for the vessels in which they are served. In Buddhism, it refers to holy water offered to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and in Esoteric Buddhism in particular, it is one of the six types of offerings (aga, incense painting, garlands, incense burning, food and drink, and lamps) offered to Buddha and other deities, and is said to wash away the dirt of earthly desires. In actual rituals, it refers to purified water obtained by a special method and floated with myoke, and the sacred water offered in front of the Buddha or grave is generally referred to as akasui. The well from which this purified water is drawn is called akai, the container that holds this water is called akake, and the water container made of metal for rituals is called akaki, and they are counted as one of the six vessels of esoteric Buddhism rituals. The shelf on which the akake is placed is called akadana, the container in which akaki is offered to the Buddha is called akatsuki, and the shikimi tree floated in the purified water of aka and offered to the Buddha is also called akahana.

[Yoshimichi Shioiri]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

サンスクリット語アルガarghaの音訳で、阿伽、遏伽とも書く。器、功徳(くどく)水、水と訳す。原語は「価値あるもの」の意で、客人を接待するにもっとも必要な水を意味し、転じて神に供える捧(ささ)げ物の意となり、それを盛る容器の総称となった。仏教では、仏菩薩(ぼさつ)に献ずる聖水をさし、とくに密教では仏や諸尊に捧げる六種供養（閼伽、塗香(ずこう)、華鬘(けまん)、焼香(しょうこう)、飲食(おんじき)、灯明(とうみょう)）の一として、煩悩(ぼんのう)の垢(あか)を洗うものとされる。実際の修法には、特別の取水法によって得た浄水に妙華(みょうけ)を浮かべたものをいい、一般には仏前や墓前などに供える神聖な水を閼伽水と重言する。この浄水をくむ井戸を閼伽井、この水を入れるものを閼伽桶(おけ)、金属などでつくった修法用の水入れ容器を閼伽器と称し、密教修法の六器の一つに数えられる。また閼伽桶を置く棚を閼伽棚(だな)、閼伽を仏前に供える容器を閼伽杯(つき)、閼伽の浄水に浮かべ仏前に供えるシキミを閼伽の花ともいう。

［塩入良道］

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