InBuddhism,gāthā (Pali fromSanskritgāthā;Khmer:គាថា;Thai:คาถา; also spelledkhatha) refers to anyPrakrit andPaliverses in general,[1] or specifically thearya meter ofSanskrit. Versified portions ofPāli Canon(Tipitaka) ofTheravāda Buddhism are also specifically calledgathas. The word is originally derived from the Sanskrit/Prakrit rootgai, which means 'to speak, sing, recite or extol', cognate to theAvestan termgatha.[2]
The stanzas of the Prakrit dialects ofArdhamagadhi,Sauraseni and Pāli are known asgathas as opposed toshlokas andsutras of Sanskrit anddohas ofApabhramsha. Most of theJain andBuddhist texts written in Prakrit are composed ofgathas (or verses/stanzas).
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Versified portions ofPāli Canon(Tipitaka) ofTheravāda Buddhism are specifically calledgathas. In addition, some texts titled with 'gāthā' are found in traditional Pāliparittas. Here are thegathas as cited in the chanting book of theDhammayut Order:[3]
There are also someesotericgāthās of other traditions such as:
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In traditionalKhmer andThai practice,khatha (gāthā), referring the SacredPali prayers,mantras and other magicalincantations, is used in general by Thai people for a great many purposes; be it for protection, charm or business ventures, there is akhatha which can be summoned. The wordkhatha, or "gāthā" inPali, means "speech", and thus the original meaning of the word implies thatkhatha were used only as spoken language, and not written form. In spite of this fact, the wordkhatha is used to refer to both that which is spoken, and also written.
Khatha is also used inBuddhist chanting by ThaiRuesi (hermit sage) practitioner for their magical spells, inscribed onThai Buddha amulets and yantra cloths, as well as being the main body of content inSak Yant tattooing. The sacred yantra tattoo designs are both filled with PaliGāthā, as well as being used to embellish the spaces between each of the designs too. When akhatha is inscribed on paper, cloth, metal, skin, or any other surface for that matter, it is traditionally done using the AncientKhmer script (known as "Khom" in Thailand). The ancient Khmer script is only permitted to be used for sacred or scriptural texts, and never for common speech or everyday matters. This alphabet is considered by some Thai people to be extremely sacred and to possess spiritual power within the letters.
In contemporary Buddhist practice as popularized (and derived from theZen andTheravādin traditions) by Zen MasterThich Nhat Hanh, agatha is a verse recited (usually mentally, not aloud) in rhythm with the breath as part of mindfulness practice, either in daily life,[4][5] or as part ofmeditation or meditative study.[6]