Day 30 covers all of Chapter 26, Dhāraṇīs
Having last month considered Brave-In-Giving Bodhisattva’s offering, we consider Vaiśravaṇa Heavenly-King’s offering.
Thereupon Vaiśravaṇa Heavenly-King, the Protector of the World, said to the Buddha, “World-Honored One! I also will utter dhārānis in order to protect this teacher of the Dharma out of my compassion towards all living beings.”
Then he uttered spells, “Ari (1), nari (2), tonari (3), anaro (4), nabi (5), kunabi (6).”
[He said to the Buddha:]
“World-Honored One! I will protect this teacher of the Dharma with these divine spells. I also will protect the person who keeps this sūtra so that he may have no trouble within a hundred yojanas’ distance [from here].”
Vaiśravaṇa’s offering of protection is cited in Nichiren’s letter, “Treatise on the Elimination of Calamities”:
The Lotus Sūtra declares in the 26th chapter on the “Mystic Phrases,” “I, the Heavenly King Vaiśravaṇa (Bishamon), will ensure that there will be no decline nor harm within the area of a hundred yojana, where this Lotus Sūtra prevails.”
The Nirvana Sūtra preaches, “You should know that the land in which this wondrous Sūtra on the Great Extinction (Nirvana Sūtra) is spread is a Pure Land as indestructible as a diamond. The people who reside here are also as indestructible as diamonds.”
The Sūtra of the Benevolent King states, “This sūtra with a thousand lights always shines within 1,000 Chinese li assuring that the seven calamities will not befall in that area.” The sūtra also preaches, “Many evil priests who wish to win fame and material gain will preach false teachings before such men in power as the king, crown prince and princes, eventually destroying the teaching of Buddhism, leading the country to ruin. Unable to distinguish right from wrong, the king will put his faith in their false teachings and promulgate arbitrary laws and institutions contrary to the Buddha’s commandments, ruining the teaching of Buddhism and destroying the country.”
As I contemplate these scriptural passages, it is preached in the Lotus Sūtra, “There will be no decline nor harm within the area of a hundred yojana;” in the Sūtra of the Benevolent King, “The seven calamities will not befall the area within 1,000 Chinese li;” and in the Nirvana Sūtra, “You should know that the land is as indestructible as a diamond, and the people residing there as indestructible as diamonds.”
Sainan Taiji-shō, Treatise on the Elimination of Calamities, Writings of Nichiren Shōnin, Doctrine 1, Pages 92-93