Vajrayogini is Quintessence of a Selfless Dakini, says Guru Vajracharya

 Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): An eight week live online course "Sacred Buddhist Dance of Nepal: Vajrayogini" is being organized by Yangchenma Arts & Music from June 5 - July 31, 2021.

In an online press release, Yangchenma Arts & Music said:"We are excited to continue on in our series of sacred Buddhist dance of Nepal courses with Prajwal Vajracharya. In our course, beginning June 5th, Prajwal will teach the complete dance of Vajrayogini, the beautiful and powerful red dakini."

(Co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Helen Appell performing Vajrayogini charya nritya dance.)

The press release added:"Charya Nritya dance is a unique Newari Buddhist tradition that teaches us how to use the physical body to awaken the mind through the unification of movement, visualization and awareness."

It further said:"In this course, Prajwal teaches the foundational movements and exercises to train the body and wake up the subtle channels, as well as the complete dance of Refuge, 16 Offering Goddesses, Avlokiteshvara, and Green Tara. This course lays the groundwork for all future deity dances."

35 participants from 15 different countries are taking part at the two-month long Vajrayogini dance course which is held each Saturday for one and half hour, said Prajwal Vajracharya, a veteran Charya Guru. Each class every week kicks off with a short Dharma talk by Guru Vajracharya.

Giving some introductory details about Vajrayogini nritya, Prajwal said that this dance is named after the Goddess Vajrayogini, adding that this is one of the ancient classical dances of Nepal Mandala.

According to Newah Tantric Buddhism, there are several yoginis or Tantric Goddesses in the Kathmandu valley. Vajrayogini dance is performed especially as a ritual devotion to the Goddess Vajrayogini, he said.

The co-founder of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara went on saying:" Back in the good old days, the Kathmandu Valley was known as Nepal Mandala. The word Nepal is derived from Niyam Palan, because people living in this valley were very law abiding."

Speaking about different forms of Yogini, he remarked that in the Nepal Mandala there are several temples dedicated to powerful Yoginis: Vajravarahi, Vajrayogini, Khadgayogini, Aakashyogini, Nairatma (Guheshori).

Vajrayogini is one of the most important Tantric Goddesses of the Kathmandu valley who is revered as the  Goddess of Yogic practices. Khadgayogini temple is located at the small city of Sankhu whereas Vajrayogini temple is in Pharping, not far from Kathmandu, said the senior priest of the Nepalese Buddhist temple in Portland, USA.

Vajrayogini is the quintessence of a selfless dakini who always works for the happiness and prosperity of the sentient beings, Guru Vajracharya said. 

Laying emphasis on Vajrayogini as most important among the dakinis, Guru Vajracharya said:"Vajrayogini is a main female Buddha. She is semi-wrathful and bright-red, dancing joyfully, without shame or fear and glorifying in her femaleness. She drinks the nectar that fuels her in the intensity and clarity of an uncompromising motivation to cut through ignorance while embracing all accessible energies."

( Nepal Oregon News reporter Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in America)

Sarod Concert Held at Portland's Newar Buddhist Temple

By Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): A Sarod concert by Daniel Birch was organized by the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara on Friday, June 25, 2021 for limited number of people in person as well as in the zoom.

At the beginning of the concert,  Prajwal Vajracharya --  senior priest at the Mahavihara -- gave a short introduction of musician duo Danny and Alan. 

The enthralling musical performance of Daniel Birch was accompanied in Tabla by Alan Crammatte. The quintessence of Birch's Sarod playing accompanied in Tabla by Crammatte at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA was a  perfect epitome of East Meets West.

The Nritya Mandala Mahavihara is not just a rendezvous for Charya nritya and Charya giti lovers, it also has been working to promote different kinds of music. The latest Sarod vadan concert is a testimony to this. 

And there is no doubt that Daniel and Alan are musicians with a penchant for eastern classical music. 

Danny Birch lived, studied and worked in Nepal between 1972 and 2001. He was Assistant Professor at the Department of Music  of the Kathmandu University from 1995 to 2001.

Danny learned Sarod playing and Raga from the late Nepal Royal court musician Mohan Sundar Shrestha. The concert at the Portland's Buddhist Baha was Danny's first one since Mohan Sundar's demise a few months ago.

Danny also studied with two other court musicians Shambhu Prasad Mishra and Ganesh Bhandari. He earned the degrees Vadya Nipun and Vadya Visharad from the Bhatkhande Sangit Vidyapeeth in Lucknow, India where he studied with the late Ustad Ilyas Khan of the Lucknow - Shahjahanpur Gharana.

Similarly, Danny further studied in Calcutta with the late Ustad Bahadur Khan of the Maihar Gharana. He was director of local music for the movie "The Little Buddha".

Danny also composed, directed and performed music for a number of dramas in Nepal with the Studio 7 Troupe at the Hotel Vajra. He performed regularly at the Hotel Vajra's Pagoda Room for over 20 years.

Likewise, Alan Crammatte learned Tabla from the late Hom Nath Upadhyaya in Nepal and the late Pundit Choti Lal Mishra in Banaras, India.

The western musician duo have delighted the zoom participants as well as the  live audience  at the Portland's Nepalese Buddhist Temple with their mastery on Sarod and Tabla respectively.

( Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)

Pancha Buddhas are Five Transcendental Buddhas in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism: Vajracharya

By Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): An advanced and second teaching on Pancha Buddha charya nritya was held in the zoom on Saturday, June 19, 2021 by Dance Mandal Hong Kong Sangha. The advanced teaching was conducted by Guru Prajwal Vajracharya of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara.

Speaking on the occasion, Vajracharya threw light on the importance and relevance of Pancha Buddha in the Newah Vajrayana Buddhism and said:"Pancha Buddhas Vairochana (the brilliant one), Amitabha (the infinite light), Ratnasambhava (the matrix of the jewel), Amoghasiddhi (the infallible realization) and Akshovya Buddha (the unshakable) are five transcendental Buddhas in Newah Vajrayana Buddhism."

The ubiquity of the Pancha Buddha can be explained by the fact that the drawings and paintings of Pancha Buddha can be found on the entrances of the majority of houses dwelt in by the Newah Buddhists in the Kathmandu valley, said Vajracharya who is also a scholar on Newah Vajrayana Buddhism.

Co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Vajracharya expressed the view that Pancha Buddha charya nritya is considered to be one of the main ritual dances by the Vajracharyas and Shakyas of the Kathmandu valley, adding that this classical Buddhist charya dance is performed in honor of the Five Buddhas.

Focusing on the importance of Pancha Buddha charya nritya, Vajracharya said:"The Pancha Buddha dance is usually performed in the local Buddhist Mahaviharas of the Kathmandu Valley during important festivals and more auspicious religious occasions."

"At the time of sacred dancing, the five performers dress in the distinctive colors of the five Buddhas and depict their specific posture, color and direction. The nritya performers also put on specific ritual crowns on the head," veteran Charya guru Vajracharya said.

Vajracharya went on saying:"Different colorful costumes that the Pancha Buddha dancers wear are symbolic to the sky, earth, water, fire and air."

 During the teaching, underlining the importance of Dasaparmita, Jnan Bala or Dasa Bala, the senior priest of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara also said that Jnan Bala or Dasa Bala refers to the "ten powers" of the Boddhisattvas:(1) Sthanasthana (2) Karmavipaka (3) Nanadhatu (4) Nanadhimukti (5) Sattvendriyaparapara (6) Sarvatragaminipratipatti (7) Dhyanavimokshamadhisamapatti (8) Purvanivasanusmriti (9) Cyutyutpatti (10) Asravaksaya. 

Later, senior Charya dance teacher Vajracharya demonstrated the movements of legs, gestures of hands and fingers, expressions of face during the Pancha Buddha dance teaching.

Senior Charya dance pedagog Vajracharya also demonstrated different steps of the dance and also how various Pancha Buddhas take different directions.

The teaching presented a detailed and comprehensive description of the Pancha Buddha Charya dance. A number of relevant pictures were also shown during the teaching. At the end of the zoom teaching, Guru Prajwal replied to several questions of the zoom participants from Dance Mandal Hong Kong Sangha.

( Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in America)

Zoom Talk on 'Buddhist Art in China and Nepal' Held

By Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): A virtual talk on 'Buddhist Art/ Buddha and Bodhisattvas in China and Nepal' was organized on Saturday, June 12, 2021 by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association.

While Dr Tina Ho of Hong Kong Sangha made a presentation on 'Buddhist Art in China', Prajwal Vajracharya of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara spoke about Buddhist art in Nepal.

Dr Tina Ho's talk dealt comprehensively with the ancient history of Buddhist art in China.

Laying emphasis on the origin of Buddhist arts history of China, she said that  these chronicles date back to very ancient times.

Dr Ho said that the range of Chinese Buddhist art is vast, stretching for nearly two thousand years from the later Han dynasty  well into the Qing dynasty.

Speaking on the occasion, Guru Prajwal Vajracharya presented a more generalized view of arts history.

He said:"Art started before any writing and alphabets. What the ancient people visualized were reflected in drawings and art."

Vajracharya also underlined the need for protecting and preserving the ancient and medieval arts of Nepal.

Guru Prajwal also threw light on pedagogical importance of arts education for awareness and preservation  purposes.

"Arts and culture are the important sources of identity of a nation", said Vajracharya.

A lot of pictures on ancient Buddhist arts in China and Nepal were also demonstrated in the zoom program by Dr Ho and Guru Prajwal.

The zoom participants included distinguished personalities from different states of the US, Canada, Hong Kong and China.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)

Zoom Teaching on 'Pancha Buddha' Charya Nritya Organized

By Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): A zoom teaching on 'Pancha Buddha' Charya Nritya was held on Saturday, June 5, 2021 by Dance Mandala Hong Kong Sangha. The teaching program kicked off with Guru Prajwal Vajracharya of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara offering Namastu to Padma Nateshvara.

Addressing the zoom gathering, Guru Prajwal expressed the view that the Nritya is a religious homage to Five Buddhas.  "Pancha Buddhas are the five transcendental Buddhas of Tantric Buddhism", he said.

Also, lots of knowledge about Pancha Buddha can be found in the book "Lalit Bistar", Guru Prajwal said.

Vairochana Buddha, Amitabha Buddha, Ratnasambhava Buddha, Amoghsiddhi Buddha and Akshovya Buddha are the five Buddhas of the Pancha Buddha, said Prajwal adding that each one of them has has their particular posture, color and direction.

(1) Vairochana Buddha: Buddha division - white color - in the center

(2) Amitabha Buddha: Lotus division - red color - in the west

(3) Ratnasambhava Buddha: Jewel creating division - yellow color - in the south

(4) Amoghsiddhi Buddha: Karma division - green color - in the north

(5) Akshovya Buddha: Vajra division - blue color - in the east

Speaking about the Charya giti 'Pancha Buddha', Guru Prajwal said that the Raga of the 'Pancha Buddha' giti is Lalita and the Tala is Jati.

On the occasion, Guru Prajwal danced the Pancha Buddha nritya while Joshua Proto, a Sangha member sang the Charya giti in the zoom.

The Charya Nritya teaching zeroed in on the dance movements and according to Guru Prajwal, the participants have to go into a meditative state and let their body flow in movements.

The teaching also manifested different hand and finger mudras and artistic movements of legs. 

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA) 

Virtual Presentation on 'Harisiddhi Ritual Dance Drama of Jaladesh' Held

Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): A brilliant and thought-provoking presentation on 'Harisiddhi Ritual Dance Drama of Jaladesh' by Dr Linda Iltis was presented at a virtual program organized by World Newah Organization USA chapter on Saturday, June 5, 2021.

The talk presented a detailed and comprehensive description about Harisiddhi ritual dance drama of Jaladesh.

"Forty years ago, I became interested in the classical Newar dance drama traditions in Nepal, because I wanted to know the meaning of a specific ritual dance drama called Jala Pyakhan", Linda said during the virtual conversation.

Giving a brief details about Jala Pyakhan, she said:"Jala Pyakhan is performed in a small town of Harisiddhi located about one mile south of Patan. The Newar families who live there call it Jala."

Laying emphasis on the cultural importance of Jala Pyakhan, Linda said that it is probably the first mask dance of Nepal.

"According to historical chronicles and oral traditions, Jala Pyakhan is reputedly the oldest and most famous dance drama of Nepal," said Linda and added: It still has the largest royal (now state) land endowments of any of the Newar ritual dance groups, and its private community sponsorship was widespread throughout the Kathmandu valley and beyond, as far as Dolakha where a tall dance platform daboo and shrine house is still standing.

Linda said:"When I first saw the Jala Pyakhan, I was filled with a mixture of admiration, curiosity and awe."

Linda went on saying:"Now there are only two full 18 hour performances of the drama. Although this is a Newar tradition, songs and dialogue are sung not in Newari, but in dya - bhay, the "language of the Gods", which is a kind of mantra language, the meaning of which is understood only by individual performers. These sung dialogues are interspersed with stylized Chari  songs, which to an outside observer seem to be related to the Charya giti, or chacha mya of the Newar Buddhist Vajracharyas."

She added:"But the Jala dyaju priests themselves insist it is not song or mya but rather deva bhasa (god language) accompanied by preta boli (spirit musical syllables)."

At the end of the virtual program, Dr Linda Iltis answered to questions of the distinguished participants.

The virtual program was conducted by Pramesh Shrestha of WNO-USA chapter, while it was moderated by Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara.

Linda is Professional International Studies academic advisor with a demonstrated history (29 years) of teaching and award winning academic service in higher education at the University of Washington Henry M Jackson School of International Studies.

She is also university researcher, professional editor, publisher, with international experience teaching and training in three countries (USA, Nepal, Ghana), in fields of cultural anthropology, comparative religion, textual studies, applied international development in Himalayan and South Asian, and African areas, including nonprofit and fundraising experience with international communities and human rights advocacy.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in America)

Ihi Rituals Unique Tradition in Newar Culture

Ihi Ceremony Held at Portland's Newar Buddhist Temple

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): Ihi ceremony of Sanaya and Sahana (daughters of Bibek Bajracharya and Preeti Shrestha Bajracharya from Seattle) and Shivani Shrestha (daughter of Rabin and Sandhya Shrestha from Beaverton) was held at Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara on Saturday, May 26, 2021.

Ihi ritual is a unique tradition in Newah culture. Also, Ihi, like Bara Tayagu, is an important lifecycle ritual for Newah girls. Girls from Newah community in Nepal are married thrice in their life time. The first ceremony is called Ihi where dedication is committed to the Bel fruit (wood apple) by the young pre-adolescent girls.

The second ceremony is "Bara Tayagu" ritual where girls are married with Sun God, and third ceremony is an actual marriage with a man.

During the ceremony held at Portland's Baha, the girls were prepared as little brides dressed in a fancy red and golden colored blouse, saree and shawl.

The Vihara was cleaned for the Ihi ceremony. The little brides walked in around the Buddhist temple three times. Then, the girls were given a laskus (auspicious welcome) at the main door of the temple.

The Ihi girls were measured from head to toe with yellow thread 16 times and then garlanded the thread around their neck.

Gurumandala (purification) puja was performed on the occasion by the priest of Mahavihara Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya. Puja Bha Demas consisting of Sinha, Swan, Jaki, Ita, Goja, Dhup etc were carefully prepared for the ceremony. Auspicious Vajra and sacred Bell were used during the Puja by Prajwal Guruju. Sukunda lamps were also lit. Four men sprinkled water on the Ihi girls who were sitting crosslegged around the Mandala, wishing them health and happiness.

The Tri-Ratna Sharana chanting  of Buddha, Dharma and Sangha was performed by the Ihi girls during the ceremony. After Jwala Nhayakan worshipping and Sinha Mu praying, Prajwal Guruju gave a dab of Sinha  to the Ihi girls and others who were present at the ceremony.

Different ritual items used at the Ihi ceremony give the Ihi girls various kinds of knowledge and wisdom, said Guru Prajwal. Salt gives knowledge about sea, fruits provide wisdom about nutrition, anchovy teaches them to be frolic, Madan Swan offers knowledge about fragrance, Chaku gives information about sweetness, Taye and Aakhay give wisdom about the origin and end of the world, Paalu gives knowledge about planet's underground and Bhimpu gives knowledge about rock, Prajwal Guruju went on saying.

Also, during the ceremony, pratidaan ritual was offered by using bel, panko paat, two betel nuts and a coin. The father of the Ihi girls put them into his lap and the girls were sworn in that they will always do good things in their lives.

Girls were given the touch of the auspicious Vajra and sacred water was sprinkled on them from Shankha by Guruju - wishing them prosperity, happiness and health. Bali Puja and Naag Puja were also ritualized . Lord Ganesh was worshipped on the occasion.

Chaka Puja was also performed at eight different corners outside of the temple. Prayings were offered to all the Gods, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and Dakinis. Dhau Sagun, egg and anchovy were offered to the Ihi girls at the end of the ceremony. Gwe Daan and presents were given away to Ihi girls from the family and relatives.

About 25 people who were fully vaccinated against Covid-19 were present at the Ihi ceremony held at the Mahavihara.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in USA)