Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Oregon, USA.
Portland, Oregon, USA.
Mahamanjushree at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, Portland, USA.
Portland, Feb 5 (Nepal Oregon News): Shree Panchami or Basanta Panchami - whatever it is - is an important day for Nepalese Buddhists and Hindus. Shree Panchami is observed across the nation by offering prayers to Lord Manjushree and Goddess Saraswoti. Basanta Panchami also heralds the beginning of the spring. Shree Panchami is also a day-off for the Nepalese pupils and students studying at schools, colleges and universities.
Shree Panchami was observed on Tuesday Feb 16, 2021 at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA with the chanting of Naam Sangiti in the zoom.
14 people from Hong Kong, Canada, Oregon and California took part at the virtual program in which Naam Sangiti was recited by pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya and followed by other participants.
Speaking on the occasion, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Prajwal Vajracharya said that Shree Panchami is one of the important days for Newah Buddhists. Any of the rituals including lifecycle rituals like wedding can be performed on this day without looking for auspicious day, added Prajwal saying that people visit Swayambhu today to offer worship to Lord Manjushree.
He went on saying that Shree Panchami is also known as Manjushree Day among the Newah Buddhists.
Throwing light on the importance of Naam Sangiti, Prajwal said that Naam Sangiti is called Manjushree Naam Sangiti. "The main gist of Naam Sangiti is that Manjushree Bodhisattva is the embodiment of all knowledge," Vajracharya added.
Shree Panchami is inextricably interrelated with lives of the Nepalese people. In fact, Shree Panchami is the traditional Education Day for the Nepalese people.
Shree Panchami is the day to offer Puja to the deity of knowledge, wisdom, learning, music and craftsmanship.
Is there any idol of Lord Manjushree in Portland, USA ? Yes, there is. The idol of Lord Manjushree is located in side the temple at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA.
That is because it is usually a mandatory tradition to install a small separate temple or idol of Manjushree or Saraswoti and Ganesh at every big temple complex or Mahavihara.
There is no doubt that Goddess Saraswoti is the quintessence of learning. The Nepalese Hindus offer prayers to Goddess Saraswoti not only as inspiration of learning and creativity but also as the source of knowledge and innovation. Saraswoti is looked upon not just as the Goddess of learning but also as a deity of art, music and craftsmanship.As Saraswoti Puja or Maha Manjushree Puja is celebrated on Magh Shukla Panchami, hence the name Shree Panchami.
Nepalese believe in traditions, customs, folklores and myths. During the pre-historic period, it is believed that the Nepal Mandala (the Kathmandu valley) was a big lake. Going by the Vajrayana mythology, Lord Manjushree arrived to Nepal Mandala all the way from Tibet to offer prayers to Lord Swayambhu when Nepal Mandala was still a big lake.
According to Vajrayana beliefs, Lord Manjushree together with Varada and Mokshada went to Chovar hills. With the divine power Manju Shree possessed, the Lord struck the hill with his sword and released all the waters from the lake.
The Goddess of Learning is a four handed deity seated on a white lotus wearing white saree. Saraswoti's bahan (vehicle) is a white swan while she holds Veena (a musical instrument), a book and a garland in her hands.
On the day of Shree Panchami, young pupils offer five achheta prasad (five hand-peeled unbroken whole rice grains) to the idol of Goddess of Learning or Maha Manjushree. After that, they take back the achheta prasad from Saraswoti and Maha Manjushree as the blessing from the Gods, and then swallow them without touching them to the teeth, believing that this act will enhance their memory.
When I was a young kid, I remember going to the Manjushree temple at the Shree Gha Vihara, Naghal Tole on the day of Shree Panchami. Students and people from the neighborhood used to throng the temple on that day. We used to write alphabets on the white walls of the Manjushree temple believing that the Lord of Learning will bless the devotees excel in study and enhance educational capabilities.
Shree Panchami is inextricably interrelated with lives of the Nepalese people. In fact, Shree Panchami is the traditional Education Day for the Nepalese people.
Shree Panchami is the day to offer Puja to the deity of knowledge, wisdom, learning, music and craftsmanship.
Is there any idol of Lord Manjushree in Portland, USA ? Yes, there is. The idol of Lord Manjushree is located in side the temple at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA.
That is because it is usually a mandatory tradition to install a small separate temple or idol of Manjushree or Saraswoti and Ganesh at every big temple complex or Mahavihara.
There is no doubt that Goddess Saraswoti is the quintessence of learning. The Nepalese Hindus offer prayers to Goddess Saraswoti not only as inspiration of learning and creativity but also as the source of knowledge and innovation. Saraswoti is looked upon not just as the Goddess of learning but also as a deity of art, music and craftsmanship.As Saraswoti Puja or Maha Manjushree Puja is celebrated on Magh Shukla Panchami, hence the name Shree Panchami.
Nepalese believe in traditions, customs, folklores and myths. During the pre-historic period, it is believed that the Nepal Mandala (the Kathmandu valley) was a big lake. Going by the Vajrayana mythology, Lord Manjushree arrived to Nepal Mandala all the way from Tibet to offer prayers to Lord Swayambhu when Nepal Mandala was still a big lake.
According to Vajrayana beliefs, Lord Manjushree together with Varada and Mokshada went to Chovar hills. With the divine power Manju Shree possessed, the Lord struck the hill with his sword and released all the waters from the lake.
The Goddess of Learning is a four handed deity seated on a white lotus wearing white saree. Saraswoti's bahan (vehicle) is a white swan while she holds Veena (a musical instrument), a book and a garland in her hands.
On the day of Shree Panchami, young pupils offer five achheta prasad (five hand-peeled unbroken whole rice grains) to the idol of Goddess of Learning or Maha Manjushree. After that, they take back the achheta prasad from Saraswoti and Maha Manjushree as the blessing from the Gods, and then swallow them without touching them to the teeth, believing that this act will enhance their memory.
When I was a young kid, I remember going to the Manjushree temple at the Shree Gha Vihara, Naghal Tole on the day of Shree Panchami. Students and people from the neighborhood used to throng the temple on that day. We used to write alphabets on the white walls of the Manjushree temple believing that the Lord of Learning will bless the devotees excel in study and enhance educational capabilities.
Meanwhile, Tuesday's regular Dharani at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara was recited by California's Dina Shakya followed by other participants in the zoom.
(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in America)
