Dr. Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, July 16 (Nepal Oregon News): If Nepal Sambat (Nepal Era) is one of the most unique calendar in the world because it is named after a nation, then the month of "Gunla" in the Nepal Sambat is equally the most unique month in the Nepal Sambat calendar especially for the Newar Buddhists.
There is no doubt that Gunla signifies a lot for Newar Buddhists. It goes without saying that the month of Gunla is very pious and sacred month for the Newar Buddhists in the Kathmandu valley.
Gunla is the ninth month in the Nepal Sambat, hence the name Gunla. Gun means ninth whereas La means month. This month is also known as Gunila which in turn means the month of a good quality.
A number of important festivals take place during the month of Gunla: Naag Panchami, Gunpunhi, Bahidyo Swowonegu, Saa Paru, Mataya Jatra, Panjaran and Nepalese Father's Day etc.
The historical significance of the month of Gunla is interrelated to the origin of the Kathmandu valley.
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| Photo courtesy: Gunla Instagram posts - Instazu.com |
According to Swayambhu Purana, once upon a time, the Kathmandu valley was a huge lake. A Buddha called Vipaswi came there and sowed the seed of Lotus. When the Lotus blossomed, a ray emerged as the Dharma Dhatu Jyoti on the top of the Lotus.
According to Vajrayana beliefs, Lord Maha Manjushree together with his two spouses Varada and Mokshada went to Chovar hills. With the divine power Maha Manjushree possessed, the Lord struck the hill with his sword and released all the waters from the lake.
Later, Swayambhu Maha Chaitya was founded by Buddhist Mahayana Dharma Guru Shantikaracharya by covering the Dharma Dhatu inside the stupa.
And it is widely believed that the Gunla festival of making early morning pilgrimage to Swayambhu Chaitya dates back to the completion of founding of Swayambhu Chaitya.
Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, co-founder of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara says:"Gunla is a holy month for Newar Buddhists when they recite the scriptures particularly the Naam Sangiti, observes fasts and visit places of worship playing devotional music."
Prajwal Gubhaju went on to say:"It is one of the most important times in Newar Buddhism."
"We have been celebrating a month-long Gunla Dharma at America's only one Newar Buddhist temple -- Nritya Mandala Mahavihara --for last several years by chanting the Naam Sangiti - names of Manjushree," Prajwal added.
At the end of the Gunla month, the Paru Bhoye is organized by each Gunla Bajan Khala at the periphery of Swayambhu in Kathmandu. Similarly, a potluck Paru Bhoye was also organized by the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara at Laurelhurst Park in Portland. 15 Americans and Nepalese were present at the Portland Paru Bhoye, according to Prajwal Vajracharya.
In Vajrayana Buddhism, Naam Sangiti is one of the most important preachings of Shakyamuni Tathagata. It consists of 160 verses and mantra sentences.
Our life is full of memories about different people, festivals and events. Even though we are in the US, we celebrate our Newar festivals as much as we can. For instance, on the day of Gunpunhi, Kwati is prepared at our home in Portland whereas Khir is made on the day of Panjaran.
There are a lot of unforgettable events in your life. During the time of Gunla Dharma, I nostalgically remember taking part in the Bahidyo Swowonegu tradition in Kathmandu every year in !960s-1970s. It was so fun, you can not describe it in writing.
I also can recollect going to Swoyambhu early in the morning with the Gulan Bajan group of the Ratna Mandal Mahavihara at Naghal Tole, Kathmandu.
Likewise, in the evenings of the Gunla Dharma month, my late grandfather Sanu Bhai Shakya would call us: "Oh, Masta, Tuta Bwon Waa." ( Come on, kids, to recite the scriptures). And we used to attentively recite Nama Sangiti, Dus Paramita (Dana Balen) and Bandeshree etc with our grandfather.
Meanwhile, traditional musical instruments are played at different places in Kathmandu to mark the month of Gunla Dharma. It is to be noted that there is a Buddhist Mahavihara at each Newar Buddhist locality in Kathmandu and each Mahavihara has its own Gulan Bajan team.
During the whole month of Gunla, the Buddhist communities of different localities of Kathmandu make daily pilgrimage to Swayambhu with the Gunla Bajan.
Gunla Bajan means "musical instruments" and "music playing team" during the month of "Gunla".
The musical instruments used in the Gunla Bajan are: Dhaa (a double sided drum), Taa (a small cymbal), Bhusya (a large cymbal), Naykhin (a small drum), Chhusya and Payentah (a traditional long trumpet).
According to Dr Subhash Prajapati, a Seattle- based Newah music expert, Gunla Bajan is a tradition which is as old as almost 800 years.
The word "Gunla" may have been derived from the word "Gunila" mentioned in Gopal Rajvanshavali, says Dr Prajapati.
In Vajrayana Buddhism, Naam Sangiti is one of the most important preachings of Shakyamuni Tathagata. It consists of 160 verses and mantra sentences.
Our life is full of memories about different people, festivals and events. Even though we are in the US, we celebrate our Newar festivals as much as we can. For instance, on the day of Gunpunhi, Kwati is prepared at our home in Portland whereas Khir is made on the day of Panjaran.
There are a lot of unforgettable events in your life. During the time of Gunla Dharma, I nostalgically remember taking part in the Bahidyo Swowonegu tradition in Kathmandu every year in !960s-1970s. It was so fun, you can not describe it in writing.
I also can recollect going to Swoyambhu early in the morning with the Gulan Bajan group of the Ratna Mandal Mahavihara at Naghal Tole, Kathmandu.
 |
| Photo courtesy: Nyata Gunla Bajan.jpg - Wikimedia Commons |
Likewise, in the evenings of the Gunla Dharma month, my late grandfather Sanu Bhai Shakya would call us: "Oh, Masta, Tuta Bwon Waa." ( Come on, kids, to recite the scriptures). And we used to attentively recite Nama Sangiti, Dus Paramita (Dana Balen) and Bandeshree etc with our grandfather.
Meanwhile, traditional musical instruments are played at different places in Kathmandu to mark the month of Gunla Dharma. It is to be noted that there is a Buddhist Mahavihara at each Newar Buddhist locality in Kathmandu and each Mahavihara has its own Gulan Bajan team.
During the whole month of Gunla, the Buddhist communities of different localities of Kathmandu make daily pilgrimage to Swayambhu with the Gunla Bajan.
Gunla Bajan means "musical instruments" and "music playing team" during the month of "Gunla".
The musical instruments used in the Gunla Bajan are: Dhaa (a double sided drum), Taa (a small cymbal), Bhusya (a large cymbal), Naykhin (a small drum), Chhusya and Payentah (a traditional long trumpet).
According to Dr Subhash Prajapati, a Seattle- based Newah music expert, Gunla Bajan is a tradition which is as old as almost 800 years.
The word "Gunla" may have been derived from the word "Gunila" mentioned in Gopal Rajvanshavali, says Dr Prajapati.
(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in USA)
