Newah Cultural Anthropologist Shrestha Stresses Need for Preserving Heritage like Sako Gumbaha Vajrayogini

Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): Dr Bal Gopal Shrestha, a noted Newah cultural anthropologist living in the Netherlands, stressed the need for preserving ancient heritages like Sako Gumbaha Vajrayogini.

"The ancient monastery Gum Vihara may date back to the pre-Lichhavi time, but we are short of evidence in this regard. Sako's Gum Vihara is mentioned in King Manadeva's inscription of 464 AD."

Dr Shrestha said this during a presentation "Sako Gumbaha Vajrayogini" at an e-heritage virtual conversation organized in the zoom on Saturday, March 6, 2021 by World Newah Organization (WNO), USA chapter.

A sixth century inscription of Vamanadeva of AD 538 (Samvat 460) is the oldest evidence relating to the founding of the small city of Sako, he said.

Gumbaha is the place of nine rock-cut cave monasteries. Some believe these to be from around third century BC, Dr Shrestha said adding:"Besides being a divinity of national importance, with a long-attested history, Vajrayogini is also the protective goddess of Sankhu town. In that regard, the Goddess has many features in common with the protective deities of other Newar towns."

Several Guthis from outside especially Kathmandu still have Vajrayogini as their Istadevata, but their number did not increase any more after Sankhu lost its prominence as a trading town, he also added.

Sako (Sankhu) is believed to be the creation of Goddess Vajrayogini, he said and threw light on a book - 'Manishail Mahavadana' written by Barnavajra Vajracharya - which elaborately dealt with the creation of Kingdom of Sankhu.

Dr Shrestha during the zoom presentation also replied to various questions of the participants.

The program was conducted by WNO USA chapter's Pramesh Shrestha while it was moderated by co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya who is also director of heritage division of the WNO USA chapter.

Dr Shrestha is a cultural anthropologist based in the Netherlands. He was born in Sankhu, a small town near Kathmandu and finished his MA in political science from Tribhuvan University. Later, Shrestha completed a Ph D in cultural anthropology at Leiden University in 2002.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in America)