Dakila Rituals of Late Chandra Mali Performed

 Nepal Oregon News reporter

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News):  A Dakila ceremony was performed on Friday, August 27, 2021 at the home of Raju Mali in Tigard, Oregon to commemorate the first anniversary of Ms Chandra Mali's demise.

Dakila ritual, a religious act of paying annual tributes to the dead soul, was performed by Rev Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya, chief priest of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara.

Guruju Prajwal on the occasion using Gan (Ritual Bell) and Vajra (Thunderbolt) chanted religious rituals  praying for the soul to be reborn in the Sukhavati Bhuvan.

Laukik Pinda was made, Gurumandala and Mamiki Puja were performed by Guruju Prajwal. The Puja consisted of offering flowers, Sinha, raw rice, water and Dhun (Nepali incense sticks). The religious ritual during Dakila tradition involved a number of objects -- Dhun, Dewa, Sukunda, Ita, Goja Jajanka etc.

Late Ms Chandra Mali is the mother of Raju Mali and Ganga Sharma who are both the former presidents of Nepali Association of Oregon.

It is to be noted that late Chandra Mali's Buri Janko (Bhimratharohan) was held in October, 2019 and religious rituals were performed by Guru Prajwal Vajracharya.

Newah Oregonian Maharjan Passes Away, Funeral Rites Held

Rabin Man Shakya

Nepal Oregon News

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): Jagat Maharjan, a long-time Newah Oregonian passed away owing to heart related complications on Thursday, August 26, 2021. He was 85.

According to Guru Prajwal Vajracharya, two Bura junkos, (Bhimratharohan and Devratharohan) which are very important parts of life cycle rituals, were performed during his life time.

Antyesthi samskara (funeral sacrament) was held on Aug 27, 2021 at Aloha Funeral Home and Crematory, Aloha, Oregon.

Funeral rites and rituals ceremony were conducted by Ven Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara. 

During funeral ceremony, Ven Guruju Vajracharya offered Gurumandala ritual, chanted mantras -- Kaak Pinda, Swan Pinda and Preta Pinda -- so that the soul of the deceased would not be hampered by the  Bhuta Preta.  The Guruju also chanted rituals:"May he be reborn in Sukhavati Bhuvan."

On behalf of the Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO), its president Daya Shakya extended condolences to the bereaved family and said that Maharjan's demise is a big loss to the Nepalese community in Oregon.

Late Maharjan is survived by his wife Krishna, daughter Shanti and sons Prakash and Bikash.

Late Maharjan was born at Dupa Tole in the Lalitpur district, Nepal. He was an active community member of the Dupa Twa. Late Maharjan was the first person at Dupa Tole to pass the SLC examinations.

Both Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM) and Nepal Oregon News (NON) express deep condolences to the bereaved family members of late Maharjan. Let Tathagata Shakya Muni's teachings help them garner enough strength to bear the loss. May the departed soul rest in eternal peace. Annichabata Sankhara.

In Charya Practice, Singing is Mantra and Dancing is Meditation and Healing, says Vajracharya

Nepal Oregon News reporter

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): When it comes to the Newah Vajrayana Buddhism and Charya Nritya, in the West, Rev Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya is a name to be reckoned with.

Addressing a global zoom event "Healing Our Earth -- Celebrating Dance" on Sunday, Aug 22, 2021, Rev Guruju Vajracharya said:"In Charya practice, singing is the mantra, while dancing is the meditation and healing.  When you combine the two -- Charya giti and Charya nritya -- that becomes He Vajra Tantra, then the transformation takes place."

Pundit Vajracharya went on saying:"Charya dance, which dates back to more than thousand years,  is a meditational dance that tells stories of the inner qualities and awakening of Buddhist deities. Through it you grow spiritually, and you can liberate yourself from the bondages and limitations."

Shedding light on Mudra Yoga, the veteran Charya guru said that the Buddhist deities embody hand mudras for purity. power and wisdom. " We begin our practice of Mudra Yoga with the meaning and significance  of each finger. Applying the appropriate gesture can heal the organs, tissues, bones and nerves of the body," said Rev Vajracharya.

He said:"There are many, many ethnic groups in Nepal and each ethnic and indigenous group has its own songs and dances. Charya Nritya is an ancient dance form that used to be exclusively performed by Vajracharyas within the Newar community."

The global virtual program was hosted by Honey Kalaria and moderated by Sharron Rose.

On the occasion, giving a short introduction about Prajwal, Kalaria said that he is a priest of one of the Vajrayana Buddhist lineages of Nepal and a ritual master both of the Charya Nritya dance tradition and other ritual forms performed by the Newar Vajracharya lineage.

Presenting her remarks before the virtual audience, Kalaria said:" Prajwal began his training in Charya Nritya at eight years old, receiving formal instruction mainly from his father, the Buddhist scholar and ritual master late Ratna Kaji Vajracharya."

"Prajwal is now the premier teacher, practitioner  and performer of the tradition and is a veteran of several world tours with beginning and advanced students around the globe," she said adding that he and Helen Appel founded Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland in 2009 to preserve and expand this rare art form and its related traditions.

Likewise, expressing her views about Rev Guruju Prajwal, Sharron Rose said:"I have seen his performances and dances, they are so beautiful, so amazing. We are old friends. The embodiment and transmission of deities in dances -- that is so unique. This is a very special form of dance. I am grateful to you (Prajwal) for keeping it alive."

da Vinci's Little Angels Learn How to Make Charya Dance Steps

Nepal Oregon News reporter

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News):  A summer programming that gave little students access to the magic of ballet and other dances of   different countries was organized by Oregon Ballet Theatre (OBT)'s Education and Community Engagement department.

According to Oregon Ballet Theatre's online newsletter, kindergarten through fifth grade students tried their toes in Folklore Ballet, traditional Nepali dance, Afro-Brazilian dance and Hula.

Each class celebrated the diversity of people and culture that make up dance, the online newsletter further said.

Rev Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara was quoted as saying in the OPB's online newsletter:"I very much enjoyed teaching students classical Nepalese dance Charya Nritya. It requires much concentration and discipline to learn this dance. The students loved Hand Mudras -- magical hand and feet movements that facilitate the flow of energy that connect the body. It was enjoyable to share dance of Nepal."

During the summer classes taken by Rev Guruju Prajwal  at da Vinci Arts Middle School in north east Portland on July 20, 27 and Aug 3, he gave little students a basic introduction about Nepal, its rich culture, arts and traditions.

Guru Prajwal threw light about the hand mudra and dance movements of the Charya Nritya to  little  kids in a playful manner.

"It was a matter of great satisfaction for me, and for Nritya Mandala Mahavihara to have an opportunity to teach little kids the age-old esoteric dances of Nepal," Guru Prajwal told Nepal Oregon News. 

Nepalese Wedding Ceremony Solemnized at Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara

 Nepal Oregon News reporter

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News):  There was a time when Nepalese living in America had to go to Nepal for performing important lifecycle rituals like wedding, Ihi, Bara Tayagu, Bratabandha, Bhimratharohan etc. 

Not anymore. These important lifecycle ceremonies are performed at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM) in Portland, the only Nepalese Buddhist temple in the West. A number of weddings and other important lifecycle rituals of Nepalese as well as Americans have been performed at the Mahavihara in the past, says Prajwal Vajracharya, chief priest and co-founder of the NMM.

Meanwhile, a marriage ceremony of Umesh Lal Joshi and Karina Marhatta was solemnized on Friday, July 30, 2021 at Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara. Both Umesh and Karina are from Nepal but are from different ethnic and cultural background, but they have made an important decision to hold each other's hand and share their future as a husband and wife confirming the old adage that marriages are made in heaven.

Sharada Joshi, mother of Umesh had come to the US all the way from Nepal for her son's wedding ceremony whereas Trishna Marhatta, the bride's mom had come from the America's East Coast.

There were about 35 guests at the wedding ceremony at the Mahavihara from Nepal, Oregon, California, Canada and US East Coast.

First of all, the wedding ceremony kicked off with the Sthapana Puja in which chief priest of the Mahavihara Prajwal Vajracharya not only offered ritual materials and objects but  he also purified them. Also, he purified his own body, mind and speech.

A Nepali bride wears red sari which is embroidered with gold thread and dotted with sequins. And when bride  Karina and groom Umesh entered the ritual space inside the Mahavihara, priest Vajracharya guided them through a symbolic purification of their body, mind and speech during the Gurumandala Puja.

Nepalese wedding rituals are unique and unprecedented in its culture and traditions. Jwola Nhayakan Shinhamu was an interesting aspect of the wedding ceremony in which the priest reflected the good energy created during the ritual to bride Karina and groom Umesh.

Kisli was prepared with rice, coins and betel nuts, while Karina and Umesh prayed for good health and long life together. Tika consisting of yogurt, rice and vermillion powder was prepared by Guruju. Then, Guruju gave a blessing to the bride and groom.

Next, Swayambar was the most important component of the wedding ritual in which the bride circled the groom and placed a flower garland over his head and vice versa. Guru Vajracharya says that the circling binds their energies together.

After that, the bride and the groom exchanged wedding rings. As an essential ritual, the groom then put Abir (vermillion powder) on the bride's head. According to Guru Vajracharya, red color symbolizes a promise as deep as bloom.

Soon after, it was time for Kanyadan (My daughter is your daughter). The bride's parent gave her daughter to the groom.

Later, there was Gwaya Sayeke ritual (sharing betel nuts) in which the groom's family welcomed the bride and introduced their family for life-long relationship.

Thereupon, during the Dhau Sagan ritual, priest Prajwal gave blessings for happiness, prosperity and joy to the bride, groom and all family members.

At the same time, under Shiffala Lwakegu ritual, the heads of the bride and groom were banged together and groom's mother poured rice, flowers and fruits over their heads. 

The wedding rituals concluded with Khen Sagan in which wine, fish and eggs were offered to the bride, groom and their families.