Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland (Nepal Oregon News): An empowerment (Dikchha) and teaching on deity Vajravarahi (Vajravarahi Retreat) was organized for three days from Dec 9 to Dec 11, 2022 by the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA. The teaching and empowerment was conducted by Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a 35th generation Newar Vajrayana Buddhist priest. It is to be noted that for the practice of Sadhana of Vajravarahi, an initiation or empowerment (Dikchha) is always required.
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| (Vajravarahi charya dance training by Prajwal Guruji during the teaching at the Nepalese Buddhist temple in Portland, USA) |
16 participants took part at the Vajravarahi Retreat on the zoom while 12 people were trained in person at the Portland Baha.
Saying that deity Vajravarahi's worship is very popular and important in Nepal, the chief pujari at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, informed that a special shrine is dedicated to this Dakini in Lalitpur, Nepal.
The retreat was an opportunity for the participants to acquire comprehensive and detailed knowledge about the goddess Vajravarahi. Prajwal Guruji, who is one of the seniormost Charya Nritya Guru in the world, also informed the participants that there are a number of Charya gitis dedicated to deity Vajravarahi.
The co-founder of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, Portland, USA, went on to say:"In Newar Tantric Vajrayana Buddhism, Vajravarahi is one of the most important female deity who protects Newar temples and buildings. Varahi refers to any of the four boar-headed deities who preside over the Nepal Mandala.
Throwing light on the iconography of the goddess, Vajracharya, a scholar on Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, said:"Vajravarahi, who is one of the manifestations of Vajrayogini, is red in color and stands on a reclining body of Bhairava in dancing posture."
Further elucidating on the female deity's iconography, Prajwal Guruji, also a noted ritual master, said:"Vajravarahi holds a Kartri in her right hand on level of head and holds a Kapala filled with blood in her left. The deity carries a Khatvanga stick surmounted by three skulls. She wears a garland of fifty severed heads and various gold ornaments."
Vajravairochani, Vajravarnani and Vajradakini are some other manifestations of Vajravarahi, Prajwal Guruji informed the participants.
Prajwal Guruji further said:"Vajravarahi is always in the center of Nepal Mandala. A wild boar's head is there on the right side of Vajravarahi's head or on the top of her head. Four to ten of her toddlers are fed with her breast simultaneously."
"Vajravarahi is the quintessence and embodiment of compassion. But when she was chased by evil creatures, she would hide under the ground, protecting herself with the help of her boar's mouth. Vajravarahi is the mother of all Dakinis and she is invoked to destroy enemies", said the Guruji adding that she is the Dakini who can move ahead transforming malice and malevolence into compassion and kindness.
During the teaching, Prajwal Guruji also conducted the fundamental movements and dance teaching. Charya nritya teacher Prajwal demonstrated hand and finger mudra and showed different steps of the dance 'Vajravarahi'. The teaching presented a detailed and comprehensive description of 'Vajravarahi' charya dance.
On the occasion, Guruji Prajwal answered to the questions raised by the participants at the Mahavihara and from the zoom.
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Presentation on Charya Tantra and Charya Nritya
Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): Tantra is an esoteric practice and tradition in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism. Tantra has important place in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism. In fact, Vajrayana Buddhism is inseparably interconnected with the Tantric rituals.
Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, chief pujari at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA, said this while making a presentation on the zoom on Charya Tantra and Charya Nritya at a remotely held discourse organized by Nepali Sarvamnaya Tantra on Nov 22, 2022.
Prior to the presentation, Sanjiv Sapkota of the Nepali Sarvamnaya Tantra gave a brief introduction of Prajwal Guruji to the virtual participants. Prajwal Guruji, who is also a ritual master, started his presentation by chanting 'Bandeshree'.
Speaking on the occasion, Prajwal Guruji threw light on Bali and sacrifices of creatures and animals to attain Tantric enlightenment and clarified that it actually meant the grasping of good qualities of creatures of GOKUDAHAN.
Prajwal's lecture on the Charya Tantra and Charya Nritya presented comprehensive details on the history of Tantra and different types of Tantra.
He informed the virtual participants that there are four different kinds of Tantra: Kriya Tantra, Charya Tantra, Yoga Tantra and Anuttarayoga Tantra.
As far as Kriya Tantra is conncerned, it simply is a deity practice, and Charya dancers have to offer rituals to Padmanateshavara prior to dancing, he said.
Secondly, Charya Tantra is behavioral deity practice, and, Charya dancers should try to understand and grasp the hand and finger mudra, leg steps, the Charya dress and ornaments, the Guruji added.
The third one is Yoga Tantra which means integrated deity practice. It shows the compassion and power of the Charya nritya dancers and finally Anuttarayoga Tantra refers to peerlessly and highly integrated deity practice. It leads them to transformation and liberation, said the Guruju.
In Buddhist Kriya Tantra, there are 316 texts in which only 41 have been published so far. 63 texts are yet to be published soon and 212 texts are under study and research, Prajwal went on saying.
Similarly, there are 8 texts in Charya Tantra in which only one is already published whereas in Yoga Tantra there are 15 booklets and only six have been published so far. Likewise, there are 120 texts in Anuttarayoga Tantra but only 8 of them heve been published and 22 others are in the process of publication, he informed the participants.
In discussing the history of Tantra in Nepal, Vajracharya mentioned the names and activities of ancient and medieval Tantric Mahasiddhas like Shantikaracharya - the first Bajracharya Guru of the Nepal Mandala, Surat Bajra Bajracharya, Lila Bajra Bajracharya and Manju Bajra Bajracharya.
Chakra Sambhar, Guhyasamaj, Hevajra, Kalachakra, Mahamayuri Tantra are important Tantric aspects in Vajrayana Buddhism, he said.
At the end of the lecture, Prajwal Guruji answered to the questions raised by the distinguished participants like Prof Dr Rudralaxmi Shrestha Joshi, Shanta Ratna Bajracharya and other participants.
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Purification Rituals for New Home Held
Portlannd, (Nepal Oregon News): When Ambika and Sunil Thapa - new Nepalese community members in Oregon - moved to their new home at Beaverton suburb, they needed a house purification ritual which was performed by rituals master and Tantric Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya.
"In the Buddhist tradition, a purification ritual is conducted before people move into a new house. The purpose of the ritual is to purify the house, to ensure safety from the evil spirits", said Prajwal Guruji. Bali Puja rituals were conducted on the occasion.
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Yomari Punhi Observed in Portland
Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): Yomari Punhi, one of the important festivals of the Newar people of Nepal was celebrated on Thursday, Dec 8, 2022 at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA by chanting Manjushree Naamsangiti.
Ten people (Nepalese as well as American Buddhists) recited the Naamsangiti at the Newar Buddhist temple in Portland while ten other people from USA and Hong Kong chanted the Naamsangiti from the zoom.
A potluck dinner along with the Yomaris was served at the Yomari Punhi celebration event which was attended by about 40 people at the Portland Baha.
Yomari is a steamed dumpling which is made from rice flour with chaku (a kind of sweet and solid molasses) and crushed sesame seeds.
Yomari Punhi is a post-harvest festival which falls on Thinla Thwo Punhi and which is the shortest day in Nepal. Newar farmers by this time have already filled their Bhakaris with paddy. This festival is celebrated with the wish and hope for better life and prosperity.
Meanwhile, in December, like always, the Dharani chanting was organized every Tuesday on the zoom, Buddha Bhajan and Sadhana practice were conducted every Wednesday and Charya giti practice was organized every Friday morning once a week.
(Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in America)
