Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Jan 28 (Nepal Oregon News): A marriage ceremony of Teya De Sesa and Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya was solemnized on Saturday, Jan 27, 2024 at Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara by priest Helen Appell as per the Newar Vajrayana Buddhist traditions.
Helen, who is the founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, the first Newar Buddhist temple and study center in the West, is a serious Buddhist practitioner and has studied Vajrayana for many years in India, Nepal and the US.
The wedding ceremony at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara is a historical moment because the nuptial-tie between a Vajracharya Guruju and an American lady was solemnized for the first time by a Westerner Vajrayana priest at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, the first and only one Newar Vajrayana vihara outside of Nepal.
All traditional Newar Vajrayana rituals and chantings including Kalash Puja were performed by priest Helen during the wedding.
Prajwal is himself a Newar Vajrayana priest and Teya, an American, is affiliated to Pureland Farms, a Tibetan monastery in California. But they have made an important decision to hold each other's hand and share their future as husband and wife.
The wedding ceremony of Teya and Prajwal in Portland was arranged by Nritya Mandala Mahavihara's Sarvasangha.
Wearing a red Sari embroidered with gold thread and dotted with sequins, wearing all the required gold ornaments bride Teya and appropriately attired groom Prajwal sat across from priest Helen.
Prajwal and Teya then presented each other with Kisli, small bowls containing rice, coins and betel nuts, while prayed for good health and long life together.
Newar wedding rituals include many unique features, including the use of Sinha-Mu (five-story stupa-like colored powder holder), from which they were given Tikas. Likewise, there was also a brief mirror reflection (Jwola Nhayakan) ritual.
Next, Swayambar was the most important component of the wedding ritual in which the bride circled the groom three times and placed a 'dubo' garland on the neck of the groom. After that, the groom also placed 'dubo' garland on bride's neck. Circumventing the groom three times binds the couple's energies together and brings peace, happiness and prosperity.
At the same time, under Shiffala Lwakegu ritual, the heads of the bride and groom were banged together; and rice, flowers and fruits were poured (shifan luigu) over the heads of the bride and groom.
The wedding rituals also included offering of 'Thaye Bhu' feast for the groom and the bride, and Khen Sagan in which wine, fish and eggs were offered to the bride, groom and the family.
'Thaye Bhu' is a variety of 84 different foods prepared on an extra large plate (bhu) for auspicious occasions especially the wedding ceremonies.
Likewise, little later, the newly wed couple and friends who were present at the wedding ceremony circumvented the temple three time.
Similarly, parade of the newly wed - Janti - was taken out around the neighborhood of the Mahavihara, and the ongoing cars on the streets honked at the procession as a welcome gesture.
Among the guests, the American as well as the Nepalese ladies were dressed in the red Saris, whereas men were seen in Daura Suruwal, suit and Nepali Topi.
There were about 55 guests at the wedding ceremony at the Mahavihara. Present on the occasion were the board members of the Mahavihara, Sangha members and representatives of the Nepali community in Portland.
The wedding ceremony was followed by a lunch. A breakfast was also served in the morning.
It is to be noted that Prajwal - Teya wedding was solemnized on Sunday, Dec 3, 2023 at the Pureland Farm in California as per Tibetan Buddhist tradition.
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Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Greets New Year 2024 with Dhalan Danegu Rituals
Portland, Jan 2 (Nepal Oregon News): A New Year celebration purification ritual - Dhalan Danegu - was held at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihar on Monday, Jan 1, 2024. The purification ritual which was held for about three hours was performed and led by Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya.
Altogether, 22 people - American and Nepali Sangha members - joined the Puja for purifying and reviving old energy of the previous year and for overcoming obstacles and opening to fresh new potential through the annual New Year's 'Dhalan Danegu' ritual at the Mahavihara.
'Dhalan Danegu' which originated in the third century in the Nepal Mandala is a ritual to purify mind and body. It is a ritual dedication to Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, according to Prajwal Vajracharya, a 35th generation Vajrayana priest.
The Gurumandala Workshop trainees - Riyaz Khan, Gabriel Quitslund and Naveena Shakya - were also among the participants of the purification rituals.
The traditional community ceremony honored oneself and others by making offerings of purified elements and was guided by using one's own mandala of sand.
A special Puja Sankalpa consisting of Jaki, Sinha, Ita, Dhup, Swan, Jajanka, Taaye etc was carefully prepared for each participant who were seen sitting cross-legged in different lines inside the temple.
A sand mandala, a circle, or cosmic diagram for use in ritual or inner visualization, had been drawn for the use of each participant. Also, three Gojas on the sand mandala were worshipped during the ritual.
On the occasion, participants were also given time for short meditation. Similarly, a long Pasuka (sacred thread) was used, spread, passed over to all the New Year purification ritual participants. It was an important component of purification ritual.
Purification ritual event was followed by a Nepali-style dinner at the Mahavihara.
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Teaching on Pancha Buddha Organized at Pureland Farm, CA
Portland, Jan 12 (Nepal Oregon News): A sacred Buddhist art and dance retreat 'Mandala of the Five Buddha Families' was organized at Pureland Farms, California from Jan 5-11, 2024. The retreat was conducted jointly by Tiffany Gyatso and Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya.
The retreat at the Pureland Farms was an opportunity for the participants to get first-hand information and knowledge about arts on five Buddhas and Pancha Buddha Charya Nritya from the experienced and seasoned teachers.
Speaking on the occasion, Tiffany Gyatso said:"A Mandala, meaning 'circle' in Sanskrit, is a geometric representation of enlightened wholeness."
The participants were given opportunity to connect with the Mandala of the five Buddha families through art and drawings.
During the retreat, Tiffany Gyatso presented a detailed and comprehensive description on how to complete the Mandala uniting all the elements together in the complete circle.
During the five day retreat, Tiffany Gyatso, a Tibetan Thangka painter and sacred geometry artist, dealt with practice through art, creating and coloring the Mandala with mindful awareness. Each day was devoted by Tiffany to one of the five Dhyani Buddhas during the art retreat.
Meanwhile, also during the retreat, Prajwal Vajracharya, noted Charya dance teacher threw light on different aspects of the Pancha Buddha charya dance.
He said:"Pancha Buddha charya dance is performed in honor of the five Dhyani Buddhas - Vairochana, Aksobhya, Ratna Sambhava, Amitabha and Amoghasiddhi."
Prajwal went on saying:"The Pancha Buddha Charya Dance is attributed to Lord Buddha. Pancha Buddha or five wisdom Buddhas are the five transcendental Buddhas of Tantric Buddhism."
Different colorful costumes used by the Charya dancers are symbolic to sky, earth, water, fire and air, said Prajwal Guruji adding:"Each performing Charya dancer has particular posture, color and direction."
Laying emphasis on the power of hand Mudra, the Guruji also explained the role of sitting meditation, and need for making a mind connection to the deity.
Saying that Charya nritya is key to enlightenment, Prajwal Guruji underscored the importance of the five wisdom Buddhas and their vehicles.
During the retreat, Prajwal Guruji performed singing for Pancha Buddha charya dance. Likewise, he also demonstrated the Pancha Buddha charya dance for the participants.
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Sacred Rituals Performed to Pay Tributes to late Tamrakar
Portland, Jan 25 (Nepal Oregon News): Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya performed the 45th day ceremony death rituals for late Madan Sen Tamrakar on Wednesday, Jan 24, 2024 at the residence of Mrinal Sen Tamrakar, son of late Tamrakar.
The Gurumandala Puja, Mamaki Puja and other rituals were conducted by Guruji Prajwal.
The Shraddh rituals are conducted so that the heavenly journey of the deceased soul after death is comfortable and stress-free.
Madan Sen Tamrakar, 67, passed away on Dec 12, 2023. His antyesthi samskara (funeral sacrament) was held in Portland on Dec 13, 2023.
(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in the US)
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