Third Virtual Teaching on 'Pancha Tara' Organized
Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Aug 2, (Nepal Oregon News): Tara was there well before the advent of the Buddha and Buddhism. Tara represents enlightened activities of all the Buddhas and that is why Tara is called the mother of all the Buddhas.
Prajwal Vajracharya - who is a 35th generation Tantric Buddhist priest from Nepal and a ritual master master of the Charya Nritya dance tradition and other ritual forms - said this while making a third presentation on Pancha Tara.
The zoom program on Pancha Tara, which was organized by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association on Friday, Aug 2, 2024, was attended online by 15 participants.
The teaching on Pancha Tara kicked off with the praying for deity Tara - Om Tare Tuttare Ture Svaha.
According to Prajwal Guruji, the emphasis this time was laid on the Mantra and Sadhana aspects of Tara.
Speaking on the occasion, Prajwal Guruji threw light on Guhyasamaj Tantra, Hevajra Tantra, Kalachakra, Chakrasambhara Tantra as well as the Tara deities in the Dharani recitation.
Prajwal Guruji's virtual teaching also presented an elaborate and comprehensive details about Lochani, Tara, Mamaki, Pandara, Vajradhatveshvari and so on.
Prajwal Guruji further went on saying that chanting Tara mantra hundred thousand times with the motivation of Bodhichitta will cause aversion of obstacles and hindrances.
Underscoring the importance of Tara deities, Prajwal Guruji said that in Hevajra Tantra, it is mentioned that Lochani, Mamaki, Pandara and Tara represent the four elements: earth, water, fire and air.
There are 108 Taras according to Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, Prajwal Guruji said and informed that 21 of them are prominent ones.
Tara means liberating from Samsara. In Sanskrit, Tara means star. Tara brings forth life and she is the Great Compassionate Mother, and embodiment of wisdom and the great protectress, the Guruji told the zoom participants.
During the remotely-held teaching, Prajwal Guruji said each Tara is different and explained about the meaning and forms of Green Tara, White Tara, Vasudhara, Kurukulla and other Taras.
At the end of virtual teaching, Prajwal Guruji answered to a number of queries of the participants.
During the online presentation, the Guruji demonstrated precious pictures and Thangkas of different Tara deities.
During the zoom teaching, Prajwal Guruji chanted 'Pancha Tara' charya giti and also explained participants about the meaning of the Pancha Tara charya giti.
At the end of the virtual teaching, Prajwal Guruji together with the Sangha members presented the 'Pancha Tara' charya dance.
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Prajwal Guruji Enthrals NAO Cultural Night Audience with 'Vajrasattva' Charya Dance
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| (Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya presenting a Charya dance 'Vajarasattva' at a program organized by Nepali Association of Oregon in Portland, USA on Saturday, Aug 31, 2024. Also seen is Joshua Proto singing Charya giti for the Charya dance. Charya giti is written in Sanskrit.) |
Portland, Aug 31 (Nepal Oregon News): A cultural night was organized on Saturday, Aug 31, 2024 at the International Convention Center in Portland, USA by Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO) in collaboration with Nepal Seattle Society from Washington and Nepal Cultural Society of British Columbia.
The NAO cultural event which kicked off with the national anthems of Nepal and the USA was attended by scores of Nepalese community members and some Americans. The chief guest on the occasion was the Charge d'Affaires of Nepalese Embassy in USA His Excellency Kumar Raj Kharel.
On the occasion, Prajwal Vajracharya, a noted Charya Guru and Charya dancer presented a Charya Nritya 'Vajrasattva'. The Guruji's ancient and esoteric Charya nritya was liked and appreciated by the audience. Charya giti (singing) on Charya Nritya 'Vajrasattva' was very skillfully chanted by seasoned Charya singer Joshua Proto, a Sangha member of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland.
The Charya Nritya 'Vajrasattva' is a part of the broader Charya Nritya tradition in Nepal with a history going back to more than 1,000 years. Charya Nritya is performed by Newah Buddhist priests known as Vajracharyas as part of their esoteric meditation practices and rituals.
Vajrasattva means 'Adamantine Being' meaning pure, stainless, incapable of destruction or diminishment. Vajrasattva is identified with the ultimate, formless state of Buddhahood, and represents the essence of all the peaceful Buddha families.
Vajrasattva is peaceful in appearance, white in color, with one face and two hands, seated in Vajra posture. His right hand holds an upright gold Vajra at the level of the heart, while his left hand holds a Vajra-handled bell turned up at the left hip.
Likewise, Sangha member of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara -- Uppa Shakya and her team from Hermiston, Sangha member Ambika Shakya and her daughter Anushka Thapa -- also presented beautiful Nepalese dances on the occasion.
Furthermore, a noted Nepali singer and Nepal's Honorary Consul for Baltimore area Prem Raja Mahat together with Shanti Bhandari presented some popular Nepalese vocal renditions. Some other Nepalese artistes also offered songs and dances at the program.
At the end of the cultural program, Charge d'Affaires His Excellency Kharel honored all the artistes by presenting a token of gift on behalf of NAO.
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Panjaran (Panchadan) Observed in Portland, USA
Portland, Aug 31 (Nepal Oregon News): One of the important festivals of the Newah Buddhists 'Panjaran' was celebrated on Saturday, Aug 31, 2024 at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA.
Daya Shakya, Rabin Man Shakya, Anastasia Roderick and Adam Bidema were the Panjaran participants at Portland Baha's Panchadan celebration event.
On the occasion, Buddhist scripture Daan Gatha was chanted by Prajwal Guruji, Daya Shakya and Rabin Man Shakya.
After the reciting of Daan Gatha as per Newar Buddhist tradition, different kinds of alms, such as, rice, peas, bananas, apples, candy, donut and money were given away by Prajwal Vajracharya, Kusumabati Bajracharya, Anastasia Roderick and Adam Bidema to all the participants. Raw rice was given to the Panjaran participants from the Gulpa.
At the end of the Panchadan program at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, Portland's Panjaran participants were offered 'kheer' lunch with Aalu Achar and Malpa etc.
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Gunpunhi (Kwati Punhi) Celebrated at the Portland Vihara, USA
Portland, Aug 19 (Nepal Oregon News): Gunpunhi, one of the important Full Moon Days in Newar Buddhism was celebrated at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara on Monday, Aug 19, 2024.
Gunpunhi is also called Kwati Punhi. Kwati is a soup of different beans, and Punhi means the full moon day. On this auspicious full moon day, the Newah people in the Kathmandu valley traditionally prepare and cook the Kwati soup.
Kwati is eaten as a delicacy and for health benefit, as well as for ritual and cultural significance.
The ingredients used in cooking Kwati soup are: kidney beans, black-eyed peas, chickpeas, soya beans, mung beans, green beans, black beans and white beans.
The participants at the Gunpunhi celebration in Portland, USA were Daya Shakya, Joshua Proto, Adam Bidema and Anastasia Roderick.
The Kwati soup was offered to the participants by Prajwal Guruji.
All the participants then took part at the month-long regular zoom Naamsangiti program after the Kwati event.
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Naamsangiti Recited for a Whole Month to Mark Gunla Dharma
Portland, Aug 5 (Nepal Oregon News): Gunla Dharma kicked off from Monday, Aug 5, 2024 onwards for a whole month. Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA has been observing Gunla Dharma for last six years.
The Mahavihara celebrates the Gunla Dharma by chanting Naamsangiti everyday for the whole Gunla month.
In total, about 25 people took part at the remotely-held Naamsangiti reciting from Oregon, California, Hong Kong, England and Australia.
Throwing light on the importance of reciting Naamsangiti during the Gunla month, Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya said that there are a lot of important Newah festivals during this month.
In Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, Naamsangiti is one of the most important preachings of Shakya Muni Tathagata. It consists of 167 verses and mantra sentences.
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Wedding Ceremony Solemmnized
Portland, Aug 18 (Nepal Oregon News): The marriage of Aakriti Bajracharya and Ji Choi was solemnized on Sunday, Aug 18 in Tukwila, Washington.
The marriage rituals were chanted by Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya. Gurumandala Puja and other Pujas were performed by Prajwal Guruji on the occasion.
Aakriti Bajracharya is the daughter of Siddhartha Bajra Bajracharya and Amita Bajracharya, while Ji Choi is the son of Hyun Seok and Kyong Nam.
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