Akash Yogini is One of the Important Deities in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, Says Prajwal Guruji

 By Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Feb 7 (Nepal Oregon News):"Akash Yogini, who is one of the important deities in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, is one of the forms of Vajrayogini. In Nepal Mandala, there are many important shrines dedicated to Tantric Yoginis: Vajrayogini, Vajravarahi, Khadgayogini and Akashyogini."

Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA said this while making the second and advanced presentation on Akash Yogini. The on-line presentation program was organized by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association on Friday, Feb 7, 2025.

Akash Yogini  is revered by the Newar Buddhists of the Kathmandu valley as one of the important Tantric deities, Prajwal Guruji reiterated and said:"In ancient times, Akash Yogini was worshipped by sentient beings, deities and Rakshasas as well with  mysterious flowers. She was the Dakini who flew and crossed the oceans."

During the remotely-held teaching, Prajwal Guruji went on saying:"Tantric Vajrayana Buddhism believes that she hails from   Odhiyana, the land of Dakinis and she lives in the sky.

The teaching by Prajwal Guruji dealt with subtle details about Akash Yogini. Laying emphasis on the significance of this deity in Tantric Vajrayana Buddhism, the Guruji said:"Akash Yogini possesses powerful light, one that is more powerful than the thunder light. She is portrayed as the mother of the whole world in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism." 

Giving the introduction of the Akash Yogini Charya Nritya, Prajwal Guruji, a noted Charya Nritya pedagogue, said:"The name of this Charya Nritya is Bidhayadhari Devi/Akash Yogini (sky dakini). Its raga is Trabali and Tala is Trihura."

The Guruji added:"This dance is named after the Goddess Akash Yogini. It is one of the ancient classical dances of Nepal. According to Tantric Vajrayana Buddhism, there are four Yoginis or Tantric Goddesses in the Kathmandu valley. This dance is performed as a devotion to Goddess Bijeshori whose temple is in Kathmandu right below the Swoyambhu."

The Guruji further stated:"Akash Yogini, who is a semi-wrathful deity, is red in color, has three eyes, two arms, one face with beaautiful hair."

Giving more details to the zoom participants, he said:"She also wears a crown with Tathagata depicted on it. This deity is depicted leaping into space in the flying posture of a sky-going Dakini, with her right leg bent back at the knee. Akash Yogini holds Khatvanga marked with a Vajra - a magic stick with magic power - on her left hand. Similarly, she drinks from a skull cup. She holds a Katri (chopper) on her right hand. Akash Yogini, who wears a lot of jewelries, is also wrapped by a

mani (serpent) on the neck."

The first teaching on Akash Yogini focused on the theoretical aspect while the second one sought to zero in on the Nritya aspect, Nritya gestures and movements and how Akash Yogini charya dance is performed.

During the teaching, Prajwal Guruji also performed Charya nritya 'Akash Yogini'. Prajwal Guruji demonstrated the movements of legs, gestures of hand and fingers and expressions of face during the Akash Yogini charya dance teaching. In the Akash Yogini Charya Nritya, Prajwal Guruji said, finger Mudra, symbolic movements of hands and legs are skillfully timed with general body movement.

A number of pictures of Thangkas, religious paintings and statues of Akash Yogini were displayed on the zoom during the teaching by Prajwal Guruji.

20 people took part at the Akash Yogini presentation, including Dr Miranda Shaw, Dr Tina Ho, Dr Eliza Lau, Karen Greenspan and Kuon Hunt.

At the end of the zoom teaching, Prajwal Guruji replied to several questions of the participants.

 

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Prajwal Guruji Interviewed by Guru Viking on Lifecycle Rituals in Newar Buddhism

Portland, Feb 28 (Nepal Oregon News): Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya MMandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA and also a senior priest from one of the Vajrayana Buddhist lineages of Nepal, was interviewed by Guru Viking on podcast on Friday, Feb 28, 2025. This was Prajwal Guruji's third interview by Guru Viking.

Addressing the podcast dialogue with Guru Viking, Prajwal Guruji said:"Ever since the inception of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland in 2009, we have been trying to keep alive these Newar Buddhist rituals in America."

Prajwal Guruji's interview presented a detailed and comprehensive introduction on the importance and history of lifecycle rituals in Newar Vajrayana Buddhism.

Exploring the relevance of lifecycle rituals, the chief pujari at Portland's Newar Buddhist monastery during the virtual encounter with Guru Viking, said:"Religious rituals that begin from the birth of a child and ends with the death of a man  are very important in the lives of Newar Buddhists."

In a wide ranging podcast show, Prajwal Guruji shared his knowledge on every aspect of lifecycle rituals: pre-birth, birth of a child, Naam Sanskara, Macha Janko, Ihi, Bara Tayegu, Chudakarma, Ihipa (Wedding), Bura Buri Janko, Death, After Death ceremonies.

He said:"The lifecycle rituals of our community members of Oregon were performed at the Mahavihara. Also, I have travelled to many parts of the USA and Canada to perform various lifecycle rituals."

Reflecting on his own life, Prajwal Guruji said,"These are the rituals I grew up with my life. Apart from religious and cultural significance, these rituals create joy and enthusiasm for happy occasions while for bad and sad occasions these rituals provide consolation and comfort."

Vajrayana rituals are not just confined to lifecycle rituals alone, we have rituals virtually for everything: birthday, bad luck, bad health, bad career, promotion, passing examination, foreign trip, house protection chanting, purification puja and so on, Prajwal Guruji added.

When Guru Viking queried Prajwal Guruji about the source of the lifecycle rituals, he said:"Lifecycle rituals originated from Manjushree Mulkalpa and other ancient and medieval texts. Gurumandala Puja is a key part of chanting the rituals."

Speaking during the virtual encounter with Guru Viking, a respected podcaster, Prajwal Guruji said:"We do not have American Vajracharyas as of now yet. Westerners are doing Nitya Puja in the morning at the temple everyday. However, we do have plans to create Western Vajracharyas in the future. In ancient times, Vajracharya was a title for ritual master. Now it has become a caste."

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Two Bratabandha Ceremonies Solemnized Separately in Hillsboro, Oregon, USA

Portland, Feb 3 (Nepal Oregon News): A Bratabandha is a special Nepalese ceremony for young men aged 8 - 12 years. It is a Hindu tradition that symbolizes the beginning of a male child's journey into adulthood.

Bratabandha is called Keta Puja in Nepal Bhasa. Bratabandha or Keta Puja is a ceremony in Nepal for Hindu Newars and Hindu Nepalese. Bratabandha is a Sanskrit word in which Brata means 'promise' and Bandha denotes 'to be bound'.

Bratabandha is an essential part of lifecycle rituals. This Sanskara (rite of passage) involves elaborate Karma Kanda which involves the participation of entire family and a Guru (teacher) who then accepts the boy as a disciple in the Guru-Shishya tradition in Nepal.

Traditionally, in the past, the boys were sent to Gurus to learn in a Gurukul system of education, but in modern times this act of the boy going around for first alms in town and leaving his family for Guru's hermitage is performed symbolically within the family and is later stopped by his maternal uncle from leaving.

Meanwhile, a Keta Puja ceremony for Ayush Rajbhandari, son of Sarju Rajbhandari and Upasana Rajbhandari was held on Monday, Feb 3 2025 at their house in Hillsboro, Oregon.

The Gurumandala Puja and other essential rituals were performed by Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya.

Similarly, another Bratabandha ceremony held on Friday, Feb 14, 2025 for Batuk (Bratabandha boy) Aadi Parajuli, son of Omkar Parajuli and Shikchya Tandukar at theirhome in Hillsboro.

Gurumandala Puja, Homa Puja (Fire Ritual) and other essential Pujas were performed by Guruji Prajwal Vajracharya.

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Month-long Online Swosthani Brata Chanting Wraps up at Vihara

By Adam Bidema and Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Feb 12 (Nepal Oregon News): A month-long Swosthani Katha chanting to honor the story and its connection to the wisdom was conducted everyday from Mila Punhi to Si Punhi at the initiative of Dabuli, a Seattle based non-profit Nepali community organization.

However, the final day of Swosthani Brata Katha reciting wrapped up with a Puja ritual at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland on Wednesday, Feb 12, 2025, the day of Si Punhi. The participants had daily gathered on zoom for a month with the English recitation of Swosthani Vrata Katha led by Dr Linda Iltis.

Dr Linda Iltis, who speaks in Nepal Bhasa and Nepali, and who has done her Ph D in Swosthani Brata, said that a month-long fasting and storytelling about Swosthani Devi begins from the Day of Mila Purnima for a month onwards. 

During Swosthani Brata, the devotees especially women wearing red sari take a dip into Shali river in Sankhu in the morning and fast for a month worshipping Goddess Swosthani, Dr Iltis added.

Prof Dr Linda Iltis is Professional International Studies Academic advisor with a demonstrated history (three decades) of teaching and award winning academic service in higher education at the University of Washington Henry M Jackson School of International Studies.

Dr Iltis was also university researcher, professional editor, publisher, with international experience teaching and training in three countries (USA, Nepal and Ghana), in fields of Cultural Anthropology, Comparative Religion, textual studies, Applied International Development in Himalayan and South Asian, and African areas, including non-profit and fund-raising experience with international communities and human rights advocacy.

Late Buddhist scholar Ratna Kaji Vajracharya (Prajwal Guruji's father) was the mentor of Dr Iltis during her stay in Nepal for research and study.

Swosthani Brata Katha was translated in the eighties from Nepal Bhasa to English by Dr Linda Iltis who studied the Nepal Bhasa language and compiled a translation of the story as well as a large amount of information on the history, versions and Puja surrounding the month long Swosthani recitation including video footage documenting the culture surrounding the text in Sankhu and families who read it together.

Originally released as a Ph D thesis in the eighties, Dr Iltis has been compiling more information and re-working with further notes and history in hopes to publish as book soon.

The text focuses on Sri Swosthani and details her life through a number of smaller stories related to the origination and love of Shiva, her forms of Kali and Parvati, their various life times, as well as other deities and Gods of the regions. The story details the meeting of Swosthani with Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva, the courtship of Shiva as well as her eventual death, rebirth and struggles of love throughout multiple lifetimes.

Many stories reflect the Gods dealing with concepts around desire, either through their own passion, or through others struggling with their own desire. Certainly, these stories reflect our own struggles with these concepts.

The Buddha often represents the unification of wisdom and method. Siva represents the reflection of action or Karma.

So in this way, we can learn to read the story to examine how our own actions affect the world more deeply. But it also highlights  the ancientness and lineage of people who have devoted their lives to these studies and complexities of getting life right is something that transcends the human life.

The Puja at the Vihara itself consisted of multiple rounds of offerings to the deities of the story, such as, Ganesha, Siva, Agni, Daksa, Prajapati and Swosthani herself amongst others. The offerings also consisted of various colors of thread, sweets, Pancha Amrita, rice, barley, and other grains and items to the various deities. Then it concluded with 108 circumnavigation of the Puja area.

Similar to the Puja, the temple is centered around, Guru Mandala, seeing this as a way to more deeply honor one's community as the community grows through harvest seasons, and lifecycle rites. Reflecting on older times, even if participants are just purchasing the items, then to fully perform the Puja, you had to know or be the person producing rice, or producing incense, barley etc and have close enough  family ties to acquire the items you don't. So these Pujas and stories represent connection to the production of the food and other necessities the community needs and then centering their lives around that connection.

The Puja was attended by Guruji Prajwal and family, Teya and Dewa, Dr Iltis, her husband Dr Ter Ellington. Others attending the Puja were Dr Subhas Prajapati, Chaitanya Shakya, Adam Bidema, Anastasia Roderick. Local Newah women Minu, Ganga, Meera, Sharmista and Bernie as well as noted chef Bikram Vaidya also took part at the concluding ceremony of Swosthani Brata Katha, which was followed by a dinner.

Meanwhile, to mark the Si Punhi, the Sangha members of the Mahavihara chanted Naamsangiti on the zoom the same day.

(Dr Rabin Shakya is a Newah journalist in USA)

(Adam Bidema is a Sangha Member of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA)

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Volunteers, Pujaris and Community Members Recognized for Dedication

Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Jan 25, (Nepal Oregon News): A program was organized by Nritya Mandala Mahavihara at the temple in Portland on Saturday, Jan 25 2025 to honor and recognize volunteers, Pujaris and community members. Nritya Mandala Mahavihara is the only Newar Buddhist monastery in USA.

The event kicked off with the chanting of 'Three Jewels of Buddhism' - Buddham Sharanam Gacchami. 'Three Jewels Of Buddhism' was actually initiated on the zoom by the Sangha members of Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association and was followed by all the Sangha members of the Vihara. 

After that, a refuge dance (a performance of Buddha Bandana dance through Charya Nritya) was performed by Prajwal Vajracharya, Joshua Proto and Naveena Shakya. Buddhist practitioners take refuge daily in the Buddha - the teacher, the Dharma - the teaching and the Sangha - the community. In Charya Nritya tradition, a practitioner takes refuge through embodiment of these 'three jewels' - the Buddha as the teacher of meditation, Shakya Muni Buddha,   the Dharma teachings as Manjushree wielding his wisdom sword and texts,  the Sangha as the supportive community in the form of compassion.

 

To mark the joyous event, Sangha member Anna Shustrova performed esoteric Charya Nritya dance 'Vajrayogini'. This Charya Nritya dance is named after the Goddess Vajrayogini. It is one of the ancient classical Charya dances of Nepal. According to Tantric Vajrayana Buddhism,  there are four yoginis or Tantric Goddesses in the Kathmandu valley. This dance is performed especially as a devotion to the Goddess Vajrayogini in Sankhu in the Kathmandu valley. In this dance, symbolic movements of hands and legs are skillfully timed with general body movement and facial expressions. This dance shows beautiful mixture, strong sense of protection, preservation, anger and peaceful emotions. Charya giti singing for the dance 'Vajrayogini' was rendered very skillfully by seasoned Charya singer Joshua Proto.

Similarly, a Buddha Bhajan song 'Anityagu Sansara' was performed by Prajwal Vajracharya, Joshua Proto and Adam Bidema in Nepal Bhasa.

Speaking on the occasion, secretary of Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO) Punam Glee said:"The Nepali community in Portland and Oregon may not be one of the largest in the US." But she added:"We are lucky that we have a Vihara here in Portland that not only promotes Buddhism but also helps foster a sense of community and nurture Nepalese traditions."

Sangha member Laxman Shakya from Seattle said:"It is religious belief, religious practice and rituals and community of harmony that holds us  together."

Sangha member Joshua Proto emphasized  the need for more community participation at the Vihara. Likewise, board members of the Vihara Kuon Hunt, Corinne Nakamura and Uppa Shakya threw light on the role of the Vihara for the community.

It is to be noted that Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, which is the only one Vajrayana Buddhist monastery in the West, was launched in Portland, USA by Helen Appell and Prajwal Guruji in 2009.

Addressing the gathering, Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara said:"The Vihara, which was established 15 years ago, is always grateful to its Pujaris, volunteers and community members. The Vihara has not been able to honor and recognize them. But today I am very happy and proud to felicitate and honor them."

Talking about contributions of Pujaris and volunteers, Prajwal Guruji said:" The Vihara served the local Nepali community for last 15 years,  and also a lot of volunteers and Pujaris helped Vihara in many ways."

The Guruji went on saying:"Today we are honoring the Pujaris and volunteers in gratitude of the hard work, devotion and dedication to our community, to thank and show our deep appreciation for you."

"This Vihara would not be here without your support", added the Guruji pointing to the volunteers, Pujaris and community members.

A number of volunteers were recognized on the occasion and those honored included Laxman Shakya, Anirudra Muni Shakya, Dale Hunt, John Ryback, Dave Sage, Gabriel Quitslund and so on.

The Pujaris who were honored on the occasion included: Adam Bidema, Dmitri Skvortsov-Anna Shustrova, Anastasia Roderick, Ashley Low-Casey Redman, Joshua Proto-Stormy Hoebelhenrich, Naveena Shakya-Rabin Man Shakya and so on.

According to Prajwal Guruji, a total of 60 people from the community were honored at the event which was followed by a sumptuous dinner. The personalities who were recognized by the Vihara were presented with a 'Certificate of Honor' and a Golden Memento 'Gajur' (pinnacle of a temple).

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Program at Chicago University Club Aims to Preserve 'Endangered Dances of the Himalayas'

Portland, Jan 30 (Nepal Oregon News): A program focusing on 'Endangered  Dances of Himalayas' was organized at the University Club in Chicago on Thursday, Jan 30, 2025. The event was a mystical evening of live ancient and esoteric Charya dances, films and conversation.

Kicking off the conversation, Joseph Houseal, director of Core of Culture, offered a detailed and comprehensive presentation on the endangered dances of the Himalayas.

Houseal warned that if proper and appropriate steps are not taken by the concerned authorities and states, a number of ancient dances of the Himalayas would disappear soon from the world.

Houseal's conversation dealt with ancient and medieval dance culture from Nepal, Bhutan, Tibet and Ladhakh.

He said:"These rare and endangered dances are hundreds - even a thousand years old, ranging across the spiritual landscape from Kashmir, through Zanskar and Ladakh, extending to Himachal and Arunachal Pradesh in India, and onto Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet."

Similarly, talking about Prajwal's contributions to preservation of ancient Charya dance of Nepal, Houseal said:" In fact, Prajwal's father Ratna Kaji Vajracharya was the one who worked very hard to preserve and promote centuries old  Charya tradition of Newar Vajrayana Buddhism and expose this ancient dance culture to the world."

Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, said that Charya Nritya is an ancient Buddhist ritual dance with a history going back to more than 1,000 years.

Prajwal, who is a 35th generation Vajrayana priest, noted that Charya is performed by Newar Buddhist priests known as Vajracharyas as part of their esoteric meditation practices and rituals.

Charya dance is an essential part of Newar Vajrayana Buddhism, said Prajwal adding:"Charya is a meditational dance that tells stories of the inner qualities and awakening of Buddhist deities."

Prajwal went on saying:"Once on the verge of extinction, Charya dance tradition is now attracting more and more people. Today, Charya dance practice is a part of studies at many colleges and universities."

On the occasion, Prajwal Vajracharya - who is also a ritual master of both the Charya Nritya dance tradtion and other ritual forms performed by Newar Vajrayana lineage - presented two ancient Charya dances: Vajrapani Charya Nritya at the beginning of the program and Vajrasattva Charya Nritya at the end of the event.

The first Charya Nritya 'Vajrapani' is a wrathful Bodhisattva dark blue in color, bloodshot eyes, and an angry glare. He holds a bell in his left hand and a Vajra in his right, and wears a tiger-skin garment, snakes wrapping around his body, and ornaments made of bones and skulls. Wrathful deities dance upon the negative forces they have overcome and laugh with glee as they feast on raw painful negativity, the very means to enlightenment.

The second and last Charya Nritya performed by Prajwal at Chicago event was 'Vajrasattva'. Vajrasattva is considered 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. Vajrasattva has upright gold Vajra in right hand at the level of heart while his left hand carries a Vajra-handled bell turned up at the left hip.

Vocal rendition in Sanskrit language for both the Charya Nritya dances 'Vajrapani' and 'Vajrasattva' was brilliantly performed by Joshua Proto, a Sangha member of the Mahavihara and a seasoned Charya Giti singer. 

Joseph Houseal is founder and director of Core of Culture, a Chicago-based non-profit organization dedicated to safeguarding intangible world heritage with an emphasis on endangered dance and movement tradition in the healing, meditation and martial arts.

After a decades long international career as a dancer, choreographer and director, Houseal began working with ancient Asian dance traditions and has spent the past 25 years working in cultural preservation of sacred dance traditions in Himalayas and beyond.

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Deity Akash Yogini is Also the Wisdom Goddess, Says Prajwal Guruji

Portland, Jan 18 (Nepal Oregon News): Vidhyadhari, 'the knowledge holder' manifests as one of the four principal aspects of Vajrayogini in the Newar Vajrayana Buddhist tradition, wherein she is commonly known as Bijeshwari Devi. This Yogini is known by different names: Bijeshwari, Vidhyadhari (Wisdom Goddess, Knowledge Holder), Akash Yogini (Sky Dakini) etc.

These were some of the interesting facts shared by noted Charya Nritya guru Prajwal Vajracharya during an on-line teaching on 'Akash Yogini' organized by Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association on Saturday, Jan 18, 2025.

Prajwal Guruji started his remotely-held teaching by chanting a Sanskrit shloka related to Akash Yogini charya nritya:

'Namaste bidhyadhari devi Akash Yogini yatha

Riddhi siddhi pradayani sri Buddha dakini namah 2'

He then explained the meaning of the Sanskrit shloka to the zoom participants.

Welcoming the zoom guests, Prajwal Guruji expressed his happiness to share his knowledge and information about Goddess Akash Yogini with the activists of the Hong Kong Dance Mandal.

"A special shrine is dedicated to Akash Yogini above the western bank of river Bishnumati on the road to Swayambhu chaitya. The shrine is known as Bijeshwari temple or also as Besa among the Newar Buddhists in the Kathmandu valley," Prajwal Guruji informed the participants of the virtual teaching.

The Guruji also shared information about the once-in-a-twelve year festival being held at Bijeshwari temple in which the head of the state - President of the Nation - and also the Living Goddess Kumari have to attend mandatorily.

During the presentation, the Guruji also displayed pictures of Paubhas and statues of Akash Yogini. Much of Prajwal Guruji's on-line teaching was focused on the subtle iconography of Akash Yogini.

He said:"The name of this Charya Nritya dance is Bidhyadhari Devi/ Akash Yogini. Its raga is Trabali and Taal is Trihura."

The Guruji noted:"Just like Vajrayogini, Khadgayogini and Vajravarahi, she is semi-wrathful. She is red in color, has three eyes, two arms, one face with beautiful hair. She hails from Odhiyana, the land of Dakinis. All the Yoginis are Sarva Buddha Dakinis coming from Buddha nature, that is why she is also called Buddha Dakini Devi."

He further added:"Akash Yogini originates from the seed syllable 'Bum' (Heart Mantra). She is depicted leaping into space in the flying posture of a sky-going dakini, with her right leg bent back at the knee."

The Guruji stated:"Akash Yogini holds Khatvanga marked with a Vajra - a magic stick with magical power -- on her left hand. Similarly, she drinks from a skull cup. She holds a Katri (chopper) on her right hand."

Underscoring the importance of weapons that the Dakinis hold in their hands, the Guruji stressed:"Why do the Dakinis hold weapons like Khatvanga and Katri?  Not for killing sentient beings. Back in those days, the Dakinis lived in the dangerous jungles and they had to maintain the Yogic traditions, cutting through pathways to be clear, holding them as magical tools and power."

Different kinds of ornamments are profusely used by the Dakinis, said Prajwal Guruji and added:"The symbolism of the ornaments is also important. They are associated with six Paramitas - Daan (generosity), Sila (discipline), Ksanti (patience), Virya (diligence), Dhyana (meditation) and Prajna (wisdom).

Speaking about the bone ornaments, Prajwal Guruji said:"Bone ornaments and human skulls are also used in the Sky Dakini Charya dance. They symbolize the bone energy and earth energy."

At the end of the virtual presentation which was participated by about 20 people, mostly the Sangha members of the Hong Kong Dance Mandal, Prajwal Guruji also answered the questions of the zoom participants. 

This is the first part of discussion on Akash Yogini. The second and more advanced part of Akash Yogini teaching is scheduled for the month of February, the Guruji informed the participants.

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Portland Baha Celebrates New Year 2025 with Purification Rituals

Portland, Jan 1 (Nepal Oregon News): The Nepalese Buddhist temple in Portland - Nritya Mandala Mahavihara - bade farewell to 2024 and greeted the new year 2025 by performing and chanting Gurumandal Puja on Wednesday, Jan 1, 2025.

This kind of New Year purification puja is chanted at the Mahavihara once every year, says Prajwal Vajracharya, its co-founder, adding:"The Puja helps you to move forward with new vigor and enthusiasm all year along."

On the occasion, a Mandala - which is a circle or cosmic diagram for ritual of  interior visualization, representing various realms  of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and their cosmic energies - was also drawn for each participants. Likewise, three Gojas on the sand Mandala were worshipped during the ritual.

A Puja Sankalpa consisting of raw rice, beaten rice, dry fruit, red and yellow color powder, flowers, a little cow milk, three small incense sticks, six cotton wicks, three Gojas, three Jajankas, three coins etc were carefully and meticulously prepared for each participant who were seen sitting cross-legged inside the temple.

The traditional community ceremony honored oneself and others by making offerings of purified elements and was guided by using one's own Mandala on sand. Siphan Luyingu ritual was also performed during the purification ceremony.

On the occasion, participants were also given time for a short meditation. Similarly, a long Pasuka (sacred thread) was used, spread and passed over to all the New Year purification ritual participants It was an important component of the purification ritual. The purification ritual was attended by 20 people at the Portland Baha.

(Dr Rabin Shakya is a Newah journalist in USA)

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2024: An Eventful Year for Nritya Mandala Mahavihara

 By Rabin Man Shakya

 Portland Jan 6 (Nepal Oregon News): As we get ready to go into the New Year 2025, it is obvious that there could not be a better time to take a close look at the year we have had and to get inspiration for what we could do better in the upcoming year. For the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, the year 2024 will be remembered as one of the profound transformation, marked by some significant community events and activities. In fact, speaking about the community activities, the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara - which is the only Nepalese Buddhist temple in the USA and which was established in Portland, USA in 2009 by Helen Appell and Prajwal Vajracharya - has moved to centerstage in Nepalese community in Oregon by observing age-old festivals of the Kathmandu valley, by promoting Charya dances, by celebrating lifestyle rituals and by keeping alive the traditions and culture of the people of Nepal.

The most significant event of the year for the Vihara was Prajwal-Teya wedding solemnized by founder of the Mahavihara and Vajrayana priest Helen Appell as per Newar Vajrayana tradition on Jan 27, 2024. Another equally important and wonderful event of the year was Teya giving birth to Dewa on May 22, 2024 on the eve of the Buddha Purnima Day. Celebrating Newar food, festivals and culture is a regular event for the Vihara. It celebrated many, many festivals like Gun Punhi, Yenya Punhi, Yomari Punhi, Panjaran, Paru Bhoye and so on at the Vihara in 2024. Every Purnima Day was celebrated by reciting Naamsangiti at Vihara and on the zoom. Dharani Mantra chanting was conducted once a week Tuesday evening on the zoom for the whole year in 2024, while Sadhana practice and Buddha Bhajan singing practice were held on each Wednesday throughout the year. Likewise, the practice of singing Charya giti on-line was performed in the mornings every Friday in 2024 as usual.

Lifecycle rituals like weddings, Chudakarma and Macha Janko ceremonies etc were held by Prajwal Guruji at the Vihara and outside. The first Chudakarma ceremony was solemnized at Portland's Newar Buddhist temple on Feb, 17, 2024. Similarly, celebration of 2568th Buddha Jayanti in June and Seventh World Newah Day in March brought joy to the Nepalese Portlanders and Sangha members. Slide presentation on 'Female Buddhas and Sacred Sexuality in Vajrayana Art and Practice' by Prof Dr Miranda Shaw at the Vihara on April 24 was another important event in 2024.

When Prajwal Guruji and Teya were in Nepal for a month in October, 2024, multiple events took place  there in Kathmandu, Patan and Pokhara: Rice feeding ceremony of Dewa, Charya Dance performance at Aksheswor Mahabihar, Yoga festival in Pokhara, programs organized separately by YMBA-Nepal and Lotus Research Center.

Other important events of the year 2024 were the virtual presentations by Prajwal Guruji with Guru Viking, zoom presentations for Hong Kong Buddhist Studies Association on Pancha Tara, Chakrasambhara and Mahamudra in Newar Buddhism, and of course, the 15th anniversary of the Nritya Mandal Mahavihara in November.

Furthermore, there were powerful Hindustani classical music concerts by well-known US musicians like Steve Gorn, Benjy Wertheimer and Michael Stirling separately at different dates and months at the Vihara in 2024. You will have to go through annual newsletter book to acquire further information about major and minor details of all the programs and events in 2024 at the Vihara.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)