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8. Religion Of Nepal
1. Hinduism
The word Hinduism was introduced in the 19th century to define
the aggregate beliefs of the Arya, immigrants who left Central
Asia in 1500 BC, and animist religions of native populations in
India.
Basic concepts. Cosmic law rules the good order of the world, be
aware and respect cosmic law. Lead the life of a good Hindu,
observe rules, perform all rites, accept the caste of birth.
Caste system supplies code of conduct and rites done.
Encompasses all parts of life; rites but also who to take drink
from, associate with, marry, etc.
Principles of Hinduism. Dharma religious law and moral code by
which people can earn enlightenment. Karma is the life balance
of action and reaction; individuals responsible for decisions
and consequences. Leading good Hindu life will bring rebirth
into a better life. Samsara is cycle of reincarnations
determined by karma. Moksha is liberation from samsara;
individual unites with universal timelessness, ultimate
serenity, nirvana. Path to moksha is good Hindu life.
Each deity has different names, as well as different symbols,
attributes, tasks and powers according to what god it
represents. Each deity has a vehicle, an animal usually which
serves master. Primary Hindu gods are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
Brahma is the creator of the universe. Attributes are the
rosary, the receptacle of holy water, the ladle and the book.
Mount is a goose or swan. Brahma usually represented with four
heads, allows him to watch over world. Very few statues of
Brahma since creation is done.
Saraswati is Brahma's consort and is goddess of knowledge,
learning and music. She is often portrayed with four arms,
plying the veena (seven stringed musical instrument) with two
hands as well as holding a rosary and a book. Sits on a lotus
riding a peacock or a swan. Often a crescent moon on forehead.
Worshipped by Buddhists as a form of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva
of wisdom.
Vishnu is the preserver of life and the world. Attributes are
the conchshell, the disc, the lotus and the mace. Mount is
Garuda, a mythical half-man and half-bird.
He often appears in some of the following forms:
Narayan, which means "he who guides development in all fields"
or universal knowledge.
Buddha, nineth reincarnation of Vishnu.
Rama, warrior who rescued wife Sita who had been taken by Ravan,
demon-king of Ceylon.
Krishna, personification of manhood who bewitched 'gopis'
(milkmaids and shepherdesses) with whom he frolicked. Forms of
Rama and Krishna more popular in India.
Shiva, the destroyer and regenerator. Attributes are the
trident, the tambourine, the tiger skin, the club, and the
lingam. Mount is Nandi the bull. Pashupati, master and protector
of animals, especially of cattle, who is the friend of life.
Bhairav, the form of Shiva eager to destroy everything,
including evil. Usually a black statue, with necklace of human
skulls.
Hanuman, the monkey god. Symbolizes faithfulness and willingness
to help. Associated with successful military undertakings and
assisted Rama in fight against demon-king Ravan who kept Ram's
wife Sita imprisoned for 12 years.
Ganesh, (Ganapati) one of the most popular gods in Nepal.
Infallible, charitable and has power to decide fate of any human
enterprise. Universal power. Shiva and Parvati's son. Shiva was
away, Parvati bore a son while he was gone. Ordered son not to
let anyone in. Shiva came home, young guardsman barred him from
entering so he chopped off the guard's head with sword. Parvati
terrorized, Shiva promised to bring him back to life by
beheading the first living creature he found in the forest. Saw
elephant first, so cut off its head, rushed back and put it on
Ganesh's head. Ganesh always dressed in red, four arms and body
covered with layers of sandalwood paste. Only one tusk, mount is
a shrew, sometimes mistaken for rat or mouse.
Consequently all three are sacred.
Parvati, Shiva's consort. In benevolent forms, Devi, Uma, Shakti
or Annapurna as the "dispenser of abundance." As wreaking havoc,
forms of Kali, Durga or Bhagavati.
2. Buddhism in Nepal
Based on meditations of GAUTAMA SIDDHARTA, also called Sakyamuni
(wise man of the Sakya clan) and later the Buddha (Enlightened
one), Philosophical doctrine and code of conduct. Based on the
three jewels, Buddha himself, dharma. Buddha's teachings and
prescribed conduct and sangha the community.
Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal around 544 BC. Son of raja
(title for rulers and wealthy landlords) who sought reason for
human misery. Left his family and experimented and travelleed;
found enlightenment through meditation at Bodh Gaya.
Dharma is the doctrine of four truths discovered through
meditation.
1. Existence is unhappiness.
2. Everything in life brings suffering, birth, responding to
needs and death. Origin of suffering is in needs, wants and
desires of men and being attached to material values (illusions
of the senses).
3. Unhappiness is caused by selfish cravings or passions.
4. Selfish cravings can be eliminated by renunciation desires
and following the eight-fold path:
- Right views, understanding and vision.
- Right purpose, aspiration and intention.
- Right speech.
- Right vocation and honest livelihood.
- Right conduct and action.
- Right effort and dedication.
- Right alertness and mindfulness.
- Right concentration and meditation.
Sangha is community of Buddhists. Used to mean monastic
community but concept broadened. Showing the path to
enlightenment.
About 100 years after Buddha's death, communities disagreed and
split over ways to achieve enlightenment. Traditional school of
Theravada Buddhists follows Buddha's original teachings.
Mahayana school accepts some changes, various ways to
enlightenment (became Zen).
Scripts appeared also introducing changes. Deification of
Buddha, and separation between mortal Buddha like Siddharta who
will reappear, and transcendental ones which are only understood
through meditation (Dhyani Buddhas). While enlightenment reached
through individual effort, idea spread that meditation Buddhas
give merit to those who worship them. Bodhisattvas are humans
who reached enlightenment but instead of joining nirvana chose
to help others reach enlightenment.
Tantrism
Movement from with the Mahayana school appeared in first century
AD in fringe areas of India. Hindus and Buddhists came into
contact with animist religions and integrated beliefs and
practices. Yoga, physical exercises to control body functions,
mantras, repetitive utterances, bijas, magic syllables, use of
designs and objects such as mandala and dorje. Transformed into
Lamaism which penetrated also into Nepal. Purpose was to shorten
the road to enlightenment with such practices.
Prayer Flags and Prayer Wheels take prayers to the sky, to the
divinities. Idea that movement creates power. Prayer wheels
rotated clockwise to send mantra to the divinities. Usually
brass cylinder with pre-Sanskrit script, ranja, writing. The
wheel contains parchment like paper upon which the Tibetan
incantation OM MANI PADME HUM (image top) is repeatedly printed.
Some rough translations of this mantra are
Oh, the jewel (mani) concealed in the lotus (padma) ah.
One specific interpretation of this incantation is that of a
prayer the Boddhisattva Padmapani who controls reincarnation
Oh, Padmapani, give me the jewel in the lotus, which is the
blessing on non-rebirth or attainment of Nirvana through the
acceptance of the Buddhist doctrine.
A more general interpretation is Oh, may the jewel remain in the
lotus, meaning may Buddha's teachings remain pure in our minds
and souls.
Vajra or Dorje looks like two crowns with bases attached by a
metal ball. Each crown has four outer spokes and one inner spoke
to represent the meditation Buddhas, united at the top to convey
that they are but one. Means "thunderbolt" symbolic attribute of
Hindu god Indra who is the divine power of natural forces, and
the "diamond", the substance that is translucent and
unbreakable. The Dorje is primarily a symbol of power but is
also a representation of the male.
Ghanta, the bell is bronze and topped with crown shaped handle.
The bell symbolizes the female. In a metaphysical sense, male
represents knowledge and female represents wisdom. Both
important to rituals.
Statues and temples for Buddha or to Bodhisattvas.
Chaitya, a somewhat conical stone structure, shrines for
gratitude or worship. Always show four statues representing each
of the dhyana-Buddhas or meditation Buddhas.
Facing north, Buddha Amogasiddhi with right hand upward and
palms outward to express fearlessness and blessing (associated
with green).
Facing east, Buddha Akshobya, right hand outstretched with
fingers touching earth calling Earth-goddess to witness that
Buddha resisted temptations put forth by demon Mara who was
trying to lure him away from his meditations. Also thought of as
calling to witness Buddha's deserving supreme enlightenment.
(blue)
Facing south, Buddha Ratnasambhawa with right hand palm outward
to express compassion. yellow
Facing west, Buddha Amithaba, two hands folded, resting on lap
in meditation. red.
Some chaityas or scrolls show a fifth central figure, the Buddha
Vairocana who is above or in the middle of the previously
mentioned four. Hands folded in front of chest he is perfect
sovereignty as "turning the wheel of the Buddhist doctrine."
white.
Another common Buddhist statue is that of the Tara, either white
or green Tara. Were the two wives of Srong Tsam Gampo, King of
Tibet that they converted to their faith, Buddhism. Deified.
Bodhisattvas honored often are Padmapani, holds a lotus flower
and is master or reincarnations. Manjushri is honored as bearer
of wisdom by Buddhists and Hindus. Holds book of knowledge in
left hand and a sword to strike ignorance with right.
A historical look demonstrates that artistic expression reflects
the religious and ethnic diversity within the valley. Nepalese
art became prominent in the 13th century through the work of
Balbahu, also known as Arniko, an architect for the king of
Tibet and possibly the Emperor of China. Nepalese art is
recognized for its candour, simplicity and harmony balanced with
intricacy and decoration. The Malla dynasty promoted all forms
of artistic expression from the 14th to the 19th centuries.
Tibetan forms of expression influenced art in the valley
beginning in the 17th century. Tantric and Buddhist themes
introduced greater differentiation between Nepalese and Indian
art.
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