Société Européenne pour l'Etude des Civilisations de l'Himalaya et de l'Asie Centrale

Image and rituals in Newar Buddhism

By Anne Vergati

Mise en place du mandala de Vajradhatu
par le vajracarya le premier jour du rituel.

The distinguishing feature of Newar society in the Kathmandu Valley is the coexistence between Buddhism and Hinduism for centuries. On the level of personal religion the Newars define themselves as Hindus or Buddhists and employ a Buddhist priest (vajracarya) or a Hindu priest (Brahman). Religious syncretism is present especially in the texts and pilgrimage guides. It is important to draw a distinction between rituals described in the texts and religious practices. The texts are known only by those who can read the religious texts, in this case, the priests. The inhabitants of the Valley are familiar with the images of the gods and goddesses and their symbols. In the unfolding of each ritual, oral tradition plays a considerable part.

The rites de passage give a social and ethnic identity. Among the Newars are two specific rituals: the ritual marriage of pre-puberty girls (ihi) with a god, Vishnu Narayana for Hindus and Buddha Vairocana, the lord of the Body, for Buddhists. The second ritual, called bhimaratha or bura jyanko is celebrated by a man or a woman who has reached the age of 77 years, 7 months and 7 days and insures the passage of a person from the world of men to the world of the gods.

The ritual of marriage, a collective ceremony, celebrated by Buddhists took place in the eastern part of the Valley at Thimi in 1984. The first day began with the setting up of a mandala of Vajradhatu; Buddha Vairocana is placed in the centre. A statue of Buddha Vairocana had been made at Patan and was consecrated by the Buddhist priest after the setting up of the mandala. The measuring of the body of the young girls makes the second part of the unfolding of the first day's ritual. The marriage ritual with the gift of the young woman and the walking procession around the fire take place on the second day in presence of the priest.

A part from the priests, two other categories play a significant role in the unfolding of the rituals: painters and potters. Only the priest knows the text in newari and Sanskrit which will be used during the celebrations of the ritual. The links between the image of Buddha Vairocana and the text used by the priest are clear but the ritual objects like the vajra or the bell have as much importance as the images.