Kirant Mundhum

Kirat Mundhum (also "Kirati Mundhum") is the religion of the Kirat peoples of Nepal. [ [http://www.himalassociation.org/baha/Trident-and-Thunderbolt.pdf final layout pdf.p65 ] ] According to some scholars such as Tom Woodhatch, it is a blend of Animism (e.g., Ancestor worshipping (Sumnima/Paruhang) ["History and Culture of the Kirat" by I.M.Chemjong] ), Saivite Hinduism [ P. 535 "Nepal" By Tom Woodhatch ] , and Buddhism [ P. 535 "Nepal" By Tom Woodhatch ] . But a notable fact is that The Kirats existed and practiced Mundhum before Buddha's and the Vedic times. [ "History and Culture of Kirat People by IS Chemjong. ] It is practiced by about 3.6% of the Nepali population [http://www.cbs.gov.np/Nepal%20in%20figure/nepal%20in%20figures%202006.pdf] . Before it was recognized as a religion on the Nepali census, 36% of the Kirati population followed the Kirant religion, but when it was recognized it increased to 73.9%, creating a 157% increase in the Nepali Kiratis [ [http://www.himalassociation.org/baha/Trident-and-Thunderbolt.pdf final layout pdf.p65 ] ] .

Historic significance

The Mundhum was used as the chief source of jurisdiction during Kirat era in Nepal [Book:नेपालको कानुन इतिहास र सन्दर्भ, Author:Sushma Banskota Baral, Page 1, ISBN:99946-758-3-4, Publication:Oxford International Publication ] .

Mundhum or Veda

"Mundhum" or "Veda" (also known as "Peylan") is the religious scripture and folk literature of the Kirat people of Nepal, central to Kirat Mundhum. "Mundhum" means "the power of great strength" in the Kirati languages.cite book| last=Hardman | first=Charlotte E. | year=2000 | month=December | title=Other Worlds: Notions of Self and Emotion among the Lohorung Rai | editor=John Gledhill, Barbara Bender, and Bruce Kapferer (eds.) | publisher=Berg Publishers | isbn=9781859731505 | pages=104–] The Mundhum covers many aspects of the Kirat culture, customs and traditions that have existed before Vedic civilisation in South Asia.cite book| author= Dor Bahadur Bista | title=Fatalism and Development: Nepal's Struggle for Modernization | pages= 15-17| year=1991 | publisher=Orient Longman | isbn=8125001883] cite book| last=Cemjoṅga | first=Īmāna Siṃha | title=History and Culture of the Kirat People | pages= 2-7| year=2003 | publisher=Kirat Yakthung Chumlung | isbn=9993380911] [ [http://www.exploredarjeeling.com/culture.htm Cultures & people of Darjeeling] ] cite book| last=Gurung | first=Harka B. | title=Trident and Thunderbolt: Cultural Dynamics in Nepalese Politics | year=2003 | location=Nepal | publisher=Social Science Baha | isbn=9993343447 | oclc=57068666 | url=http://www.himalassociation.org/baha/Trident-and-Thunderbolt.pdf]

Mundhum is organised into two parts — Thungsap and Peysap.cite book| last=Cemjoṅga | first=Īmāna Siṃha | title=History and Culture of the Kirat People | year=2003 | publisher=Kirat Yakthung Chumlung | isbn=9993380911] The "Mundhum" extends beyond religion, serving as a guide for culture, ritual and social values. Mundhum is written in ancient Kiranti languages and versions vary amongst the various Kirat tribes, serving as each tribe's distinctive culture and framing their social identity and unity in relation to other tribes and peoples. [Monika Bock, Aparna Rao. "Culture, Creation, and Procreation: Concepts of Kinship in South Asian Practice". Page 65. 2000, Berghahn Books.]

The Mundhum is divided into two parts. The first is called the Thungsap Mundhum and the second is called the Peysap Mundhum. The Thungsap Mundhum is the original part and was originally passed down orally prior to the art of writing. It is referred to as the oral Mundhum in books. It was an epic recited in songs by the learned Sambas or poets. The Kirat priests in the beginning were called the Sambas where, Sam means song and, Ba means the one who (male) knows the Song or Sam. The Peysap Mundhum is a written book about religion. It is divided into four parts. They are the Soksok Mundhum, Yehang Mundhum, Sapji Mundhum and Sap Mundhum. The Soksok Mundhum contains the stories of creation of the universe, the beginning of mankind, the cause and effect of the sins, the creation of evil spirits, such as the evil spirits of Envy, Jealousy and Anger and the cause and effect of death in childhood.

Thungsap Mundhum

The Thungsap Mundhum was collected, preserved and passed on by word of mouth and folklore until the art of writing was introduced.cite book| last=Cemjoṅga | first=Īmāna Siṃha | title=History and Culture of the Kirat People | year=2003 | publisher=Kirat Yakthung Chumlung | isbn=9993380911] It was an epic composed and recited in the form of songs by "Sambas", or religious poets and bards. The Kirat priests in the beginning were called the Sambas where "Sam" means song and "Ba" means the one (male) who knows the Sam.

Peysap Mundhum

The Peysap Mundhum is a written book about religion. It is divided into four parts — the Soksok Mundhum, Yehang Mundhum, Sapji Mundhum and Sap Mundhum. The Soksok Mundhum contains the stories of creation of the universe, the beginning of mankind, the cause and effect of the sins, the creation of evil spirits, such as the evil spirits of envy, jealousy and anger and the cause and effect of death in childhood.

The Yehang Mundhum contains the story of the first leader of mankind who made laws for the sake of improvement of human beings from the stage of animal life to the enlightened life and ways to control them by giving philosophy on spiritualism. In this book, the leader has made rules for marriage, arbitration, purification and religion. The story of destruction of human beings by deluge and the cause of existence of many languages among the Kirat people, the social customs of seasonal worship to the worship of God, the rules of purification on child birth and death are mentioned in the Lepmuhang Mundhum.

As the Kirat people in the beginning were rationalistic idolaters, they neither had temples, altars nor images, conceiving that none of these was necessary, but that the God resided in light and fire. Hence, they worshiped spirits whom they believe to be the residents of fire and the sun. So according to Sapji Mundhum, the spirits are of two classes: the Good Spirit and the Bad Spirit.

* The Good Spirit
* The Bad Spirit
* The Inspiring Spirit
* The Tantric Feat in Kirat Mundhum
* The Spirit of Envy and Jealousy

Mundhum is a spiritual, rhythmic and shamanic form of scripture. Mundhum rituals and teachings are only used and performed by a Kirat religious master or shamanic guru of Kirant.

The Yehang Mundhum contains the story of the first leader of mankind who made laws for the sake of improvement of human beings from the stage of animal life to the enlightened life and ways to control them by giving philosophy on spiritualism. In this book, the leader has made rules for marriage, arbitration, purification and religion. The story of destruction of human beings by deluge and the cause of existence of many languages among the Kirat people, the social customs of seasonal worship to the worship of Ancestors and Natural Forces, the rules of purification on child birth and death are mentioned in the Lepmuhang Mundhum.

Practices

Kirats believe in Shamanism and their rituals are mostly related to worshiping of mother nature and ancestor. Almost all sacred rituals are performed by nakchong, the kirat priest.

Festivals

Sakela is the main festival of Kirat which is celebrated twice a year distinguished by two names Ubhauli and Udhauli. Sakela Ubhauli is celebrated during Baisakh Purnima (full moon day, which lies in the month of Baisakh in calenders of the Indian Subcontinent.) and Sakela Udhauli is celebrated during the full moon day in the month of Mangshir. Sakela celebration is the prayer to Mother Nature for good crops and protection from natural calamities.

The meaning of the word Sakewa itself is "Shila". To take it as a symbol of Creator, Lifegiver and Protector and worship it is the whole long and short of sakewa/sakela. In Bantawa it means Sapten -"Pranijagat", "Duniya",Sansar and Kenwa (Palak, Rakshak). It can also be translated as Sa - Sayatali (Pratistha ko pratik), ken - baja, Dholjhyamta and Wa- pani. Or as a whole performing the simey-bhumey puja and asking for power from sumnima-paruhang while carrying bow-arrow. [ Page 3 "Sakenwa" by Chandrakumar Hatuwali ]

Mangsirey and Chaawa-mang are other Festivals

References

ee also

*Religion in Nepal
*Hinduism in Nepal
*Demographics of Nepal

External links

* [http://chumlung.org.np/wiki/index.php/Mundhum Mundhum Kirat Yakthung Chumlung]
* [http://chumlungusa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=19 Mundhum Translations]
* [http://www.kiratisaathi.com/blogs/246.html?PHPSESSID=353e5e9f5d96599c21766293c4fb0b79 The Scripture of the Kirat People]