Ep295: Life Cycle Ritual- Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya 3
Donnerstag, 27. Februar 2025 · 1 h 14
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Shownotes
In this interview I am once again joined by Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, a tantric priest in a centuries old Newari Buddhist family lineage and master of the religious dance tradition of Charya Nritya.
Prajwal Vajracharya reveals the rich world of Newari life rituals, in which major life events such as birth, coming of age, marriage, and death are celebrated by religious and community rites.
Prajwal Vajracharya explains the initiation rituals for boys and girls, including a 12-day dark retreat in which girls are taught essential knowledge by community members, and reveals how divination and astrology are used to determine a child’s name and life path.
Prajwal Vajracharya also discusses the importance of purity and discipline, bespoke rituals to clear obstacles, find a partner, and heal illness, and reflects on the challenges in bringing his ritual tradition to the USA.
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Video version: guruviking.com/podcast/ep295-life-cycle-ritual…
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast’.
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Topics include:
- Intro
- Life cycle rituals of the Newari tradition
- Pregnancy and birth rituals
- Is Western culture traumatising?
- Creating a happy pregnancy
- Rituals for infancy
- The baby knows what it needs
- Naming and earring rituals
- Divination and adornment rituals
- The 1 year ritual
- Egg, fish, and wine
- 2nd year ritual
16:!6 - 7th year initiation ritual for boys
- 12-day dark retreat initiation ritual for girls
- Variations among castes in Nepal
- Special, old age ritual for the 77th year
- 88th year and a rebirth ritual
- Grieving customs for parent’s death
- Science of rituals and living a happy life
- In Nepal, everyone takes care of their parents
- Lack of dementia in Nepal
- Ritual as a family and community activity
- Obstacle removal, house blessing, and healing rituals
- Clay-pot rebirth ritual at 99 years old
- Respecting the elderly
- How to choose a child’s name
- Spiritual names
- Divination to determine the child’s career and life path
- What did Prajwal’s son choose?
- Astrology chart for a new baby
- The Chudakarma ritual and monastic training
- Ritual obligations as a Vajrācārya
- When rituals go wrong!
- Origin of and textual sources for Newari rituals
- Purity and preparing for ritual
- Discipline and respecting others
- Rituals to get a girlfriend and other life situations
- The many benefits of rituals
- The complexities of married life
- Bringing Newari ritual traditions to the West
- Innovation and training Westerners in Vajrācārya rituals
- Self-initiation and awakening the channel and nerves
- An American Vajrācārya?
- Challenging reactions in Nepal
- Gurū maṇḍala, the heart of Newari ritual
- Mudrā healing
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Previous episodes with Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya:
- guruviking.com/search?q=prajwal
To find out more about Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, visit:
- dancemandal.com
For more interviews, videos, and more visit:
- www.guruviking.com
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James
