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A Journal of Newar Studies (Newāh Vijñāna)

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A Journal of Newar Studies (Newāh Vijñāna) (Newah Vijfiana) The Journal Of Newar Studies Sacred Buddhist Dancer Number 4 AD 2001/02 NS 1121 BS2058/59 Newah Vijnana Editorial (The Journal OfNewar Studies) Nhugu diiya Bhintuna (Greetings on the occasIOn of the ISSN 1536-8661 New Yearl). Because many ofus live far from home, it is even more 1121 Number-4 2000-01 important to gIve the traditional New Year Nepal Sambat greeting to f-----------------I friends and family. But why do we wish you a Nepal Sambat? Since Editor the New Year celebration falls during the three days of the Swonti Daya R. Shakya Gaurishankar Manadhar Ph. D festIval (Tihar m Nepali), many people consider this day to mark the Newarl Sambat This misconception occurs because usually only Advisor Newars celebrate at this time, and the New Year traditions have not Prof. Todd Lewis been broadcast to other Nepalese communities by the mass media. Yet, as detaIled in the previous issue of the JOurnal, for historical Graphic Designer reasons Nepal Sambat ought to be the name used to designate this SUdlp Shakya calendar cycle. After three issues, the journal has gained recognition not Publisher only in the eyes of Newars living m both the United States and other International Nepal Bhasha: SCV3 Samiti parts of the globe, but also from Newar scholars and researchers (INBSS) While the journal is coneerned with putting forth high quality aca­ Portland, Oregon USA demie articles, its main goal has aJways been to inform the Newar Chairperson community about our own cultural heritage. Towards these ends, the Daya R. Shakya ~ journal has provided information on Newar Studies from all around Members the world Yet we need our readers to keep us abreast of Newar ac­ Uma Shrestha Ph.D. Gaurishankar Manadhar Ph. D tivities that take place m your own communities; your help is invalu- Diwakar Maharjan, Sashindra Vajracharya able Puma Ba:hadhur Ranjit As always, the JOurnal is multi-Imgual. Along with our regular column ofresearch abstracts and other pertinent mformation, Regional Representatives the English-language section includes three articles First, Professor Eugene. Oregon Bruce Owen describes how he became mvolved in Newar Studies on Binod Kansakar both a personal and an academic level. Second, Daya R. Shakya de­ Los Angeles. California tails the extent to which Newars have given up speaking their natIve Sarba Shakya, Buddha L. Shaha language ThIrd, MalIa K Sunder asks the cruciaJ question of San Francisco. California whether or not Newars ought to consIder themselves janajati. The Rajcsh B. Shrestlla, Nepah Khalah Nepali-language section aJso includes three articles. First, Mr. Lilab­ North Carolina hakta Munakarmi describes his historical findings on Bhakiapur's Devcndra Amatya Ph.D MalIa Royal Palace. Second, Dr. Tulsi Maharjan wntes why it is Ncl'''' Jersey crucial for Newars to maintain their identity The last article is about Tulsi Maharjan installation of Shankadhar Sakhwa's statue. The Nepal Bhasha­ Virginia language section consists of four pieces contributed by Newar wnt­ Tribhuvan TuHidhaL Achyut Shrestha ers. First is a poem by Labha Ratna Tuladhar. Second, Premhira Nepal Tuladhar pens her findings on contribution made by Chmadhar Prof Tej R. Kansakar 'Hridaya'in NepaJ Bhasha literature. Thrrd, Shashikala Manadhar Shanta R Shakya, Labh R. Tuladhar, writes her remembrance about Chittadhar. The fourth one is a con­ Siddhi R. Shakya temporary thoughts of dilemma on Newars by Labha Ratna Tulad­ India har. Besides these, an extensIve interview with the sacred Buddhist Yogbir Sh5h..ya, Kalimpong, West Bengal dancer, Master PrajwaJ Ratna Vajracharya also included. Ranjana & Rajiv S. Shrestha, "Rachna'·, Gangtok We cannot give enough thanks to the contributors, edItors, Sikkim and other individuals and publications that have made this journal Australia such a success. WIthout their help, the journal would not be possi­ Bimal Man Shrestha. Mary Jo' Rouke ble. Himalayan Research Bulletm, The Sandhya Times, Kathmandu The Netherlands Post, Nepal Bhasha Manka Khalah Bulletin, Newah AnnuaJ, and Bal Gopal Shrcstha, Leiden Premier Dance and Entertamment all have provided invaluable infor­ mation on Newar Studies Tnbhuvan Tuladhar, Swami Chetanan­ Mailing Address.­ anda, Kashinath Tamot, Min Bahadur Shakya, Prajwal Vajracharya, Ne\\iah Vijnana Paula Huston, Bhima Shakya, Suva Shakya, Sudip Shakya have all 1923 NE Schuyler St. worked together so as to bnng thIS issue to fruition. We would also Portland, OR 97212 USA like to thank Gregory Gneve for hIS assistance with the Engllsh­ f--------------------Ilanguage section ofthe journal_ Cover: Master Prajwal R Vajracharya • ~Ut<lr~f.!Iq ~-;;'Rf-e:Fr ;.J1:ffi'7'l-ll"TT <'ToIT Hf~IT ~T~R1 ( NewiiJ:l Vijiiana) (The Journal Of Newar Studies) ISSN 1536-8661 • ~ ~:~ ~ ~ q ¥H"'*h ~ I '-N, ~, 'li<'ll, #iI<l or ~ ~'''''''''''''~ fim I • ~ ~ WR'! 'i"WJ '1Ri -;j ~ ~ I • 11;- '6 ~ 3H! ~ • TJI'l'h ~ <'fl ~ """ <$ 'H ern m (~0-'10 -q\ iffi) • ~ ~ ~ or~:<II """L¥IT ~ .0,,00, j'j<l; ¥ ern m: I • ~~~~flu1'l_~~1 • f@q::J~~~~ 21: %~ I • mu ~ ~ Copy Right _ AU_&> ~ I • ~ '11'Ii mu ~ '1:.,. ,;ro m ~: <m ~~ I • m<rr (l'::J ~ fu<! ~ 'llg I Call For Papers NewilJ.t Vijiliina ( the Journal of Newar Studies) accepts conuibutions for its fIfth issue, which will debut in November 2002. The Journal's aim is to consolidate empirical, theoretical, as well as any work done in Newar. language, culture, art, history, customs, traditions, religion, biography, music, architecture and the infonnation on: Newars around the world so as to serve as a tool to preserve and expose the richness of Newar heritage. Submissions (articles, abstracts of recently completed dissertations, and reviews of any work on Newars.::: translations of Newar literary works, notes on any work! projects on Newars) are invited in English, Nepali and Nepal Bhasha. A hard copy and an IBM-compatible, preferably Microsoft Word, ftle on disk are required. The' editors reserve the right not to process submissions that do not serve the goals of the journal. The last date for submissions Is September 30th. 2002 Daya R. Shakya International Nepal Bhasha Seva Samiti (INBSS) 1923 NE Schuyler St. Portland, OR 97212, USA Ph. (503) 282-0447 Fax (503) 774-7554 E-mail: [email protected] From South Asian Countries Siddhi R. Shakya P. a Box 571 Kathmandu, Nepal Ph: 977-1- 265348 l ~@~~g~ (Newal) Vijiiana) The Journal Of Newar Studies ISSN 1536-866 1 Number -4 AD 2000/01 NS 1121 BS 2057/58 English Editorial 00 Personal Theory: Towards a satisfactory explanation for why I study Newar culture; or; Dyah Wac ("God Crazy") Bruce M. Owens OI How Tibeto Bunnan Is Nepal Bhiishii Today? .Daya R. Shakya 22 The Question of Janajiiti Malla K. Sunder ..45 Research, Conference paper, Dissertation, and Theses Abstracts .49 Miscellaneous Book Review: "Sugata Saurabha" Paula Huston .s5 Introduction: 'Prajwal Vajriichiirya', Sacred Buddhist Dancer 57 Digitalization of 'Asha Archives' 59 Newah Organization of America (NOA) 60 News Report on Nepal Sambat 62 NepaIi flP1Ic:q))"l 65 'li'i'tlS«il ~ ~ ~ !f1qj<rr 66 m cnmt ~ ~ ~ 7 ST. ~ ~ 67 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 69 Nepal Bhasha flP1lc:qj"ll ttml 70 ~ CWJIW{ ~:] ~:-Rl ~ wnm ·..·· ·71 ~ 'Al"lT ~ ~ ~ ~ <ITric:R W1mr wnm 72 ~ i2JllS1fil ~ ):l'iq\'){(ii Cl'llI'q14'iIQ ~: ~0l<ilT :.75 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~I~(C!l~1 ~ 80 ~:<lf ~ ~ ~ "i?iI"'410 !. ~ wnm 81 '"1?R1qjl ~ ~ t:r:"IT ~" qjl'ifHI'4 w 82 ~ ~(News Column) 84 Members and Subscribers' Directory 87 Membership / Subscription Form 91 , ,~~ PP€:VIOU~ I~~U€:~ ~'l~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ (Newah Vijiiiina) (Newall Vijiiana) 'I1te JOlU'Illll of l"ieq,r Studlc!l .. Sw.,-M_,. )\f....I>o:r.J VoL I "-........ No. 1 ."." NS lilt ""'" HS '118 I 1!l!7 "\~ ~~~ (Newiih Vijiiiina) lM JOUInl of 'icwn Smdies • liS ,n. V5uuJ" n Personal Theory: Towards a satisfactory explanation for why I study Newar culture; or, DyaJ.1 Wae ("God Crazy") Bruce McCoy Owens Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology Wheaton College One of the things that I find most difficult different, I believe, from what makes them about doing research is fully explaining to those interesting to those who ask them. For about whom I am trying to learn why it is that I example, after many conversations about the am doing what I am doing. I have always felt topic, I am convinced that the age of the chariot that it is essential to offer an account for my festival is interesting to most Newars for three interests, and always do so, but even if the major reasons: first, age is a higWy valued explanation I offer is satisfactory to those with attribute of both images and ritual practices; whom I am speaking, it is rarely satisfactory to second, its great antiquity firmly establishes the myself. There are several reasons for this. One Newar origins of this now national festival, and is that it is very likely that Newars who ask third, residents of Patan want to confmn that about and are in various ways involved in my their chariot festival is more ancient than its research are not going to be interested in details Kathmandu counterpart (and vice versa). What of my own project that I frud quite fascinating. most interests me about this question is its In this they are no different from the vast implications for determining the cultural and majority of people in the lhlited States who are political context of the festival's origins. The not involved in my specific field of research. In question about the deity's sexuality is more of a fact I am more likely to succeed in sustaining trick question to see whether I am aware of the the interest of a casual acquaintance in the various issues involved in answering it, but is Kathmandu Valley in my projects than I am the critical to me due to my interest in issues of interest of a fellow American, no matter what identity.
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