आर्यनामसंगीती व गुंला: या महत्व | IMPORTANCE OF RECITING ARYANAMASANGITI & Gunlā FESTIVAL

Prazol Maharjan | Youtube: Prazol  Mahajran | Follow: Instagram | jhigunepa@gmail.com

A month-long Gunlā  (Nepal Bhasa: गुंला)  festival starts today, in Kathmandu Valley. Gunlā is a 10th month in the Nepal Samabat lunar calendar, the national lunar calendar of Nepal. It corresponds to the August of the Gregorian calendar. According to the beliefs, during primitive times, too much rain would fall, during this time. It used to bring lots of natural calamities, such as floods, landslides, and various diseases, which added more grief in people's lives. Thus, in order to subdue the grief, the Newa Buddhists would go to the hills of Swayambhu,  playing ethnic devotional music and pray for everyone's good health and safety. Also during this time, Lord Buddha along with his disciples would avoid traveling and retreat in one place, as they wanted to avoid stepping over insects and ants, which comes out in the field during the rainy season. 

Gunlā is also a holy month of Newars (especially, the Buddhist Newars: Bajracharya, Shakya, Tuladhar, Maharjan, Manadhar, Tamrakar, Kansakar, Sthapit, etc.). During this month, the Newa Buddhists would recite the holy scripture- Aryanamasangiti, visit various places of worship, associated with Buddha along with the traditional Gunlā music parade. It is said that the: अआ इई उऊ एऐओऔ अंअ: also known as 12 letters are the main essence of Aryanamasangiti. The meaning of each of these letters is described in the scripture.

The holy Aryanamasangiti scripture contains descriptions of all the five Primordial Buddha (पंचबुद्ध) and enlightens on how all these five Buddhas (पंच बुद्ध ) have become one, inside the belly of Swayambhu Maha Chaitya, located on the hills of Kathmandu Valley (Nepal Bhasa: नेपाल मण्दल ). All this knowledge was given to Vikhhu Dharmashreemitra by Grand Teacher- Maha Manjushree, Bodhisattva, the creator of Nepal Mandal (Kathmandu Valley). Later, Dharmashreemitra’s (धर्मश्रीमित्र ) name was changed to Gyanshreemitra (ज्ञानश्रीमित्र) by Maha Manjushree. Thus, the tradition of celebrating  Gunlā festival and reciting Aryanamasangiti has continued to this date, in Nepal Mandal.

In the end, I would like to thank my Gurus, Kabindra Bajracharya & Prakash Man Sakwo, who have always inspired, encouraged, and enlightened me on my path into Buddhism.