Sangha Tradition of Itumbaha
The sangha of Itumbahal consists of Shakya and Bajracharya family’s one of the largest sangha of Kathmandu valley, is destined to perform the numerous socio-religion activities: like guthi celebration, yearly and monthly festivals, daily ritual etc. Guthi is the socially organized people with common objectives of celebration of festivals, rituals, as well as to help unprivileged and bereaved families. SARVA SANGHA OF ITUMBAHA Itumbahal is one of the fully active Mahayana Buddhist Vihara (monastery), with vast Sangha, from the earliest days of its foundations in history. Unlike other Buddhist monastery, the newar Buddhist monasticism has a characteristic feature of non celibate monks, who live in their own homes near monastery, with married wife and children. The male issues of every family is ordained as monks in the monastery for a short period of four days, there after they give up celibate monkhood by disrobing, and they continue to be a member of monastic community for rest of their life. The membership of monastic community is known as sangha. The community of all the initiated members is called as sarva sangha .There are about 450 sarva sangha members from 118 families in Itumbahal. Once initiated person will automatically became a member of any other guthi or pucha, within Itumbahal, and he must fulfill the mandatory responsibilities entrusted as a Guthi member. THAYAPAS OF ITUMBAHA Thayapas are the senior most top position in Itumbahal, both from religious and social point of view. Thayapas have had an overall access to all social, religious and economic affairs of vihara. Thayapas are the short form of Thakalis, meaning ‘senior most one’ they are also known as Sthaviras or brave disciples. The tradition of Thayapas is believed to have been started by Keshchandra the founder himself, to run the affairs of vihara. There are altogether eleven Thayapas headed by main priest Muthayapa and his assistant Chakreswar. Both Muthayapa and Chakreswar are selected from family lineage with adequate qualifications like, top initiation (Dekha), seniority and perfect puja performer. Rests of the nine Thayapas are selected from the senior most brother of the descendent of nine families, provided he is ready to accept the position and act accordingly. Once selected, the official ritual process will run for about a week before enthroned on a appropriate, auspicious day as a ‘Sthavira’ of vihara. The process of enthronement of Sthaviras also known as Sthaviravisekh, particularly because they have had received the higher qualification like Kalasabhisekh, Bajrabhisekh, Ghantabhisekh, Muktabhisekh, Chatrabhisekh, Bastrabhisekh and Namabhisekh. The ten Thayapas represents the Dasa paramita, the tenfold wisdom of Buddhist teaching and Chakreswar as the central god. According to vajrayana Buddhism the eleven Thayapas represent the master of ten direction (dasadicacharya), and Chakreswar as a central one. The Thayapas have had separate seating (Asan) arrangement in the secret chamber of Agam Ghar. While performing puja they have had to sit on personal seating inside Agam. The Thayapas are venerated and respected by all and his orders are observed by all. The Thayapas are bound by vows to protect and defend the Itumbahal and sangha physically, verbally and mindfully (kaya, vaka, chitta,). The first among the equals of Thayapas is venerated as Muthayapa. Chakreswar, is the head of religious activities and leads all kinds of puja performance in Itumbahal, while Muthayapa is the head of sarva sangha, and he is responsible for social activities. The overall affairs of Itumbahal are carried on by that group of eleven Thayapas, mutual consultancy and discussion is necessary before taking any decision. The current names of enthroned Thayapas are as follows: Tri Ratna Shakya (Mu thayapa) Najar Man Shakya Mimlal Bajracharya Mani Kaji Shakya Gyan Kaji Shakya Hem Purna Nanda Bajracharya (Chakreswari) Krisna Shakya Surendra Shakya Siddhi Bahadur Shakya Vacant Sanuman Shakya GUTHIS OF ITUMBAHAL Ever since the foundation of Itumbahal by Keshchandra in eleventh century, the number of guthi’s have become active in maintaining and running the day-to-day affairs of Vihara. Keshchandra had founded the trusts to look after the maintenance and smooth functioning of monastic affairs. The trusts are known as ‘Guthis’ in local terminology. It contains a group of person organized to fulfill a common objective, and combined celebration, which ultimately leads to uplift people’s living standards. Keshchandra has brought about 360 ropanis of land in the Kathmandu Valley, the income from these lands financed the activities of Itumbahal. There are several land donation, in much later years, all the donation were entrusted to the ‘Trusts’ or ‘Guthis’. The Guthis were responsible for running all kinds of socio-religious activities of Itumbahal. Swancha Guthi Swancha Guthi is performed every year on the 5th day of Chaitra sukla paksha, After Ba-pa the new members are allowed into Swancha guthi. The term will probably come once in a lifetime around 40 years of age. Four persons are allowed to perform puja at the Agam and to organize a feast inviting all sangha members. During the Swancha Guthi the contribution fees are collected and each and every members of sangha will be offered 5 pieces of meat chue-la equally to everybody present at the feast. The 2nd Swancha Guthi of Ba-Sangha group is performed seperately on Luthi Punhi, the full moon day of chaitra. Sasu Puja Guthi The initiated members of Itumbahal families (barring a few families) according to list of initiation are given the term of organizing sasu puja guthi, saraswati is the goddess of learning. The special deity of saraswati is worshiped exclusively by families of Itumbahal, is located at just below Bijeswari. The legends tells us that many centuries ago, an idol of lord Saraswati was lying idle at the bank of river Bishnumati near Tamsipakha. No body came to own this idol, therefore the sangha members from Itumbahal took this Idol and respectfully established a shrine near Bijeswari. Every four members are given term to organize puja and feast on the spot of Saraswatisthan, on a particular day before Pahancharey. A repoussee figure of head of lord saraswati is brought on the spot for worship. This guthi is often called as Bal saraswati Guthi. During the guthi celebration about 90% of expenditure in incurred by trust, rests have to be collected from invitees. For unknown reasons, a group of 13 sangha members founded a separate Sarswati guthi known as Panchami Sewa guthi. A separate repoussee figure of gold coated lord Saraswati (about 2 ft tall) is brought on the spot for worship. This figure has been donated by group of sangha members in NS
Gunla Festival Activities in Itumbahal. NS 1137.
Gunla is the sacred month according to Newari calendar, usually falls during July /August. It is a monsoon season in south Asian countries. Heavy rain, land slide, flooding, road blocks, water born disease outbreak are the major natural disasters happened during monsoon season. People can do nothing except pray to Almighty (Buddha ), to minimize natural disaster and sufferings to people. during this month. Newar Buddhist community gets together at Buddhist holy shrine, monasteries, stupas, temples, and pray for well being of those suffering people and avoid further Natural disaster. For thousand s of years Newar community of Katmandu valley is doing like this for the sake of better humanity even in town of Patan, Buddhist community get together at Bahas and bahis, and chant Namsangiti sutras and dasabalas. In Bhaktapur too Buddhist community get together at bahas / bahis, near stupas and make prayers. The community members (Sangha),of Itumbahal a famous Buddhist monastery, downtown Katmandu, hikes every day early in the morning to Swayambu hill stupa, chants some holy prayers (sutras) like “dasabala suprabhatam”, ( follow ten commandments of Buddha, for better today and wish for good days ahead.) with that the sangha members return back to Itumbaha,followed by the band of traditional music performer from the community at Itumbahal again they chant Hymen and prayers in front of kwapa dyo (sanctum sanatorium) for better days ahead. The process goes on for whole month within sacred month of Gunla include major festival days such as nagpanchami gum punhi (Full moon day ) sa – Paru ,Bahi dyo swo wanegu,, pancha dan etc..all those festivals are celebrated with up most enthusiasm by Newar Buddhist community. Click Here are some of pictures of activities of celebration of Gunla festival at Itumbahal.