A Study On Kulpuja Traditions In Nepal

Gandhi Raj Kafle

There are innumerable cultures and traditions in the Vedic Sanatan civilization. The roots of many of them can be found in scriptures like Vedas, the Puranas of various kinds, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The enlightening thoughts mentioned by Lord Krishna in the Gita have also been guiding norms for diverse societies of the Hindu religion.

  But, amidst these guiding values and norms, emphasis has also been given to cultures and traditions for persons to follow the rituals of their respective clans. However, two questions can inherently arise from this emphasis on the Hindu religion. One is: Does Kulpuja tradition inherit the merit of the worship of supreme power – the almighty god – envisioned in the Vedic Hindu traditions? The other question in this regard is: Are there any Shastra-based meanings of these traditions for followers, who are performing Pujas without exactly knowing the histories or meanings of them under the family system? 

  Here, the above mentioned two curiosities are related to the under review book written by Badri Prasad Dhakal entitled "Kulpuja Sanskriti Ra Parampara" (cultures and traditions of worship being performed under clan system). And, for sure, this newly published book furnishes some of these answers to such curiosities with the authenticity of deep study and research. 

    This book has been divided into two parts. The first one briefly gives facts and information about Kulpuja and includes twenty-two pieces of writing. The second one is the annexe part and it offers complimentary texts for readers to know about Kulpuja. 

  Author Dhakal has in recent years is engaged to study Vedic mythologies to search for authentic sources of knowledge purposively to serve readers' curiosity about different rituals of life under the Hindu religion. The proof of it is this book itself because the author is wide in consultations with reference materials for it. 

  There is a massive prevalence of Kulpuja traditions in Nepali lives. Agriculture, which is dominantly the oldest profession of the people, plays a pivotal role in the practices of this worship. In fact, without nature, agriculture can’t be imagined. So, what has been highlighted in this study is: In one form or another, the Kulpujas worship nature itself. 

  One relevant question to know about in this regard is: Does Kulpaja here mean only about the worship of Nepali Khasa communities? There are contexts in this book, where the author talks about the philosophy of Shiva and Shakti. Names may be different but nature or Prakriti and power or Shakti are the same to learn about life in all traditions. For this, this study highlights the fact of faith in Paruhang and Sumnima. 

The practises of this kind of worship among indigenous communities like Limbus and Rais also highlight the fact of nature-worshipping. 

  Yet, the main focus of this book is on the Kulpuja of Khas communities. When such is the theme, how can discussions about the Masto faith go missing? Dhakal in contexts to contexts in many of the essays and the separate pieces of writing from pages 58 to 87 has offered plenty of readings about the concept of Masto worshipping. 

  So, what is Masto? Knowledge of it is unavailable to many, but worship is conducted as per rituals and traditions of family and concerned clans. In this situation, it is better to translate two sentences of the text into English from Nepali on page 65: ‘thus, what we find is: The practice of the Masto tradition is based on the faith of Shiva and Shakti. Originally the same twelve kinds Mastos themselves have been 109 Mastos of today, which are being worshipped among Khas Arya and Kirat communities.’

  Thus, whatever the difference in rituals of Kulpuja among communities, the main aim of it is common and sacred. Every community and clan maintains rights and duties to worship and wishes for achieving the good of their family and society. 

The rituals of Kulpuja are to foster such good wishes and it is the Vedic way of culture. Senior literatteur Dr Tulasi Bhattarai, while writing forewords to this book, too, has mentioned Lord Krishna’s teachings to highlight the importance of Kulpujas. "Promoting clan and family values for the wellbeing of self and descendants, thus, is very much religious and Vedic, Bhattarai says. 

  In a nutshell, the publication of this book needs to be welcomed. It is prepared with study and research. Even the peculiar systems of Kulpuja like Masto, Gaidu and Gosta pujas have been defined with simplicity for the benefit of readers here. Author Dhakal deserves congratulations for bringing out such a useful book.