Buddhism : Critical Concepts in Religious Studies, Vol. VI

VAJRAYANA LIFE-CYCLE RITES

III. Notes on the authors and the text

The Rana government that ruled Nepal despotically from 1846-1950 con-
sciously sought to undermine Newar culture and limit traditional celebrations.
Once the Ranas were deposed, publishing in Newari was allowed and a very
vibrant literary culture emerged in the Kathmandu Valley. Poetry, fiction, and
historical publications soon appeared, as did a host of religious texts and tracts.
Newar Buddhists who saw the decline in their vajriiciirya saf!lgha were quick to
resort to the printed media to restore the older tradition's fortunes, especially in
the context of Theravadin missionizing (Kloppenborg 1977; Lewis 1984:
494-517). Badri Ratna Bajracarya and Ratna Kaji Bajracarya have been two of
the most prolific writers in this field. Vajracaryas of Kathmandu City have long
been recognized as the preeminent ritual specialists in the Newar saf!lgha and it
is not surprising that these authors are members of vihiiras in the capital city.
The Nepal lana .!ivan Kriyii Paddhati is a very schematic outline of the chief
life-cycle rites, with minimal, though revealing, statements justifying important
observances in the Newar Buddhist tradition. Although somewhat inconsistent
in its citations, the text quotes verses from Sanskrit sources that authorize the
particular ritual being presented. Following these quotations, the rules and regu-
lations are stated in simple Newari. There are forty-one subject headings and I
have translated all Newari headings and text. The Sanskrit verses are included in
the transliterated text of Part V, transcribed exactly as quoted in the original.
The language of the lana .!ivan is very terse, intermixed with Sanskrit vocab-
ulary, and more often resembles shorthand than accomplished literary composi-
tion. Orthographic renditions of vocabulary words vary irregularly in the text,
often contrary to classical Sanskrit norms. (Prominent examples are the inter-
changable "b" for "v" and "1" for "r", irregularly reduplicated consonants, and
jumbled sibilants.) I have rendered the language in close to literal form and pre-
served the authors' style divisions but with numbers added to ease reference
with the text. The footnotes are also minimal, designed to explain important
technical terms and the most obscure references. There are many points and
topics that require additional elaboration (and further study), but this is a task for
later publication.

IV. Translation

NEPAL JANA-JlVAN KRIYA PADDHATI by Badri Ratna Bajracarya and Rat-

nakaji Bajracarya. Kathmandu: Annapuma Press, 1962.

I.

In the life of the Nepalese people, from the time of birth up to the time of death

with the pi1:u/.a duties, etc., for all the required duties we will give an explana-

tion.