Ep295: Life Cycle Rituals - Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya 3
Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya is a tantric priest in a centuries old Newari Buddhist family lineage and master of the religious dance tradition of Charya Nritya.
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Prajwal Vajracharya reveals the rich world of Newari life rituals, in which major life events such as birth, coming of age, marriage, and death are celebrated by religious and community rites.
Prajwal Vajracharya explains the initiation rituals for boys and girls, including a 12-day dark retreat in which girls are taught essential knowledge by community members, and reveals how divination and astrology are used to determine a child’s name and life path.
Prajwal Vajracharya also discusses the importance of purity and discipline, bespoke rituals to clear obstacles, find a partner, and heal illness, and reflects on the challenges in bringing his ritual tradition to the USA.
00:00 - Intro
01:02 - Life cycle rituals of the Newari tradition
02:17 - Pregnancy and birth rituals
04:40 - Is Western culture traumatising?
05:21 - Creating a happy pregnancy
06:28 - Rituals for infancy
08:28 - The baby knows what it needs
09:31 - Naming and earring rituals
11:39 - Divination and adornment rituals
12:50 - The 1 year ritual
13:41 - Egg, fish, and wine
14:26 - 2nd year ritual
16:!6 - 7th year initiation ritual for boys
17:54 - 12-day dark retreat initiation ritual for girls
20:28 - Variations among castes in Nepal
21:23 - Special, old age ritual for the 77th year
23:02 - 88th year and a rebirth ritual
25:42 - Grieving customs for parent’s death
27:36 - Science of rituals and living a happy life
28:29 - In Nepal, everyone takes care of their parents
29:07 - Lack of dementia in Nepal
29:44 - Ritual as a family and community activity
31:20 - Obstacle removal, house blessing, and healing rituals
32:44 - Clay-pot rebirth ritual at 99 years old
35:53 - Respecting the elderly
36:48 - How to choose a child’s name
38:25 - Spiritual names
38:58 - Divination to determine the child’s career and life path
40:39 - What did Prajwal’s son choose?
42:02 - Astrology chart for a new baby
42:53 - The Chudakarma ritual and monastic training
43:49 - Ritual obligations as a Vajrācārya
48:40 - When rituals go wrong!
50:28 - Origin of and textual sources for Newari rituals
52:37 - Purity and preparing for ritual
54:47 - Discipline and respecting others
55:52 - Rituals to get a girlfriend and other life situations
58:08 - The many benefits of rituals
01:01:35 - The complexities of married life
01:03:06 - Bringing Newari ritual traditions to the West
01:05:34 - Innovation and training Westerners in Vajrācārya rituals
01:08:10 - Self-initiation and awakening the channel and nerves
01:09:13 - An American Vajrācārya?
01:10:00 - Challenging reactions in Nepal
01:11:52 - Gurū maṇḍala, the heart of Newari ritual
01:13:40 - Mudrā healing
Previous episodes with Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya:
To find out more about Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, visit:
Music ‘Deva Dasi’ by Steve James