Jhākri

Jhākri (Nepali: झाक्री) is the Nepali word for shaman. It is sometimes reserved specifically for practitioners of Nepali shamanism, such as that practiced among the Tamang people and the Magars; it is also used in the Indian states of Sikkim and West Bengal, which border Nepal.

A Nepali jhākri with a dhyāngro, a traditional frame drum.
A jhākri in Kalimpong, West Bengal, India
Statues of jhākri at Banjhakri Falls and Energy Park in Gangtok, Sikkim, India

Jhākri shamanism is practiced among numerous ethnic groups of Nepal and Northeast India, including the Limbu, Rai, Sunwar, Sherpa, Kami, Tamang, Gurung, Magars, Lepcha and Khas.[1] Belief in spirits is prevalent, hence also the fear of spirit possession.[2] Some vernacular words for jhākri are phedangbo in the Limbu language, maangpa or nakchhong in Khambu, and boongthing in Lepcha.

Jhākris perform rituals during weddings, funerals, and harvests. They diagnose and cure diseases. They are also known for performing a form of voluntary spirit possession, whereby they allow the supposed spirit of the dead to possess them for a brief time thereby allowing family members to communicate for a brief period of time. The practice is called "Chinta". Their practices are influenced by Hinduism, Tibetan Buddhism, Mun, and Bön rites.[3]

See also

Notes
  1. Gulia 2005, pp. 153–4
  2. Gulia 2005, p. 152
  3. Gulia 2005, p. 168

References
  • Gulia, Kuldip Singh (2005). Human Ecology of Sikkim: A Case Study of Upper Rangit Basin. Delhi: Kalpaz Publications. ISBN 81-7835-325-3.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.