Thursday, March 18, 2010

Shamanism in Hyolmo

Shamanism in Hyolmo

Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. A practitioner of shamanism is known as a shaman, pronounced Bhombo (in Hyolmo) and Jhankri in Nepali.
Shamans are leaders and healers who work with spiritual forces. They serve as a bridge between village communities and the spirit worlds. Shamans consult spirits about curing the sick, leading the community and guiding the souls of the dead. Shamans often perform rituals prescribed by spirits.





Most shamans are chosen by ancestors to perform these duties, often during a serious illness or near-death experience. Novice shamans study for years, mastering rituals, mantras, traditions and trance. Shamans must k
now the names of spirits, sacred chants, tribal mythology and genealogy.

Shamanism encompasses the belief that shamans are intermediaries or messengers between the human world and the spirit worlds. Shamans are said to treat ailments/illness by mending the soul. Alleviating traumas affecting the soul/spirit restores the physical body of the individual to balance and wholeness. The shaman also enters supernatural realms or dimensions to obtain solutions to problems afflicting the community. Sha
mans may visit other worlds/dimensions to bring guidance to misguided souls, to separate evil spirits from human souls, or to ameliorate illnesses of the soul caused by foreign elements. The shaman operates primarily within the spiritual world, which in turn affects the human world. The restoration of balance results in the elimination of the ailment. It is likely that many of the healing practices of Buddhism and Hinduism share a common origin with Himalayan shamanism. However, Nepalese shamans belong to different religious groups and do not see themselves or their shamanic roles as "religious".
Video clips of Hyolmo Shaman festival in Himalaya of Nepal

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