This is a major anthology from South Asia’s prominent poet who has made Annapurna region his home for last two decades.

Yuyutsu’s devotion for the mountains and the people living there is unparalleled. Though his work was interrupted with the rise of insurgency and the consequent political turmoil in the Himalayan nation, the poet continued to long for the hidden valleys and mule paths where, as the scriptures say, the soul of the Gods lives. Even in his dreams he conjures the treks to the remote Himalayan regions, searching for life on the bleeding mule paths of human struggle, listening to the chorus of cicadas and dramas of hunger and strife in the hushed grounds of Little Paradise Lodge, chartering history of human attempts to invade the realm of eternal snow with moving cameras, frozen spaghetti and plastic bags.

Like exquisite fields of Himalayan flowers, these are poems of high artistic integrity about harsh truths of mystery, history and humanity.

Sensual, sharp and stunning, these concrete images will leave the readers breathless. A huge achievement, bringing unsung agony of the people in the high Himalayas.
More :  http://brooklynrail.org/2008/07/books/poetry-rounding-out-the-edges

Everest Failures
Twenty Five Short Poems
Yuyutsu RD Sharma
White Lotus Book Shop  
ISBN 978-99946-2500-1 2008
Rs. 95.00

Everest Failures is a stunning book of twenty five new and selected poems by the subcontinent’s foremost voice. Here are poems of great depth and intensity. Brief and epigrammatic, these are tiny temples of faith. Virtually striking and full blooded, they cover wide range of subjects and locations, racing from the Himalayan rooftops to the deserts of Rajasthan, moving onto London’s Temple Tube station, an artists’ village in Amsterdam and Den Haag’s lurid lanes lighted with its window dolls. Sensual, sanguine and surreal, they capture fate and fatigue of tireless porters, moods of the Himalayan people and rivers, a morning walk along the life’s  sad edge, the blood stains from Iraq and incredible vitality and happiness of the poorest population of the world.

A treasure to be preserved, this is an actual pillow book where eroticism fuses with the bitter truths of life and soothes your soul, keeping you alive even in the most mundane moments of life

After Tagore: Poems Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore
by David Ray
Hardcover, 120 pp. including Preface by Ray.
Rs. 295 Indian

After Tagore is a vibrant volume by one of the most powerful living American poets. Here, in his twenty-second book, Ray conjures the magic of his master Tagore and brings alive the forgotten fragrances of the Indian landscape for his readers worldwide. Ray explores, elaborates, transposes and engages his own thoughts in dialogue with those of Tagore to celebrate the elemental simplicity of human endeavors. Poet and editor Yuyutsu RD Sharma writes: “Ray’s Tagore poems take us to a larger tradition and Tagore turns out to be a vital door.”

David Ray has published more than 20 books. Following the release of "When," Ray's latest poetry collection, African novelist Chinua Achebe hailed him as "among the best half-dozen poets in the English language today." Ray's 2004 collection, "The Death of Sardanapalus and Other Poems of the Iraq Wars," was praised by literary critic F.D. Reeve as "the skilled work of a craftsman whose poems cry out against the barbarism of war and the stupid cruelties of those who make it." In the 1960s, Ray was one of the founders of American Writers Against the Vietnam War and co-edited, with Robert Bly, "A Poetry Reading Against the Vietnam War." Ray has received numerous literary awards, and he has taught in the United States, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Pratik
the Special Contemporary British Poetry issue
Edited By Yuyutsu RD Sharma
Guest Editor: Pasxcale Petit

The Special issue features new poems by 26 leading UK poets: Moniza Alvi, Ruth Padel, Robin Robertson, Sean O’Brien, David Constantine, Mimi Khalvati, Fiona Sampson, Alice Oswald, Daljit Nagra, Patience Agbabi, Selima Hill, Matthew Sweeney, Robert Minhinnick, Gwyneth Lewis, Les Murray, Tim Liardet, George Szirtes, Pascale Petit, John Kinsella, Polly Clark, Nick Laird, Colette Bryce, John Haynes, Carol Rumens, Penelope Shuttle, and W.N. Herbert.

The Yeti
Spirit of Himalayan Forest Shamans
Dr. Larry G. Peters
ISBN81-85693-57-9 2004
Hardcover pp.113  Rs.250 Indian
Dr. Larry G. Peters is a world-renowned scholar and initiated Shaman in the Tibetan tradition.

The book takes a fresh look at the yeti, the elusive snowman of the Himalayas.  Peters here aspires to establish the yeti as the spirit of the Himalayan Forest Shamans. In his view, Evolution-minded researchers’ hunt for ‘missing-link’ led to a scientific dead-end and the yeti who became associated with research fell into disrepute as a superstitious wed to spurious theory. Consequently, the yeti academically became “an abominable snowman”.

Yeti is a living, current, popular mythology and a folkloric treasure whose origin the present book seeks to explore. Tracing its history to the pre-Buddhist, fierce spirit of Nature-mountain goddess and forest wild men of Bonpo shamanism in Tibet, Dr. Peters uncovers the hidden chapters of human history, evaluating the cross-cultural implications of religious practices, myths rituals, legends and scriptures.

 The Yeti, to sum up, it a sparkling piece of original research written with an objective to rehabilitate interest in the study of yeti as a spiritual teacher and initiator of shamans.

Trance, Initiation and Psychotherapy Nepalese Shamanism

Essays on Tamang and Tibetan Shamanism

Dr. Larry G. Peters

ISBN81-85693-57-9  2004 
Hardcover pp.113 Rs.250 Indian

Dr. Larry G. Peter is an internationally acclaimed scholar and an initiated shaman.

Result of lifetime’s researches in the Himalayas, Trance is a meticulous study exploring the hidden terrains of Tamang and Tibetan Shamanism. An exquisite fusion of creative writing and anthropological research, the book evaluates the relevance of shamanic practices in a modern-day Nepal. Divided into four major sections, the book opens with a study of phenomenology of Shamanism as a spiritual discipline.

Shamanism, Dr. Peter claims, is humankind’s first mystical tradition.  It is a cross- cultural phenomenon. Shamans were the first to explore the inner space in a disciplined way. Shamanism, he adds, overlaps with, and is at the origin of other younger spiritual traditions, like yoga, Vipasana and Tantra, which had continued the development of the disciplines of spiritual transformation. “The shaman’s mystical path,” in Peters’ words, “is an archetype, a universal pattern. It is not a prehistoric or a dead artifact but a living fossil possessing the same vital psychological foundations as later mystical traditions.

Against this ideological backdrop, Peter ventures to study the cultural archetype of what it is to be a shaman in a Nepalese society and finds out that Tamang shamanic initiatory process comprises a psychotherapeutic system. The chapter that follows documents rare letters he sent home to his friends. These letters tell us of remarkable shamans that he met during his anthropological fieldwork in Nepal. The chapter next effortlessly sketches the visions of Nepalese mindscape during Peter’s journey to Kalinchowk shrine with Aama Bambo, a Tamang shaman.

Focusing on the transformative nature of mystical experiences in Tamang shamanism, he then moves ahead to discuss the Tibetan healing rituals of Dorje Yadronma, a fierce manifestation of feminine cosmic force.  Despite reservations on Lhamo’s intensely aggressive style of healing, Peters seems to be in awe of her magical abilities and her paranormal knowledge. Peters interprets Lhamo’s violent exorcisms as psychotherapeutic procedures aimed at breaking down the patient’s ego defenses and introducing psychological crisis. A full-length chapter is devoted to Karga Puja ritual, a dramatic event, successful in treating indigenous categories of mental illness.

The book ends with a survey of shamanism and medicine in developing Nepal. Shamanism, Dr.Peter suggests, is not antithetical to modern medicine. “In fact with proper training the shamans can even come to spread medical aid inasmuch as they already recognize their limitations in the treating of certain illness and take an active part in getting their clients to seek such treatment.”

Maoists in the Land of Buddha
Prakash A Raj
An Analytical Study of the Maoist Insurgency in Nepal
ISBN81-81-85693-42-0 2004
Hard pp.210 Rs.395 Indian
Prakash A Raj is Nepal’s internationally known scholar and travel writer.

Maoists is first comprehensive and candid account of the Maoist insurgency that has been rocking the Himalayan kingdom for nearly a decade now.

Authentic and up-to-date, the book discusses how Nepal popularly known as the birthplace of Buddha, the Emperor of world place has recently got a new name –a Nation of Maoist insurgents who want to abolish Monarchy and turn Nepal into a ‘Peoples’ Republic.

 The Maoists control a large part of the country, especially in the Western hills and more than 7,000 people were reports to be killed by the end of 2002. The continuation of the Insurgency causes a grave setback to the Democratic set-up in Nepal that has flourished since 1990 popular Movement that resulted in the people of Nepal being sovereign.

The author here attempts to uncover the roots of this turbulence, outlining Maoist targets in destroying nation’s infrastructure, in burning books and closing down of schools and provides an insight into the mind and motives of the insurgents. Including details on the role of Dalits and Women in the Insurgency, Prakash A Raj unleashes the socio-political implications of the Movements and examines the role of the Neighboring countries, the Superpower and the Insurgencies in other countries in shaping the present face of the Maoists in Nepal. As numerous Dialogues and Ceasefires continue to fail time and again, the disturbing question book grapples is – Will Maoists ever give up their arms or will Nepal turn into another Cambodia, Peru or Afghanistan?

Tourism in Nepal
Marketing Challenges
Hari Prasad Shrestha
ISBN 81-85693-69-2  2000  Hard pp.3 99
Rs.495 Indian

Tourism in Nepal is a brilliant piece of original and fresh research. It is probably the first full-length attempt to access the existing tourism-marketing set-up in Nepal.

Focusing on the empirical analysis of the promotional efforts and impact of tourism on the overall development, Dr. Shrestha surveys the historical development of tourism in Nepal with a precise review of its theoretical foundations. Critically examining the relevant literature available so far, he identifies the tourism products and the existing infrastructure. Trends of tourist arrivals (on the basis of age, sex, region, nationality, purpose and season) along with an examination of world tourism and position of South Asia and Nepal in particular in the international arena are systematically presented.

Analyzing the views and perceptions of the tourists visiting Nepal, tourist related agencies and tourism experts that can influence an increase in the tourist arrivals; Dr. Shrestha suggests that Nepal must overcome its problems on a systematic and time-bound basis.

Lack of co-ordination between the Government and the private sector seems to be one of the major factors that retard the growth of tourism in Nepal. Similarly, the problems of inadequacy of access to the country, growing environmental problems, especially in the Kathmandu valley and the poor preservation and development of tourist resources have to be purposefully addressed in order to preserve the mystique of the world’s most cherished tourist destination.

Ethnic Conflict in Bhutan
Political and Economic Dimensions
ISBN81-85693-68-4 1999 Hard pp.251
 Rs.395 Indian
Dr. Mathew Joseph C. is a prominent South Asian scholar today.

Ethnic Conflict in Bhutan is an exhaustive study exposing the socio-political scenario behind the recent surge in the ethnic nationalism and ethnic conflict between Ngalong-dominated state and Lhotshampas (Southern people mainly of Nepali origin). The book opens with a survey of the British colonial policy towards Bhutan and the Himalayan region and offers a critical examination of the structure of the Bhutanese society and polity. Employing the empirical date based on up-to-data research, Dr. Joseph explores the hidden chapters of Bhutan’s obscure history and locates the roots of the ethnic conflict in the politico-economic developments that took place in early 1950s.

Negating the Government statistics that gave misleading image of “Drukpa backwardness “and “Nepali prosperity”, the author states that the post-1964 alliance between King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and the “theocratic” traditionalists initiated the lethal “Bhutanese drive “of “one nation, one people” which was vigorously implemented in 1980s and in due course of time resulted in an ethnic inferno that has till today rendered more than 1,00,000 people of Nepali origin homeless.

 Dr. Joseph also points out the emergence of paranoia among the ruling elite of Bhutan due to the role of the people of Nepali origin in Sikkim in her accession to the Indian Union and their militant struggle waged in the Darjeeling Hills for a separate Nepali-speaking state in India. Ethnic assertion contrary to the experiences of our times has unleashed the forces of democratization in Bhutan. Only viable solution, Dr. Mathew Joseph suggests, for the ruling elite of Bhutan is the establishment of constitutional monarchy with multiparty democracy based on secularism and ethnic diversity.

Roaring Recitals
Five Nepali Poets Translated from the Nepali
by Yuyutsu RD Sharma
ISBN81-85693-95-1 1999 Hardcover pp.99
Rs.150 Indian
Roaring Recitals is a stunning anthology revealing the range and power of contemporary Nepalese imagination.

Translated into English for the first time by well-known poet Yuyutsu R.D, active in Nepal’s literary life for last two decades, this is a ground-breaking volume of solemn rage displaying richness and diversity of Nepali poetry.

Since politics has always played a decisive role in every field of Nepal, including literature, Yuyustu R.D. translated a selection of five major Nepali poets who have in some way or the other shattered ugly castles of orthodoxy and autocracy to usher modernism in the life and literature Nepali. For it’s Gopal Prasad Rimal who liberated Nepali literature from the shackles of traditional Sanskrit usage and meter and initiated a tradition of prose poems, employing native symbols and folklore, to voice the agony of Nepalese people suffering at the hands of Rana oligarchy.

 Following footsteps of Rimal, we find Bhupi Sherchan, Banira Giri, Shailendra Sakar and Bimal Nibha raise their voice against the despotic partyless Panchayat regime. Here Bhupi Sherchan evokes the geopolitical compulsion of Nepal to remain a non-entity and raises delicate questions of nationalism, sovereignty and a liberated prosperous Nepal, Banira employs man-woman relations to clean the vicious webs of despots and “missile makers,” Sakar discovers the anguish of discarded communities to restore the dignity of the poet from the clutches of Establishment and Nibha flings stones of fury at “soft-nailed civilians”, the Panchayat demons, to dramatise the interplay of “tears and blood.”

Roaring Recitals is a dazzling treasure that shall interest those readers worldwide who are curious to acquaint themselves with a secret flame of vitality, a creative turbulence that has remained at the center of modern Nepal’s creative life.

The Lake Fewa & A Horse
Poems New
Yuyutsu RD Sharma
ISBN81-85693-34-X 2005 Hardcover pp.108
Rs.250 Indian
Reading Yuyustu RD’s Fewa poem is a truly rewarding experience. Written over a decade, these poems astonish you with their stunning metaphors and reveal the poet’s marvelous grasp over the language, landscape and the people living in it.

Once out of campus circus circles, quitting teaching at Tribhuban University, Yuyustu made his first visit to Lake Fewa in the early 90s. The visit turned out to be a lifetime’s passion and commitment. The book begins on the vast watery expanses of the Lake where a lonely boat appears somewhere between shafts of sunlight and moves on to bring alive the people of distant regions struggling like mules beneath the shimmering daggers of the Annapurna. Exploring the mystique of the world’s highest mountains, the poet reverts to his own past, his roots in Punjab and struggle to survive in Delhi. His poems unleash the fretful rambling of an honest individual in the corridors of a bleeding democracy as he flings his illuminated manuscripts into the jaws of skyscrapers and finally returns to turquoise lakes of perfect, deep sleep. Here we have a magnificent collection—compelling and condensed with rare visions, crying from the agony of the contemporary times.

Yuyutsu R.D. lives close to the Everest. His poetry climbs mountains, swims in rivers and paints the falling leaves in copper. This tango with nature also occurs when Yuyutsu R.D.closes the window for a moment…--Ronny Someck, in Iton 77

“Yuyustu R.D. Sharma’s poetry runs clear, tender, and passionate with a rage that often erupts volcanic in the face of the cruelty, despair, and injustice that saddles the disenfranchised poor of the earth. Poems powerful and devastating yet gentle as flower petals wafting to earth in a summer breeze.”--Michael Annis, senior editor, Howling Dog press

Yuyustu R.D. Sharma has his feet firmly planted on the ground. His poetry is rooted in its landscape and environment and thereby gains its strength. He has also served the muse assiduously over the decades and small wonder that she has rewarded him.--Keki N. Daruwalla

Rana Rule in Nepal
Shaphalya Amatya
ISBN81-85693-67-6 2004 Hardcover pp.408
Rs.695 Indian
Shaphalya Amatya is Nepal’s highly distinguished historian and Cultural Heritage expert.

Rana Rules in Nepal is a pioneering study of the most intriguing chapters of Nepalese history. A disturbing book, it focuses on the Armed Revolution of 1950-51, a popular uprising against the autocracy and tyrannical regime of the ruthless Rana rules. It’s pioneering partly because of author Shaphalya Amatya’s capacity as a native and a student of history and partly because he belongs to that family of Amatyas whose several relatives was connected with the Rana administrators as well as with the Royal Palace in various official and personal capacities. Dr. Amatya opens this voluminous book with a brief study of the factors responsible for sustaining the despotic Rana rule, discussing characteristic features of the Nepalese society and gradual process of political socialization of the period understudy and the moves ahead to discuss detailed deseription of the growth of anti-Rana policies in Nepal and India since the beginning of 20^th century. The chapters that follow discuss careers, achievements, and foreign and domestic policies of three Rana Prime minister, Juddha Shamsher, Padma Shamsher and Mohan Shamsher respectively. The political opposition they faced and international pressure for the liberation of their repressive, enclosed regimes is here analyzed. The chapters that follow examine King Tribhuwan as a king, a politician and a statesman. The concluding chapter emphasizes the king’s role in the anti-Rana policies, the Delhi Compromise, the fruits India reaped out of her involvement in this Upsurge and the part played by the Nepali Congress, and its liberation Army called Mukti Sena. The last chapter explores the causes behind the downfall of the Rana rule. Employing a breezy, and engaging narrative style, Dr. Amstya presents in a chronological order the dark chapter of history that ushered the dawn of democracy in this Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal.

Human Right in Hindu Buddhist Traditions
Lal Deosa Rai
ISBN81-85693-46-3  1995 Hardcover pp.188
Rs.250 Indian
Lal Deosa Rai is a well Known Nepalese historian today.

The book is the first authentic attempt to trace the origin of human rights in Hindu- Buddhist society. The author opens the book with an account of the origin of the notion and meaning of human rights in context of western liberal democracy as distinguished from the Hindu-Buddhist society and moves ahead to explore the meaning of dharma or dhamma as key concept in understanding the notion of human rights of a Hindu-Buddhist origin. Employing the contemporary state of knowledge and research available in the area of ancient history of Nepal, the author provides a politico-legal background to human rights in the Hindu-Buddhist society. He believes that the dharma had a catalytic effect in moldings the nature of development of human rights in the ancient and medieval Nepal. The Lichchavians had developed an idea of freedom based on dharmic principles and the protection and development of panchali, gosthi and sangha was conceived an act of collective freedom from the tyranny of the despotic rule. It was not a theocratic state and dharma and not the religion was the guiding principle of the Lichchavian State.

The book is a must to human-rights experts, ideologists, historians, political thinkers, as well as scholars interested in knowing the state of Buddhism in Nepal.

Folk Tales from Mithila
Ram Dayal Rakesh
ISBN81-85693-55-2 1996 Hardcover pp.126
Rs.195 Indian
 Ram Dayal Rakesh is Nepal’s highly acclaimed culture-critic

Folk Tales from Mithila is first authentic journey to fabulous land of the world famous goddess, Sita, consort of Lord Rama, and her father, the philosopher king, Janaka. Known in the entire world for its great figures like Maitrei, Mandavi Gargi (women scholars), Yagyabalkya and Vidyapati, Mithila is the land of wisdom and center of learning which falls in Nepal Terai as well as the Indian state of Bihar. Mithila culture is the second important culture of Nepal and its second language is Maithili.

Infused with an exhilarating sense of humor, witty, racy and eventful, these tales offer a unifying vision of a collective society which is just, humane and deeply spiritual. An old man in this book goes to Heaven to find out the cause of delay in the rains and challenges the tyranny of an indolent god, Indra. He fights with him, defeats him and returns to earth. Mundane in these tales fuses with divine. A mortal is here is described as superior to God because he ends unjust reign of lusty Indra, defeats him and gives him shelter. Lord Shiva in one of the tales comes to the house of Mithila poet, Vidyapati and works as his servant, tortured as the poet is by his quarrelsome wife. A just King in this book keeps the order of justice upright by correcting his self-centered, greedy priest.  The magic tricks of a Thug king are exposed and in the end he loses his kingdom. The Sun-god himself emerges to bless a common girl and she becomes a princess.

These tales, thus, capture the popular imagination of an agrarian society and reflect dreams, aspirations, and struggles of an innocent man, untouched by the nightmares of a modern material world.

Nepal Missing Elements in the Development Thinking

Gunanidhi Sharma

Missing Elements, an outcome of Gunanidhi Sharma’s recent researches, sheds light on the development thinking required for the realization of greater nationhood and self-sufficiency.

The book begins with a brief survey of the scenario of economic development in Nepal and the potential it possesses to strengthen democracy at the grass root levels. Employing the most recent empirical data available so far, Sharma analyses the present economic position of Nepal as explained by internal and external forces undermining her will to remain economically and politically consolidated. The book pinpoints the economic hardships of Nepal, focusing on issues like Nepal’s quest for industrialization, role of aid in Nepal’s development, interest rate and its place in economic decision making, growing rural urban dichotomy and question of development planning.

Aggressive on Nepal’s recent drive towards aggressive liberalization, privatization and deregulation, Sharma examines the basic constraints of the economy that have dragged Nepal’s economic performance behind. In addition to this, issues like policies of foreign exchange and balance of payments, price in Nepal, private sector investments, policies of devaluation, Nepalese monetary sector, international monetary relations and money supply analysis are at length discussed.

 Missing Elements claims to formulate an agenda to usher Nepal’s democracy into an era of prosperity and self-reliance.

Recent Nepal
Laksman Bahadur K.C
Laksman Bahadur K.C is a well known Nepalese political analyst.
Recent Nepal celebrates the 1990 People's Movement which toppled autocratic one-party-Panchayat system and ushered an era of new political awakening in modern Nepal.

This democratic Upsurge not only restored the system of parliamentary democracy which late King Mahendra had abolished in 1960, it opened the doors of hope for a just, prosperous and powerful Nepal to emerge in the years to come. The book which opens with and objective account of the democratic movement and an analysis of the factors that led to the collapse of the despotic Panchayat system moves ahead to shed light on efforts made by Nepalese masses to preserve democracy and consolidate multi-party set-up. The chapters that follow deal with the salient features of the new Constitution, the 1991 General Elections, Nepalese foreign policy, role of political parties and the position of constitutional monarchy in Nepal. The author generously adds a chapter on the recent local elections and a “postscript” on the burning issue like Tanakapur and composition of the new Congress Working Committee.

Recent Nepal is a handbook of contemporary Nepal to be preferment by all those interested in knowing the political upheavals taking place in the heart of Nepal.

Nepal-Terai
Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh
Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh is Nepal’s well known Culture critic.

The book is first full-length study of the glorious cultural heritage of Nepal Terai. Employing first hand, oral sources, Dr.Rakesh brings to light the great cultural scenario of the unexplored Terai of the Himalayan kingdom of Nepal. The book begins with the introduction of Mithila script, language and oral literature central to the soul of Nepal Terai and moves ahead to analyze socio culture issues like marriage customs, romance of betal chewing, mango mood of Mithila, spring festivals, Vivaha Panchami, Dasai, Deepawali, Chattaparva and others. The book also includes chapters on Mithila woman artists, girl-child in Nepal Terai and notes on legendary figures like Janak, the philosopher kings, Ganesha and Mai, the mother goddess of Nepal Terai. A special chapter on Lumbani, birthplace of Buddha that falls in Nepal Terai, has also been added.

Culture Heritage of Nepal Terai will open new vistas to the scholars curious to know the glamour of the folkways and oral traditions of Nepal Terai.

Nepal
A Concise History of the Himalayan Kingdom of Nepal
 Jagadish Rana
 Jagadish Rana is Nepal’s leading litterateur today.

Nepal sheds light on the origin and evolution of the Nepalese culture in a historical perspective. In this book, the author has presented mainly two aspects of Nepal’s culture. Firstly he has traced the undercurrent of history and the rhythm of human affairs which he regards as formidable forces that shape the culture of a country. Secondly, he has underlined how when a migrating tribe or horde or groups of people or even new religious preachers entered and mingled with the local people, the cultural intermingling took place and the process of metamorphosis continued till the new culture moved away from the direct influence of the migrant’s culture as a Nepalese style of local culture flowered and matured. Placed between sloppy writings and the erudite works, the present book offers in a nutshell an overall view of the cultural scenario of Nepal and raises certain crucial questions and controversies that have haunted scholars on Nepal at home and abroad.

The Nepala-Mahatmya of Sikanda Purana

Jayaraj Acharya

Dr. Jayaraj Acharya is an internationally known Nepalese scholar

The Nepala-mahatmya of the Skandapurana is first full length translation of the Sanskrit text, the Nepala-mahatmya. The original text written around mid-ninth century A.D. is a religious ‘Glory of Nepal’. It is an independent Nepalese contribution to the existing body of the Puranas. It is about the importance of the sacred places and deities in and around the Kathmandu valley, narrating the stories related to Changu-Narayana, Ganesa, Visnu, Krishna, Chandrama, goddess Chandeshwari, demon king Kansa, poet Valmiki and many others. It is an attempt by ancient Nepalese scholars to explain the origin of the religion and to interpret their cultural background in their own way. The legends on the Kathmandu Valley reflect man’s perception of space and time, explaining how landscape shapes the literary imagination of human mind. The Nepala-mahatmya exhibits a kind of religious syncretism, an inescapable phenomenon observed in daily life of Nepalese people, by putting Shiva, Vishnu and Buddha not only at the same level but as one and the same.

The book is a mine of riches about Nepalese history, geography, culture, art and architecture.

Hindu-Buddhist Festivals of Nepal

Hemanta K. Jha

Hemanta K. Jha is a well known culture critic in Nepal today.

Hindu-Buddhist Festival of Nepal documents a vibrant spectrum of the lucent moments of festivity and fraternity in the lives of Nepalese people.

Not a day passes in Nepal without observing some festival. Considering festivals as great unifying factor in a culturally diverse Nepal, Jha explores the origin and evolution of the festivals and points out a syncretism of Hinduism and Buddhism in the celebrations. Employing mythological tales, Nepalese folklore, historical chronicles, mythological tales, popular legends and personal experiences from the day to day involvement in the Nepalese society, Jha narrates the awe-inspiring accounts of the festivals of Nepal where gods and demons interact with humans in their daily drudge to make them aware of the celestial and ‘just’ sources of existence. The book includes not just major Nepalese festivals celebrated in the Kathmandu valley like Ghode Jatra, Machchendranath Jatra, Ghantakarna, Gai Jatra and national festivals like Nepalese New Year, Mata Tritha Day Buddha Jayanti, Nag Panchami, Janai Purnima, Teej, Vijaya Dashmi and Tihar, it also focuses on the festival like Chhatha and Shree Panchami celebrated with special reverence in the Nepal Terai.

Hemanta K. Jha’s Festival of Nepal comes at a time when the traditional ritualized mode of Nepalese life is under the lethal threat of senseless modernization and globalization.

Religious Minorities in Nepal

Mollica Dastider

Mollica Dastider is a well known Indian Scholar researching the area of religious minorities in Nepal.