SHORT HISTORY OF SONAM LOSAR In the 7th century the reincarnation of Avaloketshwar, King Trisongchen or Songchen Gonpo was born in the year of Fire-Ox to mother Namri Srongchen and mother Driza Tökarma. Songtsän Gampo (Tibetan: སྲོང་བཙན་སྒམ་པོ, Wylie: srong btsan sgam po, 569–649?/605–649?) was the founder of the Tibetan Empire (Tibetan: བོད, Wylie: bod; Chinese: 吐蕃; pinyin: Tǔbō/Tǔfán; Wade–Giles: Tu3-po1/Tu3-fan2), by tradition held to be the thirty-third ruler in his dynasty. (In Chinese records, his name is given as Chinese: 松贊干布; pinyin: Sōngzàn Gānbù; Wade–Giles: Sung1-tsan4 Kan1-pu4 or Chinese: 棄宗弄贊; pinyin: Qìzōng Lòngzàn; Wade–Giles: Chi4-tsung1 Lung4-tsan4).[1] His mother, the queen, is identified as Driza Tökarma (Wylie: bri bza thod dkar ma the Bri Wife [named] White Skull Woman). The dates of his birth and when he took the throne are not certain. In Tibetan accounts, it is generally accepted that he was born in an Ox year of the Tibetan calendar, which means one of the following dates: 557, 569, 581, 583, 605 or 617 CE.)[2] He is thought to have ascended the throne at age thirteen (twelve by Western reckoning), by this reckoning c. 629 CE.[1][3] It is believed that losar started to be celebrated on the first day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar.then Sonam Losar started to be celebrated in various parts of the country with various names like Yulpa Losar, Sonam Losar, shingpa losar shyarchog losar. Even though it was named differently in different parts of the tibet, but it always fell at the time of harvest everywhere. At that time the elderly people of the village used to invite the lamas and religious gurus of their gonpas and held puja and rituals and thereafter the villagers or laymen offered milk,curd butter and……chemar and alchohol to gods and goddesses. The elderly people prayed with a khaddar in their hands for long life, protection against disease, famine, war, flood and for the well being of all the animals at home, good harvest etc and put up prayer flags and say “KI KI SO PO LA GE LO” simultaneously. On the occasion of sonam losar every tamang should put prayer flags of five colours at home and if someone has died at home then a mhani lungdar must be put and a lama must be called and dedication prayers (ngowa monlam) must be read for the departed soul.. This year sonam losar falls on the 21 st January 2015. On the 1st day (21 jan) , which is the 1day of the new year, dedication prayers and putting up of prayer flags must be done. Thereafter losar starts i.e. from the 1st day of the 12 th month of the Tibetan calendar to the 10th day and everyone should clean their houses and arrange for good food to eat. In the kitchen a picture of swastika and ashta mangalam should be made.everyone at home should wear clean clothes, sing, dance and enjoy on the first and second day at home. Then on the third day at a high place or top of a hill saang and prayer flags for dasha graha should be put then prayers to various deities and protectors(of Buddhism) must be done. Alchohol and meat must be consumed only as chhog and dhuichi then from 4th day till 10th going to relatives home and inviting guests should be done and celebrations can be done together. Tibetan guru Terton Sangye Lingpa and various other astrologers have also considered the 12th month of Tibetan calendar important and auspicious.Japan and various parts of China, it is celebrated in various parts of Tibet and various other countries like Mongolia, Bhutan, Japan, various parts of china and Himachal and Arunachal. So let’s celebrate “SONAM LOSAR” with happily and safely after performing all the various rituals and offerings to God. ----- BY ACHARYA SHERAP TSOUNDUI TAMANG SIKKIM INSTITUTE OF HIGHER NYINGMA STUDIES (SHEDA) COLLEGE DEORALI, GANGTOK,EAST SIKKIM
Posted on: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 16:47:37 +0000
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