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Rajopadhyaya

April 09, 2024

Rajopadhyaya (Nepali: राजोपाध्याय) is one of Newar Bramhans in Nepal.

In Sanskrit, Rājopādhyāya or Rāj-Upādhyāya literally means 'royal teacher' or 'guru' (Sanskrit: राज = royal + उपाध्याय = guru). Rajopadhyayas, also colloquially called Deva Brāhman (God-Brahmin) or Dyabājyā (God-Grandfather) or Barmu (Brahmin) were the royal gurus and purohits of the Malla kings and their Hindu aristocracy (present day Chatharīyās). Today, the Rajopadhyaya Brahmans are the domestic priests of the high-caste Hindu Newars, principally the Chatharīyas and Śreşțhas, and also certain segments of clean-caste Hindu Newar groups (most notably Bhaktapur Jyapus) of the Kathmandu Valley. In theory, the Chatharīyas of the Kathmandu Valley do not call on other Brahmin group, as Rajopadhyayas alone serve as their historical purohits and perform all their life-cycle Sanskara rituals, including attaining their Gayatri Mantra verse and the sacred thread ('janai') in the Upanayana ceremony. This is opposed to all other clean-caste Newar groups who call upon a Buddhist Vajrāchārya as their family priest to conduct all life-cycle ceremonies.[1]

Rajopadhyayas are an endogamous Brahman group who are the descendants of Kānyakubja Brahmins of Kannauj who immigrated to Kathmandu Valley as late as the 16th century CE. They are divided among the three cities of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur into strictly exogamous clans, having three gotras: Gārgya of Lalitpur, Bharadwaja of Bhaktapur, and Kaushik of Kathmandu, all belonging to the Mādhyamdina school of the Shukla Yajurveda, their holy language being Sanskrit, but all well-versed in Newar. As the chief Brahmin group among Newars and as the chief preceptor of the Vedic as well as Tantric knowledge, Rajopadhyayas were placed at top in Nepalese Caste System, and they possess immense social prestige and power, especially among the Hindu Newars.[2]

Priesthood edit

Rajopadhyayas also serve as the Vedic and Tantric temple priests of some of the most important temples of the Vaishnav and Shaivite sect, including Krishna Mandir and the four cardinal Vishnu temples of Kathmandu Valley; Changu Narayan, Sesh Narayan/Budhanilkantha, Bishankhu Narayan, and Ichanghu Narayana, as well as the Kumbheshwar Temple. In most other major temples with explicit Shakta and Tantra functions which require blood sacrifice and the use of alcohol, Rajopadhyayas are absent, and the priestly functions are performed by the Chatharīyā/Kşatrīya-status Karmāchāryas. Most of the other Shakta or Ganesh shrines are maintained by the farmer Jyapus or by unclean-castes like the Jogi/Kapali or the untouchable Chyāmaha/Déula. The lone exception to the rule of Rajopadhayayas not being part of the Shakta cult is Bhaktapur's Taleju Bhawani temple, the ista-devi of Malla kings, where they serve as the chief priests.[3] In addition to their duties as purohits to Chatharīyās and Śresțhas, Rajopadhyayas also serve as hereditary pujāris of the following temples:

Maithil Brahmins edit

There also exist a group of separate Brahmin among the Newar community who are called Maithil Brahmins with Jha and Mishra surnames. Unlike the Rajopadhyayas, the Maithil Brahmins are not considered as Newars or part of the Newar society by themselves as well as by others. Maithil Brahmins are most prominently the temple priests of the Mahalaxmi Temple, Char Narayan Temple, Jaisidega Temple, Batuk Bhairav, among others. Rajopadhayayas, demonstrating their Kanyakubja heritage, avoid matrimonial ties with the Maithil Brahmins and maintain their 'superior' status over the Maithil Brahmins.

Popular Rajopadhyaya Names edit

Rajopadhyayas popularly use the following surnames: Rajopadhyaya, Sharma, Upadhyaya, Acharya, among others. Some popular Rajopadhyaya names from history and popular culture include:

  • Sudarshan Brahman (a mythical Brahmin to slain Changu Narayan)
  • Gaya Juju (Gayo Bājé) of Sulimha, Patan [4]
  • Vishvanath Upādhyāya of Valimha, Patan [5]
  • Sahasra Shivānanda of Indrachowk [6]
  • Pundit Vamshi Dharānanda Rajopadhyaya of Changu Narayan
  • Newa Priest and scholar Basav Juju Rajopadhyaya from Kathmandu who is working to preserve and promote newa culture, ritual tradition around United States of America.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Toffin, Gerard. (1995). 'The Social Organization of Rajopadhyaya Brahmans of Nepal'. In Gellner, David & Quigley, Declan. (eds). Contested Hierarchies: A Collaborative Ethnography of Caste Among the Newars of Kathmandu Valley. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
  2. ^ Toffin, Gerard (2008). Newar Society: City, Village and Periphery. Himal Books. ISBN 9789993343950.
  3. ^ Toffin, Gerard (2008). Newar Society: City, Village and Periphery. Himal Books. ISBN 9789993343950.
  4. ^ Śarmā, Nutandhar. (1999). "The Legends of Gayaḥbājyā of Pāṭan in the Kāṭhmāṇḍu Valley". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. Vol. 26, No. 2. (July 1999). Kirtipur: CNAS/TU. pp. 239-256.
  5. ^ Rajopadhyaya, Abhas D. (2017). 'Visvanath Upadhyay: Lalitpur ka Tantrik'. In Rajopadhyaya, Birajkaji. (ed.). Lumanti 1137. Lalitpur: Rajopadhyaya Samaj.
  6. ^ Rājopādhyāya, Dineshananda. Devatāharūko vaṃśāvalī. (Unpublished).


External links edit

https://english.onlinekhabar.com/basav-juju-rajopadhyay-newa-priest.html

April 09, 2024
rajopadhyaya, nepali, newar, bramhans, nepal, sanskrit, rājopādhyāya, rāj, upādhyāya, literally, means, royal, teacher, guru, sanskrit, royal, उप, guru, also, colloquially, called, deva, brāhman, brahmin, dyabājyā, grandfather, barmu, brahmin, were, royal, gur. Rajopadhyaya Nepali र ज प ध य य is one of Newar Bramhans in Nepal In Sanskrit Rajopadhyaya or Raj Upadhyaya literally means royal teacher or guru Sanskrit र ज royal उप ध य य guru Rajopadhyayas also colloquially called Deva Brahman God Brahmin or Dyabajya God Grandfather or Barmu Brahmin were the royal gurus and purohits of the Malla kings and their Hindu aristocracy present day Chathariyas Today the Rajopadhyaya Brahmans are the domestic priests of the high caste Hindu Newars principally the Chathariyas and Sresțhas and also certain segments of clean caste Hindu Newar groups most notably Bhaktapur Jyapus of the Kathmandu Valley In theory the Chathariyas of the Kathmandu Valley do not call on other Brahmin group as Rajopadhyayas alone serve as their historical purohits and perform all their life cycle Sanskara rituals including attaining their Gayatri Mantra verse and the sacred thread janai in the Upanayana ceremony This is opposed to all other clean caste Newar groups who call upon a Buddhist Vajracharya as their family priest to conduct all life cycle ceremonies 1 Rajopadhyayas are an endogamous Brahman group who are the descendants of Kanyakubja Brahmins of Kannauj who immigrated to Kathmandu Valley as late as the 16th century CE They are divided among the three cities of Kathmandu Bhaktapur and Lalitpur into strictly exogamous clans having three gotras Gargya of Lalitpur Bharadwaja of Bhaktapur and Kaushik of Kathmandu all belonging to the Madhyamdina school of the Shukla Yajurveda their holy language being Sanskrit but all well versed in Newar As the chief Brahmin group among Newars and as the chief preceptor of the Vedic as well as Tantric knowledge Rajopadhyayas were placed at top in Nepalese Caste System and they possess immense social prestige and power especially among the Hindu Newars 2 Contents 1 Priesthood 2 Maithil Brahmins 3 Popular Rajopadhyaya Names 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksPriesthood editRajopadhyayas also serve as the Vedic and Tantric temple priests of some of the most important temples of the Vaishnav and Shaivite sect including Krishna Mandir and the four cardinal Vishnu temples of Kathmandu Valley Changu Narayan Sesh Narayan Budhanilkantha Bishankhu Narayan and Ichanghu Narayana as well as the Kumbheshwar Temple In most other major temples with explicit Shakta and Tantra functions which require blood sacrifice and the use of alcohol Rajopadhyayas are absent and the priestly functions are performed by the Chathariya Ksatriya status Karmacharyas Most of the other Shakta or Ganesh shrines are maintained by the farmer Jyapus or by unclean castes like the Jogi Kapali or the untouchable Chyamaha Deula The lone exception to the rule of Rajopadhayayas not being part of the Shakta cult is Bhaktapur s Taleju Bhawani temple the ista devi of Malla kings where they serve as the chief priests 3 In addition to their duties as purohits to Chathariyas and Sresțhas Rajopadhyayas also serve as hereditary pujaris of the following temples Changu Narayan a UNESCO World Heritage site in Bhaktapur Pasupatinath another UNESCO World Heritage Site Rajopadhyayas were the chief priest of the temple in the past in Kathmandu Taleju temples in Kathmandu Bhaktapur and Lalitpur Dui Maju temple in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur Kumbheshwor Mahadev in Lalitpur Nyatapola Siddhilaxmi Temple in Bhaktapur Krishna Temple in Patan Durbar Square Sano Pashupati in Kathmandu Durbar Square Ichangu Narayan Temple in Halchowk Shesh Narayan in Farping Hanuman Agam temple in Kathmandu Durbar Square Laxmi Narayan temple in Changu Narayan complexMaithil Brahmins editThere also exist a group of separate Brahmin among the Newar community who are called Maithil Brahmins with Jha and Mishra surnames Unlike the Rajopadhyayas the Maithil Brahmins are not considered as Newars or part of the Newar society by themselves as well as by others Maithil Brahmins are most prominently the temple priests of the Mahalaxmi Temple Char Narayan Temple Jaisidega Temple Batuk Bhairav among others Rajopadhayayas demonstrating their Kanyakubja heritage avoid matrimonial ties with the Maithil Brahmins and maintain their superior status over the Maithil Brahmins Popular Rajopadhyaya Names editRajopadhyayas popularly use the following surnames Rajopadhyaya Sharma Upadhyaya Acharya among others Some popular Rajopadhyaya names from history and popular culture include Sudarshan Brahman a mythical Brahmin to slain Changu Narayan Gaya Juju Gayo Baje of Sulimha Patan 4 Vishvanath Upadhyaya of Valimha Patan 5 Sahasra Shivananda of Indrachowk 6 Pundit Vamshi Dharananda Rajopadhyaya of Changu Narayan Newa Priest and scholar Basav Juju Rajopadhyaya from Kathmandu who is working to preserve and promote newa culture ritual tradition around United States of America See also editBahun Nepalese caste system Newar caste system Shaivism Shakta GotrasReferences edit Toffin Gerard 1995 The Social Organization of Rajopadhyaya Brahmans of Nepal In Gellner David amp Quigley Declan eds Contested Hierarchies A Collaborative Ethnography of Caste Among the Newars of Kathmandu Valley Oxford Clarendon Press Toffin Gerard 2008 Newar Society City Village and Periphery Himal Books ISBN 9789993343950 Toffin Gerard 2008 Newar Society City Village and Periphery Himal Books ISBN 9789993343950 Sarma Nutandhar 1999 The Legends of Gayaḥbajya of Paṭan in the Kaṭhmaṇḍu Valley Contributions to Nepalese Studies Vol 26 No 2 July 1999 Kirtipur CNAS TU pp 239 256 Rajopadhyaya Abhas D 2017 Visvanath Upadhyay Lalitpur ka Tantrik In Rajopadhyaya Birajkaji ed Lumanti 1137 Lalitpur Rajopadhyaya Samaj Rajopadhyaya Dineshananda Devataharuko vaṃsavali Unpublished External links edithttps english onlinekhabar com basav juju rajopadhyay newa priest html http www rajopadhyaya info http rajopadhyaya blogspot com Dyczkowski Mark S G 2000 Kubjika Kali Tripura and Trika ISBN 9783515077729 Dyczkowski Mark S G 2001 The Cult of the Goddess Kubjika A Preliminary Comparative Textual and Anthropological Survey of a Secret Newar Goddess ISBN 9783515081061 https english onlinekhabar com basav juju rajopadhyay newa priest html Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rajopadhyaya amp oldid 1195991090, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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