INTRODUCING NEPALI-KHASA SHAMANISM – The Ancient and Profound Shamanism of Nepal Himalayas! Namaste.
My name is Bhola Banstola, a Jhankri Shaman from Nepal with an extended family lineage history and practice in Shamanism. Welcome to my website, where I hope to help folks interested in traditional Shamanism understand my Path and invite you to join in with our courses. My greatest wish is to preserve and share the Shamanism of my tradition, keep it alive, and bring it to new generations of practitioners. I also support Nepali traditional lineage education (param-para) and culture and help poor and needy children go to regular schools through my work and the kindness of others. I believe that shamans should always serve their community in the best way they can. As in other places, Shamanism in Nepal is based on an animistic belief that honours Mother Earth, elemental beings and respects the spirit that resides in all living beings. This universal worldview is vital in preserving the land’s ecology and bringing harmony and universal brotherhood and sisterhood to all things, tangible and intangible. Shamanic sources of power come from honouring the ancestors, lineage protectors, teachers, Mother Earth and the spirits where the Shaman performs their ceremonies. The Shamans must call on the Guardian Spirits of Earth and the Deities, all partners in the work. The hidden sacred language of the land and the spirits is manifested in rhythms, vibrations, and warm and cold sensations in the physical body. Understanding this language, the Shaman always honours the spirits of the place they practice and requests their permission and blessings. The Elements within the body and those of the land are powerfully connected, and this relationship is integral to the way a Shaman works.
Dhami and Jhankri are the generic terms used throughout Nepal for a Shaman or Healer, both male and female. They are the ones people traditionally consult to re-establish harmony and heal mind and body. These Shamans are the central figures in their communities, for they are not only the healers but also the advisers, plant healers, soul guides, storytellers, dancers, singers, artists, and musicians. They acquire these talents and spiritual power and wisdom through their training and experiences working with spirits, ancestral deities, elemental spirits, and guides. They can voluntarily modify their state of consciousness to heal individuals and bring harmony into the community.
