Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, March 13:

The March edition of the tradition of playing black buck’s horn by Nath jogis during the nights of October and March ‘to protect the villagers from evil spirits’ is beginning from tomorrow.

Only Nath jogis, the disciples of Guru Gorakhnath, which have pierced ears, are privileged to perform the ritual. The tradition is called Pheri Laune in Nepali in which the jogis (saints) wander around the villages and households playing black buck’s horns and chanting hymns of Bhairava ‘to prevent the villages from evil spirits.’ According to Yogi Bishwa Nath, manager of the Mrighasthali Gorakhnath Baba Ashram at Pashupati, there were around 400 Nath jogis registered in Nepal in 1988. “We are planning to restart the process of registration of Nath jogis so as to get a clear account of them. As Nath jogis are a separate class, other jogis do not have the right to practice the ritual. Some fake jogis have been found practicing this ritual in different areas. The registration has become more necessary to prevent such fake ones from misleading the people.”

“As such the number of jogis is declining,” he said. Yogi Dilbar Nath has been practicing this ritual in Kirtipur area for the last 25 years. He has seen a fake jogi with his name practicing this ritual in Kirtipur. According to Yogi Bishwa Nath, “Nath jogis, who have gone through a special ritual and have perforated ears, are the privileged ones to play the instrument.”

“They are distinguished form other jogis by the thick earrings.” The tradition is believed to date back to the time of King Prithivi Narayan Shah when people suffered from many incurable diseases. Later Guru Gorakhnath was given a chance to cure the diseases and he brought out satisfactory results through the practice of Pheri Laune. Since then the practice was established as a ritual and he was known as Pheri Laune Jogi. Historians however argue that such jogis might have been used as spies as they were not barred from visiting different political areas.