Posted by: JPEG June 21, 2009
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Gurung ni beauty
Origins of Gurung

The ancient tamu(gurung) tradition known as "Pye-tan-lhu-tan" ...is preserved history of tamu (gurung) the 'Pye-tan-lhu-tan' stated that the Gurung originated from the western Mongolia.Gurung Shamanism tradition is similar to natives in Siberia and Mongolia. Some anthropologists accepted that the Gurungs descended from central Asia (Xiongnu).

The History of the Kirat People mentioned that combination of three races known by the names of Khambongbas(Khambos), the Tangsangthas(Mongols) and the  Munaphens(Chinese) migrated to the Himalayas regions. The Khambos, were the first immigrants to the Himalayan region followed by the Tangsangthas and the Munaphens. The latter group Tangsangthas and the Munaphens people intermingled with the Khambos to constitute a big human race.

Suresh Singh remarked "In about 6th century AD, the Mongols from central Asia, probably from east Mongolia, moved to Nepal, these were pastoralists, Iron using and cavalry men. The Mongols defeated the Kiratas and the Austrics(Dravidians) and assimilated them into their hordes; some Kiratas moved to east Nepal where already other Kiratas were living."
Bista wrote that the Kirat descendants include all Indo-Mongolian people speaking various Tibeto-Burmese dialects as their mother tongue, the principal of which are the Rai, Limbu, Yakkha, Sunuwar, Jirel, Hayu, Gurung, Magar, Thakali, Thami and Chepang in the hills, and the Tharu, Danuwar, Bote Majhi, Dhimal, Meche, Koche in the plains. He also cited that the earliest Newar of Kathmandu are also thought to belong to this group.

Points to be taken: It is very interesting to find the linkage bond between some tribes of Kirat
people in the east and the Gurung people in the west still today as provided by the scholars work.
Here's a some excerpts from Gurung Vansawali collected by Hodgson in his Essays on Languages of Northern Tibet.
"At present the Lohorong Rai tribes residing in Sovaya Uttar district of Limbuwan or Pallo Kirat in East Nepal claimed that Muh Rong to be their first leader. Interestingly so do the Gurung who claim Muh Rong to be their first leader, which same is supposed to be the corruption of the word Maw Rong or Morong. At present the Gurung tribe pronounces the word Muhrung for Morong which means king. In their culture of Ghato dance the Gurung songsters recite their traditional song and say that from the time of king Morong they have been taught to sing and dance Ghato. They sing such song and dance at least for three days and three nights. The Sasi Mundhum of Khaling Rai tribe agrees with that of Gurung tribe. The children of these nine chiefs or Gurungs, do not follow Buddhism. They have their own tradition and culture which they call kep and he who knows such Kep are called Kepring. It is from this original word kepring, the modern word Giyabring or Ghyabring has been derived. Ghyabrings are priests of the Gurung tribe. When the Lamaism of Tibet spread in the neighbourhood of Gurung districts, they also preferred to address their priest by the name of Ghyabring Lama. In Gurung language the children of these nine chiefs or Gurongs or Gurungs are called Kugyi which means the children of nine families. When the influence of these nine chiefs spread northwards, the old Kirat king of Chan dynasty made friendship with the Gurung chiefs and mixed with them. The Gurung legend describes that in the beginning the Gurung chief Nuchni by name was unknown to the aboriginal Kirat king who was known by the name of Ghaley. Gha or Kha means face and Ley means good; which comes to the meaning of man of good face."

Work Referenced:
Suresh Singh (Some Notes On Nepali Castes and Sub-Castes-Jat and Thar)
The History of the Kirat People, 2003
Fatalism and development By Dor Bahadur Bista, 1991
Himalayan anthropology by James F. Fisher, 1978

Last edited: 22-Jun-09 11:43 AM
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