Birth rites of
Sikkimese Bhutia
By S.G. Dokhampa
Birth rites of Sikkimese Bhutias have close affinity with the Lepchas
of Sikkim. Before we go for birth-rites, many vital points have to be borne in
mind by the parents to restrict themselves during the pregnancy period for the
betterment of the child. This is in fact a precautionary measure to be taken up
by both the husband as well as the wife. There is also customary belief that
all the food items viz., chang, Tsampo, butter, etc., prepared for the mother
and the Child is not to be opened and
eaten by other family members before they eat. It is customary to make an
amulet comprised of a snail’s shell, kowri and old copper coin in the belief
that it will protect the child from getting frightened against evil while
asleep. Some uses child’s own navel (cut
after birth) for similar purpose. Most of the parents tie the amulet to the child’s
cradle as it is inconvenient to tie it to child’s body.
The descriptions
of custom & rites may be divided into five chapters as under:
1. Bhuchhem Naykap or Stage of Pregnancy:
Dos and Don’ts
during the pregnancy:
a. A
pregnant woman should not eat the flesh of an animal whose throat is cut or
which has been killed in her presence. Thamthue or side effect: It is treated
inauspicious and believed that the child is likely to die soon after its birth.
Remedy: In case if such a thing happens accidentally,
then the bone of the animal is to be kept and rubbed on the throat after the child’s
birth.
b. A
pregnant woman should not move out of her house at night in order to avoid the
infliction of demons.
c. The
first to seventh months is considered to be the most sensitive period during
which the child in the mother’s womb evolves to develop its entire organs of
the body. During this period, the parents should avoid watching Solar or lunar
eclipses. Side effect: If they do so then it is believed that their child would
get a bluish or reddish colour or he/she would faint constantly or inflicted
with epilepsy. Remedy: If this happens accidentally, then the remedy to avoid
any untoward incident is that after the birth of the said child, it is believed
that the placenta should be concealed under a stone or a wooden plank with
pictures of sun and the moon drawn on them and placed on a branch of a tree.
d. Both
the husband and wife should not watch any animals being slaughtered or any
death caused by suicide. It is believed that the side effects of witnessing the
same would bring physical deformity to the coming child.
e. Both
husband and wife should not watch a dying person or either visit the mourning
house. It also affects the child’s personality.
f.
The husband should also avoid hunting during his
wife’s pregnancy. Side effect: If he breaks an animal’s leg during hunting, his
child may be born as cripple (Kangkyok). If the animal dies as a result of
excessive bleeding then his child would also be born with a blood mark on his
face or over the body, which is often referred to as ‘Angel-mark’ in common
parlance today.
g. The
husband should avoid fishing with a hook. Side effect: If he does so then even his child would be
born with a cleft-lip (Kharey).
h. The
husband should avoid making container of bamboo or bamboo cylinder meant for carrying
water. Side effect: if he does so, then his child in his later years would
speak through his nostril or would develop a problem with his throat.
i.
The husband should avoid blocking the holes of
any leaking bamboo can. If this is done by him, then the child would be born without
an anus. This is although a rare case in today’s world.
j.
Lastly both the husband and wife should avoid
opening the lock of any temple or a monastery. Side effect: If they do so then
their child would be born dumb. Remedy: It is believed that precautionary
measure to avoid any such untoward incident would be to wash the lock of the
said temple or monastery and thereafter make the child drink the water used for
washing.
k. Both
the parents should visit a high Rinpoche to seek his blessings for the well
being of the expected child. It is also advisable to consult a Shamanist priest.
2. Tshamshing :
As
soon as a child is born, butter is placed in his/her mouth followed by a little
ground rice after an hour. On the other hand, immediately after the child’s
birth in a household, a cut branch is planted as ‘Tshamshing’ in the courtyard
of the house to signify that a new baby is born and also signifies that the house
is under defilement. This is an indication for the people to refrain themselves
from entering the house. The period of ‘Dhip’(grib)
or defilement is three days as per the Sikkimese Bhutia tradition. During this
period the wife is considered unclean and kept in the corner of a room.
3. Bhangsang or Purification rites:
“Bhangsang”
literally means to remove the defilement in the house caused by delivery of the
new born child and the ceremony is conducted by a lama from the nearby
monastery in which he burns incense and sprinkles holy water in all the rooms
of the house. The mother of the child has to bathe with holy water mixed in
ordinary water in order to remove her physical defilement. Thereafter, the lama
leaves the house and prepares the horoscope of the child as desired by the
parent.
4. Phya-kay:
On
the same day, the women from the village gather at the new born baby’s house to
celebrate the event in their own way. “Phaykay” literally means ‘ Phya’- Hen and ‘kay’ means a share. In fact, they help each other by contributing a
live cock or hen with butter packed in leaves weighing about 250 to 500 grams
and which is reciprocal. However, the host has to serve the women guests with
chicken curry rice as per tradition. As per customary belief, before cooking
the “phyakay meal” wood of “Chilaune” or “Sishing (Balayo)” is to be put in the
fire place. This act is considered to make the child free from skin allergies caused
by touching or coming into contact with any of above mentioned trees in the future.
After refreshments, they all share their experience and feelings. The eldest
amongst the women folks of the village names the new born baby. The manner of
giving the new name is mainly based on the child’s appearance, colour or of
auspicious dates or he may also be named according to the day on which he was
born. If the parents are still not satisfied with the name given, then they may
further consult a High ranking lama or Rinpoche for obtaining a suitable name.
5. Jhi-ton or Birth-feast:
“Jhiton” is a birth-feast in which
village children are invited and serve them with porridge prepared from rice or
wheat. After refreshment, the invited
children are given coins and sweets in the form of gifts. At the same time, two
lamas are engaged to recite ”Bumchung”
and “Jhipoe Donchen Chonga” texts to
ward off all misfortunes or infliction by demons. On the other hand, poor
household used to feed the invited children on “Gruel (Phythuk)” only in olden
days. But now a days, the practice of “jhi-ton” is almost done away with and
people are gradually attracted to western custom of hosting Birthday parties
instead.
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