Re-Understanding Banjhakri: Forest Shaman as a Therapeutic Ally and a Social Equalizer
Nepalese Culture May 7, 2025 Peer reviewed DOI: 10.3126/nc.v18i1.78281 via OpenAlex
Summary
Banjhakri, a supernatural shamanic entity in West Central Nepal and parts of North Eastern India, plays significant social and therapeutic roles. The article discusses his attributes, status as a root guru, and the initiation of young boys through abduction into shamanism. Banjhakri serves as a therapeutic ally and a social equalizer, helping shamans interpret various issues. His importance in Nepalese society is linked to his utility amidst changing social dynamics.
Study at a glance
| Population | Banjhakri and its cultural significance in Nepalese society |
|---|---|
| Key finding | Banjhakri's role in Nepalese society is closely tied to his utility in social life and therapeutic practices. |
Abstract
This article explores the social and therapeutic roles of banjhakri, a supernatural shamanic entity whose presence extends from West Central Nepal to parts of North Eastern India. It draws exclusively upon a rich cross section of extant scholarship to offer a composite assessment of folklores and symbolism surrounding banjhakri. As such, the article discusses his physical and behavioural attributes, his status as the root guru of shamans, and his symbiotic relationship with his consort and antagonist, banjhakrini. In addition, I examine the curious phenomenon of abduction of mainly young boys by banjhakri, which marks their initiation into this arcane world. Moreover, I analyze banjhakri's role as a therapeutic ally, a social equalizer, and a tool that allows shamans to interpret woes and maladies. The article concludes by positing that banjhakri’s place in Nepalese society has been tied inextricably to his utility in Nepalese social life, and discusses his legacy amidst unprecedented changes in social dynamics.