Description:
The article discusses the legends of Gayahbajya of Patan in the Kathmandu valley. The legend of this Brahman named Gaya was written by the author while he was collecting oral histories of Patan in 1991. The author argues that these legends' play of life and death, magical spells, interactions between high and low castes, and the relations between teacher and disciple give a clear picture of the medieval Newar society of Patan. Gayahbajya's real name was Gayapati. Gayapati saw an event where a pode made his dead son alive then started to go to pode's house but never entered. The article includes other stories as well and gives details of bringing Candesvari to Patan and of the social topography of Gayahbajya's world. (Rajeev Ranjan Singh 2006-10-24)
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