Mesmerized by Mantra: Gregory Maskarinec and Nepali Shaman Oral Text

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/dsaj.v17i02.55720

Keywords:

dhami-jhankri, Gregory G. Maskarinec, oral texts, Nepal, traditional healing

Abstract

A cursory review of the literature shows that shamanism as traditional healing has been a subject of scholarly interest. Many foreign scholars have studied the Nepali shamans and their healing practices. Professor Gregory G. Maskarinec is known for his in-depth ethnographic study of the oral texts of Nepali shamans. He explored the shamanic world, particularly the meaning of mantras shamans use to diagnose and treat affliction, and published books on Nepalese Shaman Oral Texts. He was honored by Birendra Pragyalankar, a prestigious award given to foreign scholars for their scholarly contributions.  Maskarinec, a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Hawaii, passed away from cancer on June 16, 2022, at 71. He is no longer with us but will be remembered for his contributions. This paper examines the relevance of traditional healing in light of Professor Maskarinec's work on Nepali shamans.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
Abstract
107
PDF
177

Author Biography

Bamdev Subedi

Bamdev Subedi (https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6843-6412) is a medical anthropologist with a deep interest in public health. He holds a master’s degree in Anthropology from Tribhuvan University, and MPhil and PhD in social science in health, from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He has more than a decade of working experience in health and development sector in Nepal. His research interests include traditional medicine, medical pluralism, and the political economy of health. His MPhil research was on ‘Indigenous Healing Practices’ and his PhD on ‘Medical Pluralism’. He has co-edited a book Ethnomedicine and Tribal Healing Practices in India and published a dozen of papers in edited volumes and research journals. Currently, he is working on his forthcoming book on Medical Pluralism in Nepal.

Downloads

Published

2023-06-13

How to Cite

Subedi, B. (2023). Mesmerized by Mantra: Gregory Maskarinec and Nepali Shaman Oral Text. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 17(02), 26–32. https://doi.org/10.3126/dsaj.v17i02.55720

Issue

Section

Articles