This district is one of the districts under Dhaulagiri Zone. This remote district is known for multiple cultures of various ethnic groups including Thakali’s, Sherpas, Bahun, Chetri and many other ethnic groups. Benibazar which is situated by the riverside of Myagdi river is the headquarters of this district. Total population of this district is 103190.
MUSTANG
Mustang is a district of Dhaulagiri zone. This area is specially noted as a busy trade centre between Nepalese and Tibetans.
Mustang is the norhtern most district of Dhaulagiri Zone. This remote and a very popular destination of tourists and pilgrims is rich in its spectacular views, natural beauties and challenging trekking and expedition routes. The famous Muktinath temple which is the sacred destination for Hindus and Buddhists, is in this district. Jomsom is the headquarters and its population is merely 15328.
MUSIC
Nepal is the home of happy and gay music as it may be heard every day resounding in between green mountains and in the plains as well. Folk songs are very popular in Nepal. People sing melodious songs with cheerful concentration in all occasions whether they are working in the field or constructing the roads, building the houses or walking to a long distance. They sing to relax as well. Innumerable people sing in groups during festivals.
However, music and songs of various races and linguistic groups are different from one another. Traditional, linguistic and geographical factors play vital role in the formations of music and rhythm. In mountain regions there is a popular type of folk sing in which males and females sing in turns with view to win the debate between them by pleading stronger points in verses they instantly make and sing. Such songs are romantic in contents, males generally singing offensive verses. Such a discussion takes place in Terai regions between two males on any subject which sometime may create much tension between the followers of the singers.
In cities, people sing only in parties, excursions or other such occasions only. Groups of religious minded people sing religious songs at the shrines of various deities.
Nepal is also rich in classical and traditional music. In Newari, there are seasonal music and rhythm, classical music and instruments and hundred of appropriate occasions prescribed separately for such music and instruments.
MUKTINATH
The famous pilgrimage of Muktinath at an altitude of 12,460 is about 12 miles from Jomsom. This difficult but much valued pilgrimage is taken as revelation of the great power of the god Shiva. The continuous flints of fire produced there is, as it is believed, due to contents of phosphorus mines still unexplored. See Trek to Jomsom.
MUGU
Mugu is one of the districts of Karnali Zone. Gamgadi is the headquarters and the population of this district is 32014.
MUDRAS
Mudra or the gesture has a great significance in the in religious and cultural artifacts of Nepal. In fact, its connotation and impact in Nepalese social behavior is equally considerable. For instance, Abhaya Mudra is the Mudra or Gesture for protection. In this gesture, the arm is elevated and slightly bent forward. To be precise, the right hand is lifted up to the shoulder level with the palm turned outward and all the fingers extended upward. This Mudra is characteristic of Dhyani Buddha Amoghsiddhi and is symbolic to assurance for fearlessness to all onlookers.
In Buddhist tradition, there are several Dhyani Buddha’s and Manushi Buddha’s. The fourth Manushi Buddha is Siddhartha Gautama who is the renowned figure of the present world and thus widely portrayed in arts and sculpture. He is usually shown either seated in the posture of meditation or standing upright. In any case, he is projected with one or the other Mudra or gesture. Different gestures are presented with many other deities as well. The following hand gestures are noteworthy:
Dhyani Mudra
This gesture is the gesture for meditation. In this gesture both hands placed on the lap, right hand on left, with the fingers fully extended and the palms facing upwards;
This Mudra depicts the turning of the wheel of the law of good behavior. In this gesture, both hands are held against the chest in such a way that the thumb and index finger of each of the hands are joined to form a circle, having the right palm shown outwards and the left palm inwards, the two circles touching each other;
Abhaya
Abhaya Mudra is the Mudra (Gesture) of Protection. In this gesture, the arm is elevated and slightly bent. The hand is lifted to shoulder level with the palm turned outward and al the fingers are extended upward. This mudra is characteristic of Dhyani Buddha Amoghsiddhi.
Bhumisparsa is the mudra of witness (earth-touching). The right arm is pendant over the right knee. The hand with the palm turned inward and all the fingers extended downward with the finger touching the lotus throne. The left hand lies on the lap with palm upward. This gesture ‘of touching the earth’ or calling the earth to witness’ commemorating Gautam Bhddha’s victory over temptation by the demon Mara. This gesture is Charascteristic of Dhyani Buddha Akshobhya as well as Shakyamuni.
Dharmachakra
Dharmachakra Mudra is the gesture of Teaching. Literally, Dharma means ‘Laws’ and Chakra means wheel and usually interpreted turning the Wheel of Law. In this gesture both hands are held against the chest, the left facing inward, covering the right facing outward, the index and thumb of each hand making a circle. It is characteristic of Dhyani Buddha Vairochana. It is also a gesture of hands exhibited by Lord Buddha while preaching his first sermon at Sarnath.
Dhyana Mudra is the Mudra of Meditation. It is also called Samadhi or Yoga Mudra. Both hands are placed on the lap, right hand on left with fingers fully stretched and the palms facing upwards. Often, a begging bowl is placed. This is the characteristic mudra of Dhyani Buddha Amitabha.
Jnan Mudra
Janan Mudra is the gesture of teaching. In this gesture, the tips of the index and the thumb are joined and held near the center of chest with the palm turned inward. This is the characteristic mudra of Manjushree.
Namaskar Mudra
Namaskar Mudra is the gesture of prayer. In this gesture, the hands are kept closed to the chest in devotional attitude with the palms and fingers joined. This is the special gesture of Avalokiteswara when projected with more than two arms.
Tarjani Mudra
Tarjani Mudra is the gesture of threatening or warning. Only the index finger is raised while the other fingers are locked up in the fish. This mudra is characteristics of most of the wrathful deities.
Vajrakunkara Mudra
Bajrahunkara Mudra is the gesture of Adi Buddha, Vajradhara. In this gesture the wrists are crossed at the breast. The hands hold usually the Bajra and Ghanta. This is the special mudra of Bajradhara and Samvara and most of the gods when holding their Saktis.
Varada
Varada Mudra is the gesture of Charity or conferring boon or grace. The arm is extended all way down with palm facing outwards, fingers extended downwards. This is the Mudra of Dhyani Buddha Ratna Sambhave, Avalokiteswara, sometimes, of a standing Sakyamuni.
Vitarka Mudra
Vitarka Mudra is the gesture of argument. In this gesture the tips of thumb and index finger touched forming a circle. All the other fingers are extended upwards. This is the mystic gesture of Taras and Boddhisatwas.
MORANG
Morang district of Kosi zone is famous for its industry and trade along with agricultural output. The town Biratnagar is the important centre of various activities in this zone. It is a prominent industrial town of the country. Jute mills, Textile factory, match factory, Sugar mills, Steel factory and many other large and small industries make it a busy town.
Morang is the one of the industrially developed and properous districts of Kosi zone. Biratnagar is the capital of this zone which is the major industrial town of the country.
MONTHS IN NEPAL
As Bikram Sambat is the official era of Nepal, Nepalese months are also accordingly different from Roman Calendar based months. The number of days in any particular month may vary from year to year; some months may have 32 days in maximum where as others may have 29 in minimum. The names of the months are as follows: Baisakh, Jestha, Asadh, Shravan, Bhadra, Aswin, Kartik, Mangsir, Poush, Magh, Falgum and Chaitra. The month of Baisakh starts approximately by the middle of April. The lunar months of the same names generally start later than solar months by about a fortnight and that each of the lunar months is in two parts, bright fortnight (Sukla Paksha) and Dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha), both of 15 days approximately.
MOKSHYA
Mokshya literally means liberation or freedom from life cycle. In Hindu religious system, there are four free ways to reach liberation namely, Dharma or the right action, Artha or the economic activities, karma or the responsibilities or duties and Mokshya or freedom from every thing including life cycles. Unlike the notion that Hindu way of life is very pessimistic and devoid of much room for one’s liberty, all individuals are considered free enough to choose his own ways to attain the final goal of life i.e., MOKSHYA. Hindu religious culture actually teaches or allows one and all to enjoy every thing worth doing so and then to start staying away from that eventually. The message is not to keep repeating the same enjoyments over and over again. Thus, the Hindu approach to liberation is very materialistic in the beginning. The Hindu philosophy believes that the spiritual aspect of Hindu religion can be better understood through experimentations with materialistic aspects of the world. In other words, detachment or Mukti has to come through attachment or Anurakti.
Strong feeling for sacrifice is accepted as the most effective means to reach the higher stage of Mokshya. There are many kinds of sacrifices for that purpose. To give away foods and clothes to the poor and needy in charity is also a kind of sacrifice. Fasting for meritorious purpose, devoting oneself to the noble cause of social welfare and offering rice, flowers and fruits to the deities are all different forms of sacrifice and have their own values. However, the animal sacrifice seems to have been the most popular form of sacrifice. It is interesting to note that Hindus never sacrifice female animals. Animals sacrificed are water buffaloes, goats, chicken, ducks and sheep each symbolizing anger, lust, timidity, apathy and stupidity respectively. One can reach the perfect stage of self realization only when one has full control over all kinds of human vices and demerits. This concept is used for justification of animal sacrifices offered to gods and goddesses.
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