AN IMPORTANT RITUAL FOR "BABIES" BORN ON 3rd, 13th and 23rd OF LUNAR CALENDAR

 

Not many parents (Buddhists) seem to be aware of an important ritual called "Alu Bugo Nang Ley Toeni". In other words "the ritual to free the newborn from the entrapment of either Lha (god), Dhue (demon) or Tsen (deity)". Our Buddhist astrologers refer to 3rd, 13th and 23rd as གསུམ་གསུམ་བུ་སྒོ། It means, all the dates fall ten days apart and on the thirds. The children born on the 3rd are ensnared by Lha while those born on 13th and 23rd are entrapped in the clutches of Tsen and Dhue, respectively. 

What happens if a baby is unchained from Bugo? The astrologers caution that the baby's life is at significant risk. They also say that even if a child is fortunate enough to live through early childhood, the children born on 3rd, 13th and 23rd will have high mortality rates in their teens or adolescence. So, it is important that the ritual is performed for the longevity of the child. 

How is the ritual performed? It only takes a single astrologer, a maximum of one hour, to perform it. He makes three ritual cakes (torma) similar to 'lue cha sum' and one each cake is offered in the specific directions based on astrological counts; to god, deity and demon. One ritual cake is wrapped in slices of meat, however preferred goep (cattle stomach) and then this cake is buried under the earth as a means of offering to the demon. However, like allopathic medicines have their side effects, the Bugo ritual could cause some adverse effects, for which the astrologers recommend the parents to recite tse-drup (prayers for longevity) following the ritual. 

While taking your babies to a territorial deity (for example, those born in Thimphu to Ap Dhomsab of Changangkha) is crucial to help grow healthy and peaceful, the concerned parents mustn't forget to crosscheck on which lunar dates your babies are born. If they are born on the dates that I have mentioned above, it is advised that the Bugo ritual is performed promptly. A maximum of Nu.2000 can easily conduct the life saving ritual. 

(Source: Tsip Tshewang Dorji).