Hinduism in Nepal & Tibet

 In Nepal, Hinduism is the majority religion, and followers are predominantly non-sectarian, though Shaivism is particularly prominent. The religious landscape is also marked by significant syncretism between Hinduism and Buddhism. Tibet's dominant religion is a distinct form of Mahayana Buddhism known as Tibetan Buddhism. 

Nepal

The major Hindu traditions, or sampradayas, practiced in Nepal include: 

Shaivism: The worship of Shiva as the supreme being is widely followed, with ancient roots in the region. The Pashupatinath Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kathmandu, is one of the most sacred Shiva temples in the world.

Vaishnavism: This tradition, centered on the worship of Vishnu and his avatars like Krishna, is also popular. Sri Vaishnavism is one of the more prominent schools.

Shaktism: The worship of the goddess, or Devi, is another key tradition. The cult of the Kumari, a living goddess worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists, is a unique Nepali practice.

Tantric traditions: Newar Hinduism, in particular, has been heavily influenced by Tantra, a esoteric tradition that focuses on rituals and yoga.

Syncretism: A distinguishing feature of Nepali religious life is the widespread dual-faith practice, where Hindus and Buddhists share many practices, gods, and sacred sites. 

Natha, also called Nath (Sanskrit: नाथसम्प्रदाय, romanized: Nāthasaṃpradāya), are a Shaiva sub-tradition within Hinduism in India and Nepal. A medieval movement, it combined ideas from Buddhism, Shaivism, Tantra and Yoga traditions of the Indian subcontinent.The Naths have been a confederation of devotees who consider Shiva as their first lord or guru, with varying lists of additional gurus. Of these, the 9th or 10th century Matsyendranatha and the ideas and organization mainly developed by Gorakhnath are particularly important. Gorakhnath is considered the originator of the Nath Panth. The Nath tradition has an extensive Shaivism-related theological literature of its own, most of which is traceable to the 11th century CE or later. However, its roots are in a far more ancient Siddha tradition.A notable aspect of Nath tradition practice has been its refinements and use of Yoga, particularly Hatha Yoga, to transform one's body into a sahaja siddha state of an awakened self’s identity with absolute reality. An accomplished guru, that is, a yoga and spiritual guide, is considered essential, and the Nath tradition has historically been known for its esoteric and heterodox practices.  

In the Deccan region, only since the 18th century according to Mallison, Dattatreya has been traditionally included as a Nath guru as a part of Vishnu-Shiva syncretism. According to others, Dattatreya has been the revered as the Adi-Guru (First Teacher) of the Adinath Sampradaya of the Nathas, the first "Lord of Yoga" with mastery of Tantra (techniques)

The unconventional ways of the Nath tradition challenged all orthodox premises, exploring dark and shunned practices of society as a means to understanding theology and gaining inner powers.

They formed monastic organizations, itinerant groups that walked great distances to sacred sites and festivals such as the Kumbh Mela as a part of their spiritual practice. The Nath also have a large settled householder tradition in parallel to its monastic groups.

Some of them metamorphosed into warrior ascetics during the Islamic rule of the Indian subcontinent.

The Nath tradition was influenced by other Indian traditions such as Advaita Vedanta monism,and in turn influenced it as well as movements within Vaishnavism, Shaktism and Bhakti movement through saints such as Kabir and Namdev

Tibet

The religion of Tibet is overwhelmingly Tibetan Buddhism, which is not a sampradaya of Hinduism, but a separate and distinct faith. It is a form of Vajrayana Buddhism that incorporates elements from the indigenous shamanic religion, Bön. 

The four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism are: 

Nyingma: The oldest school, founded by Padmasambhava in the 8th century. It is known for its emphasis on the meditative practice of Dzogchen.

Kagyu: An oral lineage that was founded by Tilopa and popularized by the yogi Milarepa.

Sakya: An important scholastic tradition with a rich history and strong emphasis on scholarship.

Gelug: The newest school, headed by the Dalai Lama, who was historically the temporal ruler of Tibet. 

Relationship between Hinduism and Tibetan Buddhism

The relationship between the faiths is complex. While they are two distinct religions, they do share some philosophical concepts, such as karma and the cycle of rebirth (samsara). However, Tibetan Buddhism is not a sect of Hinduism, and its deities and philosophical underpinnings are unique to Buddhism, despite some overlapping imagery. Bön religious beliefs and Tantric Buddhism are profoundly interlinked through centuries of mutual influence, sharing many core tantric practices and philosophical principles. While historically distinct traditions, the relationship is complex, characterized by both borrowing and rivalry. Scholars often note that modern Yungdrung Bön, in particular, closely resembles the tantric practices of the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. 

Shared tantric practices

Deity visualization: Both Bön and Buddhist tantra rely on visualizing deities to connect with one's inner, enlightened potential. This includes visualizing oneself as the deity and merging with them to achieve a transformed state of being.

Mandalas and mantras: Practitioners in both traditions use mandalas as cosmic diagrams of a deity's abode and recite mantras as sacred syllables to invoke deities and gain spiritual power.

Wrathful deities: Both traditions use fierce-looking or wrathful deities to overcome inner obstacles like anger and delusion. Practitioners visualize these deities to transform negative emotions into wisdom.

Dzogchen: The teachings on Dzogchen, or the "Great Perfection," are found in both the Bön tradition and the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism. The principles and terminology are very similar, with both traditions claiming a continuous, ancient lineage.

Teacher-student relationship: Tantric practice in both religions emphasizes the crucial role of the guru or spiritual teacher in guiding the student on the path of transformation. 

Key historical differences

Despite these similarities, Bön and Buddhist tantra have different origins and historical claims, shaping their distinct identities. 

Aspect Yungdrung Bön Tibetan Buddhism (Vajrayana/Tantra)

Origin Proclaims a lineage tracing back to the mythical land of Zhangzhung in Western Tibet, founded by the Buddha-like figure Tönpa Shenrab Miwoche. Follows a lineage of Indian Buddhist teachers, including the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, and the tantric masters who brought Vajrayana teachings to Tibet.

Circumambulation Practices circumambulation (walking around sacred sites) in a counter-clockwise direction. Practices circumambulation in a clockwise direction.

Cosmology Has its own unique cosmology and pantheon of deities, though many mirror Buddhist tantric models. Some of Bön's early, pre-Buddhist, animistic beliefs were incorporated into Tibetan Buddhism. Incorporated many local Bön spirits and deities into its own system, converting them into dharma protectors rather than malevolent forces.

Key Symbol The swastika, or yungdrung, is a central symbol, often pointing to the left. The vajra, or dorje, and the swastika (facing right) are important symbols.

Historical Development Was largely influenced by the spread of Buddhism into Tibet, leading to the structured Yungdrung Bön tradition that mirrors many Buddhist systems. Integrated aspects of the indigenous Bön religion as it took root in Tibet, making it distinct from other forms of Buddhism.

A complex legacy of mutual shaping

The relationship between Bön and Tantric Buddhism is best described as an ancient, evolving dialogue rather than a one-way street.

Early absorption: While early Bön focused on indigenous, shamanistic practices, many rituals and local deities were absorbed into Tibetan Buddhism as it was being established.

Later assimilation: Later, Bön organized itself into the structured, sophisticated system of Yungdrung Bön, incorporating tantric and philosophical principles from Buddhism.

Shared roots and rivalry: Scholars note that some practices, such as the Dzogchen meditative tradition, have an unclear origin and were likely a shared development in Central Asia, leading to a long history of rivalry and debate over authenticity.

Modern rapprochement: Today, the Dalai Lama recognizes Bön as a legitimate Tibetan spiritual tradition, and many modern teachers and practitioners emphasize the core similarities and mutual respect between the paths.