The political use of myth in Nepal. An ethno-historical reading of Matsyendranâth ; L'usage politique du mythe au Népal. Une lecture ethno-historique du dieu Matsyendranâth

Abstract

International audience ; Râto Matsyendranâth is one of the more complex figure of the pantheon of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. This many-faceted god illustrates the interaction beetwen Tantric and Vajrayana Buddhism and Hinduism (again, mainly Tantric Hinduism) within the very limited confine of an autochtonous society, the Newars. From the earliest references, he is linked with the highest values of religion, as well as with the former Malla kings and the agricultural prosperity of the kingdom. It is the purpose of this article to show that a particularly clear instance of the so-called Dumezilian trifunctional ideology can be founded in the legendary account of the coming of Matsyendranâth to Nepal. However the synthesis of the three functions within a single trivalent deity must be understood in the local context. It is a historical construction, partly promoted by Malla kings to be accepted by all their subjects, Hindus and Buddhists, and to strenghten their power