Notions of Lha among the Brogpa of Ladakh

Abstract

This paper explores the different conceptual meanings and connotations of the term lha among an ethnolinguistic community called Brogpa in Ladakh, India, which provides a focused religious context. It addresses the notion of lha in light of Brogpa’s cosmology, religious celebrations, local deity embodiment practice, and, last but not least, personal accounts of experiences of the divine. A key aspect outlined in this study is the possible link between local lha and the cult of pari among neighbouring culturally or linguistically related groups in the region of Gilgit–Baltistan.

Keywords

• Brogpa
• Buddhist Dards
• Bonona
• folk religion
• lha
• shichu