Kora (pilgrimage)

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Kora (, THL Simplified Phonetic Transcription: kor ra) is a transliteration of a Tibetan word that means "circumambulation" or "revolution". Kora is both a type of pilgrimage and a type of meditative practice in the Tibetan Buddhist or Bon traditions. A ''Kora'' is performed by the practitioner making a circumambulation around a sacred site or object, typically as a constituent part of a pilgrimage, ceremony, celebration or ritual. In broader terms, it is a term that is often used to refer to the entire pilgrimage experience in the Tibetan regions.

Classification and foci

For "pilgrimage", Tibetans generally use the term ''nékor'' (), "circling around an abode" (, THL: né), referring to the general practice of circumambulation as a way of relating to such places. In the context of kora, the ''né'' or ''néchen'' () is rendered as "empowered", "sacred" or "holy" place/object, and the ''né'' is credited with the ability to transform those that circumambulate it. Aspects of both the natural and the man-made world are also considered to be the ''né'' of a wide variety of nonhuman beings such as iṣṭadevatās or ḍākinīs.

''Né'' generally fall into the following four types:
* ''Natural sites.'' The most momentous ''né'' are the great sacred mountains and lakes. They cover large areas, sometimes hundreds of square kilometers. Within these areas the points of power may include: peaks, rocks, caves, springs, confluences and sky-burial sites. Kora associated with these natural sites can be arduous treks of long distances, crossing a number of high passes and through difficult terrain.
:In the Tibetan region, some traditional kora sites important to the region include: the sacred mountains of Mount KailashSnelling, John. (1990). The Sacred Mountain: The Complete Guide to Tibet's Mount Kailas. 1st edition 1983. Revised and enlarged edition, including: Kailas-Manasarovar Travellers' Guide. Forwards by H.H. the Dalai Lama of Tibet and Christmas Humphreys. East-West Publications, London and The Hague. (or Gang Rinpoche or Mt. Tise), Lapchi, Tsari and Kawa Karpo; Lake Manasarovar, Yamdrok and Namtso.

* ''Man-made sites'', including cities, monasteries, temples, stupas, hermitages, etc.

:For example, in Nepal, kora are commonly performed around Swayambhunath and Boudhanath, two important stupas in the Kathmandu Valley; in Tibet, around the Potala Palace or the Jokhang in Lhasa.

* ''Hidden lands'' (beyul): secret or hidden lands; paradisiacal realms located in the remotest parts of the Himalayas.
* ''Holy person'': a pilgrimage can be made to pay respects to a holy person, the holy person in such instances being considered a ''né''.

The pilgrim is known as a ''né korwa'' "one who circles a ''né''" (), thus defining them by the ritual circumambulation(s) they perform as part of their journey. Pilgrims seek to generate merit (see Merit (Buddhism) by performing koras, which are a major merit generator. The more potent the power place destination the greater the merit. A kora is performed by walking or repeatedly prostrating oneself. Prostration (e.g., versus walking), circumambulating repeatedly or an auspicious number of times all produce greater merit. Kora may also be performed while spinning prayer wheels, chanting mantra, or counting rosary beads. Buddhist pilgrims most typically emulate the path of the sun and circumambulate in a clockwise direction. Bön pilgrims traditionally circumambulate counterclockwise.

Notes

References

{{Reflist, refs=

{{cite book , title=The Sacred Life of Tibet , last=Dowman , first=Keith , year=1998 , isbn=978-0722533758 , chapter-url=http://www.keithdowman.net/books/st.htm , chapter=Power Places , pages=147–188
{{Cite book , last1 = Buffetrille , first1 = K. , doi = 10.1093/OBO/9780195393521-0122 , title = Pilgrimage in Tibet , year = 2013 , pmid = , pmc =
{{cite book , title=Religions of Tibet in Practice , editor-last=Lopez, Jr. , editor-first=Donald S. , chapter=Guidebook to La-Phyi , last=Huber , first=Toni , year=1997 , pages=120–134 , isbn=978-0691011837
{{cite book , title=Pilgrimage: From the Ganges to Graceland : An Encyclopedia, Τόμος 1 , author1=Linda Kay Davidson , author2=David Martin Gitlitz , year=2002 , publisher=ABC-CLIO , page
312–313
, isbn=978-1-57607-004-8
{{cite book , title=Encyclopedia of Sacred Places , author=Norbert C. Brockman , year=2011 , publisher=ABC-CLIO - 2nd Edition , page
53–54
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{{cite book , title=Tibet , author1=Bradley Mayhew , author2=Michael Kohn , author3=Daniel McCrohan , author4=John Vincent Belleza , date=April 1, 2011 , publisher=Lonely Planet , pages=250–251 , isbn=978-1741792188
{{cite book , title=On Pilgrimage: Sacred Journeys Around the World , author=Jennifer Westwood , year=2002 , publisher=Paulist Press , page
80–81
, isbn=978-1587680151
{{cite book , title=The Heart of the World: A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise , last=Baker , first=Ian , isbn=978-0143036029 , year=2006
{{cite book , last=Huber , first=Toni , title=The Cult Of Pure Crystal Mountain : Popular Pilgrimage and Visionary Landscape in Southeast Tibet , year=1999 , publisher=Oxford University Press
{{cite web , url=http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Lapchi , work= Rangjung Yeshe Wiki - Dharma Dictionary , title=Lapchi
{{cite web , url=http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/Tsari , work= Rangjung Yeshe Wiki - Dharma Dictionary , title=Tsari
{{cite web , url=http://rywiki.tsadra.org/index.php/gangs_dkar_ti_se , work= Rangjung Yeshe Wiki - Dharma Dictionary , title=Kailash, the White Mountain

External links

THL Simplified Phonetic Transcription of Standard Tibetan (thlib.org)

THL Extended Wylie Transliteration Scheme (thlib.org)

Buddhist pilgrimages
Tibetan Buddhist meditation
Bon