Today is Matina’s tenth birthday. So, she wakes up early to go to Swayambhu with her grandfather for a prayer. On the way, she sees a crowd of people playing different kinds of musical instruments. Curious, she asks her grandfather about them. Her grandfather tells her that these instruments are called Gunla Baja and promises to tell her the story of Gunla and Gunla Baja later that night.

Every night before bed, Grandpa tells Matina a new story. Since tonight she gets to hear an even more exciting story, she quickly finishes her dinner and runs to Grandpa’s room earlier than usual. 

As Grandpa arranges the bed, she eagerly sits on it, ready to listen, and asks:

Matina: “Grandpa, you said you would tell me about Gunla today!”

Grandpa: “Oh! You’ve come early today. Alright, listen! The tenth month of the Nepal Sambat calendar is called Gunla. Throughout this month, Buddhist Newars from different neighborhoods play musical instruments every morning while walking around various Chivahs (small Buddhist shrines) before heading to Swayambhu.”

Matina (delighted): “And so many different kinds of instruments! They sounded so beautiful.”

Grandpa: “Yes, indeed! Those are all Gunla Baja, along with many other musical instruments being played.”

Matina: “There was one instrument that looked like a horn. What was that?”

Grandpa: “That was a horn—an actual buffalo horn! It is called Nyaku Baja. ‘Nyaku’ means horn.”

Matina: “Oh wow! But why do they play it while walking around?”

Grandpa: “Today, I will tell you the story behind it. Now, listen carefully.”

A long time ago, there was a city called Shashipattan(शशीपट्टन), ruled by a king named Singhbhel. He had a queen named Surakshani. The king really enjoyed hunting. He would go into the forest to hunt birds, tigers, bears, and various wild animals.

The queen considered hunting to be a sin. Therefore, she would request the king not to kill the innocent wild animals. However, the king never agreed.

Due to his sin, the king is reborn as a buffalo in the next life. The queen is also reborn in that same house as the daughter of a Brahmin. As she grows older, she begins to go out daily to graze the buffalo.

One day, as usual, when they go to graze the buffalo, they are surrounded by tigers. The tigers do nothing to her, but they start to attack the buffalo. Out of fear, she hides behind a nearby rock. Before she knows it, the tigers eat the buffalo.

Seeing that, she starts to cry and falls asleep while sobbing. In her dream, God appears and says, “Do not lament. This buffalo was a king named Singhbhel in its past life, and you were his queen. Because he killed many animals, he has become like this today.”

“Now collect all the remnants except for the nyaku (horn) and bury them underground. Establish chivah (चिभा:), small Buddhist shrines, right above it. Make the nyaku into an instrument, go around the chivah while playing nyaku, and meditate there. Your good deeds will destroy its sins, and it will be liberated by manifesting from that nyaku.”

She suddenly woke up from the dream and acted as instructed in the dream. After meditation, King Singhbhel himself appears from Nyaku and is freed from sin. The queen’s virtue destroys the king’s sins.

Usually, Matina would have fallen asleep by now, but tonight, she listens attentively. Then she asks, “After playing the Nyaku, do people still return home?”

Grandpa laughs and says, “Return? Not at all! There is still a tradition of playing the Nyaku because it is believed that just like the king was defeated, others can also be vanquished. And while playing it, people walk around the Chivahs, the Swayambhu Stupa, and the base of Swayambhu in a ritual called Ga: Chahilegu.”

Matina: “And there were so many other instruments too! Why do they play those?”

Grandpa: “Because these instruments carry the words of religious songs.”

Matina (surprised):  “Do instruments speak too?”

Grandpa: “Of course! Skilled musicians play the instruments in a way that mirrors the message of the song. When learning, they sing the melody while playing, so the hands and voice work together.”

Matina: “Can only Buddhist Newars learn to play these instruments, or can others learn too?”

Grandpa: “Of course, anyone can learn! Nowadays, there are places where anyone interested can learn to play them.”

Matina: “Then I want to learn too!”

Grandpa: “Really?”

Matina: “Yes! If we learn, we can pass it on to others and keep the tradition alive for the future.” 

Grandpa: “Alright then! I’ll take you to a place to learn tomorrow.”

Matina: “Okay! I want to learn that big drum.”

Grandpa: “The Dhaa: Baja?”

Matina: “Yes, yes! That one!”

Grandpa: “Alright! Now go to sleep, it’s already late.”

Matina happily falls asleep and starts dreaming about playing the Dhaa: Baja.