Nritya Mandala Mahavihara preserves & shares the traditions of Buddhist practice, arts, & culture held by the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley region of Nepal.

 

Established in Portland, Oregon in 2009, our center is the first Newar Vajrayana Buddhist temple in the West. This Vihara is a ritual and performance space as well as a library of old and new Buddhist texts. We celebrate the Newar Vajrayana Buddhist tradition through ritual and Charya dance, enlivening Buddhist teachings with art and devotion.

We bring together people from diverse traditions to study and practice Buddhism and its related sacred arts and to share cultural gatherings and life cycle rituals essential to the Nepalese community. We hold the traditions of the last living current of Sanskrit Buddhism, integrating each aspect of life into spiritual practice.

Temple Open Every day 8am -9am weekday and weekend 9am-10am for Meditation

Upcoming Events

1)The Attunement Residency

2)Retreat   on Mara Roast

3)Chant for peace

4)16 Year Anniversary

5)Mantra, Dharani Chanting

6)Buddhist Bhajan and Sadhana practice

7)Yogic singing practice

8)Full moon Namasangiti chant


All in pacific Time

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

The Attunement Residency

Sept 8-14

more info: https://harryandsamek.com/

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

Retreat   on Mara Roast
Sept 29- oct 5th
  

Every fall, our community comes together for the most unique week on our calendar: 

The Mara Roast.

Think of it as part tantric retreat, part ritual fire ceremony, part deep-dive into the heart of Vajrayana practiceβ€”wrapped in the warmth and quirk of Portland community life. This is where we gather to β€œroast Mara”—not out of anger, but as an act of transformation, composting our doubts, fears, and tired habits into the fuel for wisdom and joy.

If you’ve ever wanted to take your practice beyond books, screens, and weekend workshops, this is the week where the teachings come alive in the room, in the ritual, and in your own body-mind.

The Teachers & What They’re Bringing

We’ve lined up an extraordinary roster of lamas, each bringing transmissions, empowerments, and practices you’re unlikely to find all under one roof anywhere else.

Guru Prajwal Vajracharya

The Six Pāramitās – The Foundational Values of Buddhism
From generosity to wisdom, these perfections are the Bodhisattva’s toolkitβ€”and they’re just as relevant in 2025

Lama Fede Andino

The Complete Vajravidharana from the Termas of DΓΌddul Dorje
A rare and potent ritual cycle for purification, protection, and empowermentβ€”straight from the hidden treasure teachings.

Lama Dorje Sherab

Lhatsun Jigme Shitro Teaching
Plus a Direct Introduction from Longsal through the Bardo, sealed with a HUMβ€”directly pointing to the nature of mind in the space between lives.

Lama Celeste Palavecino

Prajñāpāramitā – The Heart of the Buddhas
Teaching and empowerment into the mother of all Buddhasβ€”the wisdom that perceives emptiness.

Lama Jillian Narayan

The Lord of Generosity – Jambhala
Includes Dharani transmission and a smoke offering to call in prosperity and clear away material obstacles.

Lama Joshua Proto

Astrological Teachings of Grahamatrika
A Vajrayana astrological system that connects the movement of the cosmos to your spiritual path.

Lama Christos Christodoulidis

The 12 Links of Interdependence
A deep dive into dependent originationβ€”paired with a White Tara Empowerment for longevity and healing.

Ericson Proper

Geshe Chekawa’s Seven Points of Mind Training
Classic Lojong wisdom for cultivating compassion and transforming adversity into awakening.

Why Portlanders Love This Event

  • This isn’t a livestream or a conferenceβ€”it’s about showing up in person, sharing tea, and practicing together.

  • You’ll receive transmissions and empowerments that are traditionally only given face-to-face.

  • Our sangha blends deep spiritual discipline with the laid-back, creative energy Portland is famous for.

  • You’ll walk away with living practices you can integrate into daily lifeβ€”whether you’re in a meditation hall, at your job, or cycling across the Burnside Bridge.

Join Us

Reserve your spot at vajrakula.com/mara-roast-2025.

Space is intentionally limited to keep things intimate, so once we fill up, that’s it.

πŸ”₯ Let’s gather, light the fire, and roast Mara together. πŸ”₯

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

Come and join for Chant for Peace


πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

16 Year Anniversary
November 10 Monday all day

Authentic Ritual  8pm to 12 noon

Lunch 12-2pm

2-3pm,108 butter lamp and refuge dance offering

Dharma Teaching 3-4pm

Buddhist Bhajan 4-4:30pm

Dance offering 5-7pm and dinner

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

On weekly program in vihara

Mantra, Dharani and Sutra Chant

Every Tuesday at 6pm (on line only)

Dharani literature has existed for over two millennia in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. Widespread around the world and especially in the Nepalese Buddhist community, Dharanis are typically used to prevent misfortune, remove obstacles, heal and protect. Dharanis are also used in life cycle rituals and other practices. 

To keep this practice alive, we are going to practice every Tuesday at 6pm, please come and join us. It’s free. Portland time. Please join 10 minutes before.

Free to Join  on Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81675243031?pwd=YXBsZk52U3M3YXFFNS9nd1ZpdmVFUT09

Meeting ID: 816 7524 3031

Passcode: 328871

500px-828_CE_Paramesvaratantra_Sanskrit_palm_leaf_manuscipt,_Late_Gupta_script,_Nepal.jpg

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

Sadhana Practice +Buddha Bhajan

Every Wednesday 6pm (online or in person )

padhamanatewor

if you are interested on Meditation and Sadhana Here is the link

(just for the practitioner)

Free to Join  on Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81543420523?pwd=b3ZCQi9yTWVIR2h2R2FrUllMRnFLdz09

Meeting

ID: 815 4342 0523

Passcode: 8872

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

Singing practice

Every Friday at 8am(online or in person )

IMG_8518.JPG

The songs of Charya Dance are a sadhana of deity yoga practice in simple Sanskrit. Anyone interested in learning these songs and about the singing tradition please join

Free to Join  on Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81779088506?pwd=eVNFMjdhWFZGMThoZmt1QUxpYlNTZz09

Meeting ID: 817 7908 8506

Passcode: 426161

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

Full Moon

167 Verses  of Manjusri (Namasangiti)

The Nama-samgiti is considered amongst the most advanced teachings given by the Shakyamuni  Buddha   Nama-samgiti was preached by Shakyamuni Buddha for his disciple  Vajrapani and his wrathful retinue in order to lead them into  Buddha-hood  The essence of the Nama-samgiti is that  Manjushri  bodhisattva is the embodiment of all knowledge. The Nama-samgiti is a short text, only circa 167 verses and a prose section. It is a fraction of the vast  Sutra. The Nama-samgiti contains all of the Buddha’s dharmas. Therefore, all sentient beings should definitely study and recite the manjushri-nama-samgiti.

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

Vihara has Vacancy for Pujaries

Screen Shot 2021-07-25 at 10.58.45 AM.png

As you know, our vihara has been doing daily puja in the temple since it’s establishment, 365 days a year. It has been 14 years with out missing a day.

Over time some pujaris have moved away or their circumstances have changed, so that now there is a vacancy for some days. If you want to learn to do the ritual, we will be training individuals one-on-one by appointment in the morning at 8am on weekdays and on weekends at 9am. This is a volunteer opportunity. It is especially good for those who meditate and want to learn a different way of meditation by doing daily puja. In the training you will learn the meaning and significance of each element of the ritual. This Newah Vajrayana Buddhist ritual has been passed down from the 3rd century and is critical to the life of our vihara. Maintaining this practice not only benefits the vihara, but also helps those who perform it to grow in their own spirituality. Anyone who is interested is welcome. You do not need any background.

If you want to donate your time and practice, please contact Prajwal Vajracharya 503-807-5252prajwalguvaju@gmail.com

πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™πŸ™

 
 

Sanskrit Buddhist practice & culture from the ancient crossroads
 of the Nepal Mandala, now shining in the West.

 
NMM Banner for Web.jpg