Songs and Lives of the Jomo (Nuns) of Kinnaur, Northwest India : Women's Religious Expression in Tibetan Buddhism Book

Contents: Acknowledgements. Note on languages. Introduction. 1. Jomos of Kinnaur. 2. Gurus and disciples. 3. Song in Kinnauri Buddhism: Githang and Mgurma. 4. Kinnauri Nun’s self-presentation in song and life story. 5. Conclusions. Appendices: i. List of Jomos, Lamas, and scholars. ii. Chos Nyid Zangmo interview. iii. Githang. iv. Mgurma. v. Death of Negi Rinpoche : told by Bogti and Tenzin Dolma. Bibliography. Index.

“Jomos are nuns, celibate women devoted to the practice of Buddhism. Kinnaur is a Himalayan tribal district on the Tibet border in Himachal Pradesh, India. This ground-breaking book tells the story of Kinnauri Jomos in their own voices through their two song genres–Kinnauri and Tibetan– and their self-narrated lives.

After hearing a Kinnauri Jomo singing at a hermitage in North India, the author sets out to trace the Jomos back to their villages in Kinnaur. Journeying into the mountainous land of the Kinnauras–said to be descendants of legendary celestial musicians–staying in isolated villages, and participating in the Jomos’ daily lives and rituals, she begins to understand who these women are, what Buddhism means to them, and why they sing.

The book, based on interviews and recordings of 50 Jomos over a 15-month period, contains the texts of 23 songs and 7 life stories.”  (jacket)