Mundhum

Mundhum is the sacred scripture and body of oral literature of the Limbu people, one of the Kirati communities native to eastern Nepal and extending into parts of India and Sikkim. It functions as a foundational set of myths, cosmology, genealogies, and ritual prescriptions that shape Limbu religious life, social norms, and identity.

The content of Mundhum includes creation stories, explanations of natural phenomena, ancestral narratives, and ethical teachings. It also provides instructions for ceremonies, offerings, and other life-cycle rites. Because it is traditionally transmitted orally, Mundhum is closely tied to performance—songs, chants, and spoken narratives are recited during worship, seasonal observances, and rites such as birth, marriage, and death.

Transmission and practice are historically led by ritual specialists known as Phedangma, who perform and interpret Mundhum during ceremonies. While Mundhum has been passed down through generations in spoken form, portions have been written in the Limbu language using the Limbu script (Sirijunga) or, in some communities, in Devanagari. The oral tradition remains central to its vitality, with communities continuing to consult Mundhum for guidance on religious duties and moral conduct.

Mundhum is a key element of Limbu cultural heritage and is closely linked to language, ritual practice, and social organization. Its study and preservation help document the worldview and intangible cultural legacy of the Limbu and related Kiranti groups.