What is "mundhum"

Mundhum (also known as Peylan) is the ancient religious scripture and folk literature of the Kirat people of Nepal. It is the ancient, indigenous religion of Nepal. Mundhum means "the power of great strength" in the Kiranti languages. The Mundhum covers many aspects of the Kirant culture, customs and traditions that have been taken from the Vedic civilisation in South Asia.

Mundhum is organised into two parts — Thungsap and Peysap. The Mundhum extends beyond religion, serving as a guide for culture, ritual and social values. Mundhum is written in ancient Kiranti languages and versions vary among the various Kirat tribes, serving as each tribe's distinctive culture and framing their social identity and unity in relation to other tribes and peoples.