In Limbu Mundhum: Authority and Gender Krishna Prasad Niroula* Abstract The Limbus, one of the indigenous ethnic communities mainly inhabiting the eastern part of Nepal, live with their own distinctive culture under the guidance of Limbu ritual/religious scripture, the Mundhum. The Mundhum is recited and performed by Limbu ritual/religious actants or officiants called Phedangma, Samba, Yeba/Yema, etc. The Mundhum ritual performances embody various aspects of socio-cultural and religio-historical situations, including the role of gender and power in the Limbu community. As the Mundhum provides them with key roles to play, females do hold significant power and privileges in the Limbu community. Keywords: Gender and Power, Limbu Mundhum, Myth, Ritual Performance, Yuma, Sammang Introduction Nepal is a diverse country in terms of ethnicity, culture, religion, and language. The Limbu people are one of Nepal's most prominent indigenous ethnic groups. They have their own culture, traditions, and philosophy, which they follow under the guidance of the Mundhum. Limbu Mundhum refers to ceremonial (religious) narratives in both oral and written form, which include legends, folktales, prehistoric chronicles, sermons, moral or philosophical exhortations, and other lyrical expressions. The Limbu folk religion is largely centered on traditional stories about ancestors, nature, and the practice of naturalism and animism. Folk tales help shape male and female roles, as well as project the community's ideals, philosophies, and worldviews. This study seeks to analyze how Limbu folk stories depict women's social, cultural, economic, and philosophical roles. It also examines how the Limbu Mundhum determines gender and power, and how the status of women differs from that of patriarchal societies. Methodology The study utilizes an exploratory and descriptive research methodology in order to effectively achieve its objectives. It primarily relies on secondary data from a variety of reputable sources such as websites, journals, textbooks, and other online platforms, along with complementary information obtained from key informants. This study integrates both quantitative and qualitative approaches through thematic analysis. Results and Discussion The Mundhum (also known as Peylam), the Limbu's ancient religious text and folk literature, is a folk epic that includes narratives on religious rituals, rites, the creation of the cosmos, animals, and other phenomena. Mundhum literally means "the power of great strength" in the Limbu language. The Limbus believe that the Mundhum is an eternal truth, sacred, and the most powerful text. It is classified into two main categories (Chemjong, 2003): Thung Sap Mundhum – the original oral version passed down verbally through generations. Peysap Mundhum – the written religious text. Tagera Ningwaphuma, the Mundhum’s creator and supreme power, is described as either sexless or a feminine deity. She is the Supreme Body of Knowledge and plays a critical role in all activities, from the pre-natural condition of the world to human civilization. The Mundhum Performance The Mundhums are an oral collection of sacred stories, historical narratives, and philosophical proverbs forming the Limbu religious canon. Every Limbu ritual and cultural observation must be carried out through Mundhum recitations. Major rituals include: Sappokchomen Manggenna Nahangma Tongsing Naming ceremonies Marriage Funeral rites These performances preserve the Limbu intangible cultural heritage and shape their worldview, social norms, and philosophical foundations (Kandangwa, 2079). The Mundhum largely involves ancestry and nature worship. It narrates stories of the Supreme Creator Goddess and other divinities through rituals like: Yuma Mundhum Chasok Tongnam Mundhum Akwama/Akwanama Mundhum Nature divinities include: Tamphungma (forest deity) Tenchhama (lowland deity) Taksangba (hunter deity) Wagongma (protector of pregnant women) Warokma (lake deity) Household divinities include: Yuma Sammang Akwanama Theba Sammang Pichchamma Khewaphukma Nahangma Manggenna These rituals strongly emphasize feminine spiritual authority.