Tabo Monastery
Encyclopedia
Tabo Monastery was founded in 996 CE in the Spiti Valley
, Himachel Pradesh, India by the great Tibetan Buddhist lotswa (translator), Rinchen Zangpo
, the king of western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge
. It is located in the very arid, cold and rocky area at an altitude of 3,050 metres (10,007 ft).
The monastery is surrounded by a high mud brick wall which encloses some 6,300 square metres. (over 1½ acres) and contains 9 temples, 23 chortens, a monks' residence and an extension that houses the nuns' residence. It soon became known as an important centre of learning and of the Kadampa
School (which later developed into the Gelugpa School). However, in 1855 it was reported to have had only 32 monks.
After the earthquake of 1975
a new monastery was built, and in 1983 a new Du-kang or Assembly Hall was constructed. It here that H.H. the Dalai Lama
held the Kalachakra
ceremonies in 1983 and 1996. Above the monastery there are a number of caves carved into the cliff face and used by monks for meditation.
There is a large and priceless collection of thankas (scroll paintings), manuscripts, well-preserved statues, fresco
s and extensive murals which cover almost every wall.
The monastery includes nine temples:
1. The Temple of the Enlightened Gods (gTug-Lha-khang), or Assembly Hall.
2. The Golden Temple (gSer-khang). Said to have been once covered with gold, it was renovated by Sengge Namgyal
, a king of Ladakh
in the 16th century. The walls and ceilings are covered with magnificent murals.
3. The Initiation Temple (dKyil-kHor- khang). There is a huge painting of Vairocana
surrounded by eight Bodhisattvas. The other walls are covered in mandala
s. This is where monks receive their initiations.
4. The Bodhisattva Maitreya Temple (Byams-Pa Chen-po Lha-khang). The image of the Bodhisattva Maitreya
here is over six meters (20 feet) high. There are also murals showing Tashilhunpo
Monastery in Shigatse
and the Potala in Lhasa.
5. The Temple of Dromton (Brom-ston Lha khang) which is thought to have been founded by Dromton (1008-1064 CE) one of the main disciples of Atisha.
The above are thought to be the earliest temples of Tabo and the following are later additions.
6. The Chamber of Picture Treasures (Z'al-ma).
7. The Large Temple of Dromton (Brom-ston Lha khang). After the Assembly Hall, this is the largest temple in the complex and contains many wall paintings. The wooden planks in the ceiling are also decorated.
8. The Mahakala Vajra Bhairava Temple (Gon-khang) contains the protective deity of the Gelukpa sect. It contains fierce deities and is only entered after protective meditation.
9. The White Temple (dKar-abyum Lha-Khang).
Tabo Monastery is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India
as a national historic treasure of India.
Spiti Valley
The Spiti Valley is a desert mountain valley located high in the Himalaya mountains in the north-eastern part of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The name "Spiti" means "The Middle Land", i.e. the land between Tibet and India....
, Himachel Pradesh, India by the great Tibetan Buddhist lotswa (translator), Rinchen Zangpo
Rinchen Zangpo
Rinchen Zangpo , also known as Lha Lama Yeshe O'd or Mahaguru, was a principal lotsawa or translator of Sanskrit Buddhist texts into Tibetan during the second diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet . He was a student of the famous Indian master, Atisha. His associates included Legpai Sherab...
, the king of western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge
Guge
Guge was an ancient kingdom in Western Tibet. The kingdom was centered in present-day Zanda County, within Ngari Prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region, China. At various points in history after 10th century AD, the kingdom held sway over a vast area including south-eastern Zanskar, Upper Kinnaur,...
. It is located in the very arid, cold and rocky area at an altitude of 3,050 metres (10,007 ft).
The monastery is surrounded by a high mud brick wall which encloses some 6,300 square metres. (over 1½ acres) and contains 9 temples, 23 chortens, a monks' residence and an extension that houses the nuns' residence. It soon became known as an important centre of learning and of the Kadampa
Kadampa
The Kadampa tradition was a Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist school. Dromtönpa, a Tibetan lay master and the foremost disciple of the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha , founded it and passed three lineages to his disciples. The Kadampa were quite famous and respected for their proper and earnest...
School (which later developed into the Gelugpa School). However, in 1855 it was reported to have had only 32 monks.
After the earthquake of 1975
1975 Kinnaur earthquake
The 1975 Kinnaur earthquake refers to an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 which affected Himachal Pradesh, India on 19 January 1975.Its epicentre was in Kinnaur district in the southeastern part of Himachal Pradesh and caused considerable loss of life. Landslides, rock falls and avalanches caused major...
a new monastery was built, and in 1983 a new Du-kang or Assembly Hall was constructed. It here that H.H. the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
held the Kalachakra
Kalachakra
Kalachakra is a Sanskrit term used in Tantric Buddhism that literally means "time-wheel" or "time-cycles".The spelling Kalacakra is also correct....
ceremonies in 1983 and 1996. Above the monastery there are a number of caves carved into the cliff face and used by monks for meditation.
There is a large and priceless collection of thankas (scroll paintings), manuscripts, well-preserved statues, fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
s and extensive murals which cover almost every wall.
The monastery includes nine temples:
1. The Temple of the Enlightened Gods (gTug-Lha-khang), or Assembly Hall.
2. The Golden Temple (gSer-khang). Said to have been once covered with gold, it was renovated by Sengge Namgyal
Sengge Namgyal
Sengge Namygal was a 17th century Namgyal dynasty King of Ladakh, India from 1616 to his death in 1642. A Buddhist, he was noted for his immense work in building monasteries, palaces and shrines in Ladakh and is known as the "Lion King"....
, a king of Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...
in the 16th century. The walls and ceilings are covered with magnificent murals.
3. The Initiation Temple (dKyil-kHor- khang). There is a huge painting of Vairocana
Vairocana
Vairocana is a celestial Buddha who is often interpreted as the Bliss Body of the historical Gautama Buddha; he can also be referred to as the dharmakaya Buddha and the great solar Buddha. In Sino-Japanese Buddhism, Vairocana is also seen as the embodiment of the Buddhist concept of shunyata or...
surrounded by eight Bodhisattvas. The other walls are covered in mandala
Mandala
Maṇḍala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form. The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point...
s. This is where monks receive their initiations.
4. The Bodhisattva Maitreya Temple (Byams-Pa Chen-po Lha-khang). The image of the Bodhisattva Maitreya
Maitreya
Maitreya , Metteyya , or Jampa , is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on...
here is over six meters (20 feet) high. There are also murals showing Tashilhunpo
Tashilhunpo
Tashilhunpo Monastery , founded in 1447 by Gendun Drup, the First Dalai Lama, is a historic and culturally important monastery next to Shigatse, the second-largest city in Tibet....
Monastery in Shigatse
Shigatse
Shigatse is a county-level city and the second largest city in Tibet Autonomous Region , People's Republic of China, with a population of 92000, about southwest of Lhasa and northwest of Gyantse...
and the Potala in Lhasa.
5. The Temple of Dromton (Brom-ston Lha khang) which is thought to have been founded by Dromton (1008-1064 CE) one of the main disciples of Atisha.
The above are thought to be the earliest temples of Tabo and the following are later additions.
6. The Chamber of Picture Treasures (Z'al-ma).
7. The Large Temple of Dromton (Brom-ston Lha khang). After the Assembly Hall, this is the largest temple in the complex and contains many wall paintings. The wooden planks in the ceiling are also decorated.
8. The Mahakala Vajra Bhairava Temple (Gon-khang) contains the protective deity of the Gelukpa sect. It contains fierce deities and is only entered after protective meditation.
9. The White Temple (dKar-abyum Lha-Khang).
Tabo Monastery is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India is a department of the Government of India, attached to the Ministry of Culture . The ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament...
as a national historic treasure of India.