Gangteng Monastery
Gangteng Monastery Gangteng Gönpa Gangteng Sangngak Chöling | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Tibetan Buddhism |
Festivals | Tshechu and Crane Festivals |
Leadership | Rigdzin Kunzang Pema Namgyal |
Location | |
Location | Wangdue Phodrang District, Bhutan |
Geographic coordinates | 27°30′N 90°10′E / 27.500°N 90.167°E |
Architecture | |
Style | Bhutanese Architecture |
Founder | Gyalsé Pema Thinley |
Date established | In 1613 by Gyalsé Rinpoche Gangteng Tulku Rigdzin Pema Tinley (1564–1642) |
Gangteng Monastery (
The monastery is one of the main seats of the religious tradition based on Pema Lingpa's revelations and one of the two main centres of the Nyingmapa school of Buddhism in the country.[5]
A Nyingma monastic college or shedra, Do-ngag Tösam Rabgayling, has been established above the village.[5]
The descent of the first king of Bhutan, Gongsar
Geography
The Gangteng Monastery, also spelt Gantey Gonpa, bounded on the west side by the Black Mountains (Bhutan) (range above 5,000 metres (16,000 ft) elevation) is located on a spur amidst the Gantey village, overlooking the vast U-shaped glacial Phobjikha Valley, which is at an elevation of about 3,000 metres (9,800 ft) and which has marshy land. The Nake Chuu river runs through this valley. The monastery commands striking views of the Phubjika Valley below.[3][7][8][9] The Black Mountain Region is inhabited by nomadic shepherds and yak-herders.[7]
Wangdue Phodrang, the district headquarters, is 45 kilometres (28 mi) from the Nobding village in the Phobjikha Valley on the Trongsa road from where a short diversion road leads to the Gonpa. It is 75 kilometres (47 mi) to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. The Gonpa lies on the popular trekking route of the 'Gangte trail' which starts from the bottom of the Phobjika valley, passes through the Gangteng Valley, then climbs up to the Gangteng Gonpa, then goes through the Kumbu village on the east of the Gangteng Gonpa, passes through Gedachen, Khebaythang, the Kilkhorthang villages and finally touches the Kungathang Lhakhang.[7]
History
The Gangteng Monastery, also called the Gangteng Sangngak Chöling སྒང་སྟེང་གསང་སྔགས་ཆོས་གླིང་, was established in 1613 by the first Peling Gyalsé Rinpoche
From 2002 to 2008, the monastery has been completely restored under the present Gangteng Tulku, H.E. Rigdzin Kunzang Pema Namgyal (b. 1955).[5] The rebuilt monastery was consecrated by the present incarnation of Pema Lingpa on the October 10, 2008, graced by the fourth King of Bhutan. Gangteng Sang-ngak Chöling, as now restored, retains its original glory and is stated to be the resurgence of the Peling Tradition.[11]
In the context of the 1864–65 battle fought between the British Army and the Bhutanese Army at Deothang in Bhutan, it is mentioned that the hands of the British military officer that was severed in the battle have been "preserved in the sanctum sanctorum of the Gangteng Gonpa."[12]
Structure
The construction of the original Lakhang was done with full community effort. The local materials such as timber came from the nearby forest trees that were cut, shaped and used for construction of the pillars, beams and windows. Building stones were extracted from the local hills; in this context a legend is also stated that the local guardian deity, called the Delep, facilitated availability of stones by creating a landslide in the opposite hill. A renowned artisan of the Umze of Lhalung Monastery in Tibet was specially brought from Tibet to head as the zowpon to guide the team of local craftsmen. Voluntary labour force was organized from among the devotees of the local village of Gangten.[11]
The monastery underwent a major refurbishing from 2000, which lasted for eight years. It was a massive restoration work which was organized by the ninth Gangteng Trulku, Kunzang Rigzin Pema Namgyal (stated to be the reincarnation of the body of Pema Lingpa) at a project cost of
The monastery complex has five temples that surround the main central tower.
The restoration work has been done by craftsmen supported by gomchens, who are lay monks (not necessarily celibate). These monks supported themselves and offered their services free. The carpenters carved 50 feet (15 m) long wooden beams with lovely motifs out of blue-pine, by hand with set of wood-handled tools. Some used daggers to carve dorje (a diamond thunderbolt motif) which is a recurring theme in the exteriors of the monastery. The ancient gateway leading to the monastery was redone (see infobox).[15]
- Elaboration of the layout
The detailed layout and the holy images and frescos contained in the various buildings of the Gangten Gonpa complex are elaborated, starting with the four directions of the Gönpa and the sacred and symbolic significance of the areas that surround the Gonpa. Located in the central region of Bhutan, the precincts are forested with medicinal plants and trees. The sacred places that are in the region, in the four directions are: on the east – the Gayney Lhakhang in Bumthang; in the south – the Moenyul Namkha Dzong; in the west – the Paro Taktsang; and in the north – Namthang Lu Gi Phu, the meditation cave of Guru Rinpoche. The Gonpa is located on a spur at the highest point, symbolic of the Vajrayana teachings and its practice. Its location at the base is intertwined with nine large mountain peaks, symbolising the ninth "yana". It has no problem of wild animals, which is indicative of lack of sufferings. The sky above appears in the form of the eight-spiked wheel, which is symbolic of the yogic practitioners of Dzogchen. The land where the Gonpa is located is an "equanimity and altruistic intention of Bodhicitta." It has eight auspicious signs indicative of an assembly of the noble sons and daughters from all directions. The precincts depict "a victory banner in the east, long horns in the south, six-syllable mantra in the west and stupa in the north," symbolising natural realization; further, the sun and moon rise early and set late, the three perennial rivers flow nearby and the spur where the Gonpa is located appears like an elephant – an auspicious sign.[5]
The ten qualities of the precincts of the Gonpa are elaborated: the surrounding mountains and forests that enclose the Gonpa are like the 16 great
On the ground floor, images of the Buddhas of the 3 times similar to the ones in
The 11-faced Avalokiteśvara Lhakhang is at the entrance to the main temple. The Shedra's Assembly Hall and the Kezang Lhakhang flank the main temple. The living quarters of the monks are built on all four sides.[5] The monastery also has a unique collection of armoury and weapons along with ritual paraphernalia.
- Consecration ceremony
The consecration ceremony, which was held on October 10, 2008 (on the auspicious 11th day of the 8th month of the Earth Rat Year according to the Bhutanese calendar), was a grand ceremony, which was not only graced by the Fourth King of Bhutan accompanied by his Queen and the royal family members and the Prime Minister with his Ministers but also by all descendants of Pema Lengpa. The hymnal extracts from the original sacred Peling scripture discovered by Terton Pema Lingpa in south Tibet and the Gurdag, dedicated to the wrathful form of Guru Rinpoche, were recited and the consecration rites performed in the four cardinal directions of the monastery. These rites were performed by monks, nuns and lay monks drawn from the 13 religious institutions that follow the Peling tradition. Local residents of the Phobjika Valley, and large number of students of the monastery under the tutelage of the present Trulku were also witness to the ceremony. The audience included devotees from Khunnu village in
The monastery and the Phobjika valley are covered under a blanket of snow during winter months of January and February when all the monks and the people of the valley shift, numbering about 4,500, temporarily to Wangdue Phodrong.[13]
Gangtey trek
Gangtey treks are a popular tourism attraction in the Phobjikha Valley which covers the Gangtey Gonpa. It is a trekking route followed by international trekking enthusiasts that starts from the Gangteng Gonpa in the
Festival
In addition, the Crane Festival which marks the arrival of Black-necked Cranes from the Tibetan plateau during the winter months and which are held as a religious blessing by the people, is also a big event not only in the Phobjika Valley but also in this monastery. It is held on 12 November, every year, which is a day after the celebration of the King's birthday.[20]
Throne holders
The nine 'Successive Throne Holders of Gangteng Monastery' starting with Gyalsé Pema Thinley to the present Kunzang Rigdzin Pema Namgyal, are listed below.[21]
- Gyalsé Pema Thinley (རྒྱལ་སྲས་པདྨ་ཕྲིན་ལས, bn:পে-মা-'ফ্রিন-লাস (ভূটান)) (1564–1642). He was the grandson of the famous Tertön Pema Lingpa. He built the Gonpa in 1613 and was the first Tulku or religious leader of the monastery.[22]
- Tenzin Legpé Döndrup (བསྟན་འཛིན་ལེགས་པའི་དོན་གྲུབ, bn:ব্স্তান-'দ্জিন-লেগ্স-পা'ই-দোন-গ্রুব) (1645–1727). He succeeded Gyalsé Pema Thinley, as the second Tulku and was responsible for enlarging the monastery substantially. He built it when he was 59 years old. It was built aesthetically like a Dzong or fortress with help of divine forces, as also local people.[23]
- Kanjur), Nyingma Lineage Teachings (Nyingma Gyudbum). However, he died at a young age of 32.[24]
- Tenzin Sizhi Namgyal (བསྟན་འཛིན་སྲིད་ཞི་རྣམ་རྒྱལ, bn:ব্স্তান-'দ্জিন-স্রিদ-ঝি-র্নাম-র্গ্যাল) (1759–1790). He was the fourth Tulku. He was proficient in all the rituals, teachings and dances of the Palden Drukpa tradition, which are observed even now at the Gangteng Gönpa. He died at a young age of 31.[25]
- Buddha Dharma extensively to a large group of monks. He died at the age of 49.[25]
- Tenpai Nyima (བསྟན་པའི་ཉི་མ, bn:ও-র্গ্যান-ব্স্তান-পা'ই-ন্যি-মা) (1838–1874). He was the sixth Tulku and he belonged to Dungkar Chöje family while his younger brother belonged to the lineage of the Bönbi Chöje of Mangde in Trongsa. He perfected several dance forms for the Dungkar Tsechu dance festival, which is even now linked to Dungkar Chöje. He was also instrumental in finding religious treasures in eastern Bhutan. He introduced many innovations in the annual tradition of performing Tsechu rituals and mask dances at the Gangteng Gönpa.[26]
- Tenpai Nyinjé (བསྟན་པའི་ཉིན་བྱེད, bn:ও-র্গ্যান-ব্স্তান-পা'ই-ন্যিন-ব্যেদ) (1875–1905). He became the seventh Tulku of the Gonpa at a young age and was tutored in advance Buddhist scriptures by masters in the field. He diverted all the gifts and donations he received for improving the monastery. He was responsible for fixing a gilded spire on the central tower (Utse) of the monastery. He was also responsible for adding many treasures and freshly painted frescoes to the Gonpa. When the monastery was damaged by an earthquake, he and his brothers tirelessly and with all their resources restored the Gonpa to a better state. He died at a young age of 30.[27]
- Dzongpon. During this tenure, he constructed the Guru Lhakhang in Thimphu. He died in 1949 at Wangdue Phodrang. However, his body was cremated in Gangteng Gonpa.[28]
Religious institutions
At the command of the fourth King,
Gallery
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Entrance Gate to Gangteng Monastery after restoration
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Gyalpo Dharma protector. Detail of a modern mural painted in the gateway of Gangteng Gonpa monastery.
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A view of the Gangteng Monastery from the road
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Details of the prayer hall of the Gangteng Monastery
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A Chorten within the precincts of the Monastery complex
References
- ^ "NGA GeoName Database". National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 2008-06-08. Retrieved 2008-07-05.
- ^ Train (2003), pp. 294–295.
- ^ a b c Brown (2009), pp. 152–154.
- ^ "Biodiversity Action Plan 2009" (PDF). UNDP Org.
- ^ a b c d e f Gangteng (2008), pp. 25–27.
- ^ Aris (2016), p. 105.
- ^ a b c d e f Dorje (1999), p. 854.
- ^ Lingpa (2003), p. 132.
- ^ Reader & Ridout 2003, p. 13.
- ^ Lingpa (2003), p. ix.
- ^ a b c d e f Dorji & Wangchuk (2008).
- ^ Banerjee (2002), p. 62.
- ^ a b Brown (2009), p. 152.
- ^ a b Brown (2009), p. 153.
- ^ Palin (2009), p. 152.
- ^ Palden Sherab Rinpoche (1992).
- ^ Gangteng (2008), pp. 27–28.
- ^ Jordans (2008), pp. 218–219.
- ^ Dorje (1999), p. 828.
- ^ Brown (2009), pp. 153–154.
- ^ Gangteng (2008), pp. 12–22.
- ^ Gangteng (2008), p. 12.
- ^ Gangteng (2008), p. 16.
- ^ Gangteng (2008), p. 17.
- ^ a b Gangteng (2008), p. 18.
- ^ Gangteng (2008), pp. 18–19.
- ^ Gangteng (2008), pp. 20–21.
- ^ Gangteng (2008), pp. 19–20.
- ^ Gangteng (2008), pp. 22–25.
- ^ Post (n.d.).
- ^ Gangteng (2008), pp. 24–25.
Works cited
- Aris, Michael (2016). Hidden Treasures and Secret Lives: A Study of Pemalingpa (1450-1521) and the Sixth Dalai Lama (1683-1706). Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1138992191.
- Banerjee, Dipankar (2002). South Asian security, futures: a dialogue of directors regional strategic studies institutes. Regional Centre for Strategic Studies. p. 62. ISBN 955-8051-25-X.
- Brown, Lindsey; et al. (2009). Bhutan. Lonely Planet. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-1-74059-529-2.
- Dorje, Gyurme (1999). Tibet Handbook: with Bhutan. Footprint Travel Guides. ISBN 1-900949-33-4.
- Dorji, Kinley; Wangchuk, Rinzin (October 8, 2008). "Gangteng Goenpa – The Gem of Phobjikha". The Buddhist Channel. Retrieved 2010-08-08.
- Gangteng, Literary Committee (2008). The Rosary of Jewels: Biographies of the Successive Throne Holders of Gangteng. Thimphu, Bhutan: Gangteng Monastery. ISBN 978-99936-22-74-1.
- Jordans, Bart (2008). Bhutan: A Trekker's Guide. Cicerone Press Limited. ISBN 978-1-85284-553-7.
- Lingpa, Pema (2003). The Life and Revelations of Pema Lingpa. Translated by Sarah Harding. Ithaca, New York: Snow Lion Publication. ISBN 1-55939-194-4.
- Palden Sherab Rinpoche, Khenchen (May 1992). The Eight Manifestations of Guru Padmasambhava. Translated by Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche. Padma Gochen Ling: Turtle Hill. Archived from the original on 2022-12-04. Retrieved 2022-12-20.
- Palin, Michael (2009). Himalaya. Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-7538-1990-6.
- Post, Nora (n.d.). "His Holiness the Gangteng Tulku Rinpoche" (PDF). Pemalingpa.ca. Pema Lingpa Treasure Nyingma Buddhist Meditation Centre. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
- Reader, Lesley; Ridout, Lucy (2003). First-time Asia. Vol. 14. Rough Guides. ISBN 1-84353-048-1.
- Train, Russel E. (2003). Politics, pollution, and pandas: an environmental memoir. Island Press. ISBN 1-55963-286-0.