Muru Nyingba Monastery

Muru Nyingba Monastery
Muru Nyingba Monastery
Tibetan transcription(s); Wylie transliteration: rMe ru snying pa
	Nearby Barkhor street scene, 1993
Religion
Affiliation	Tibetan Buddhism
Location
Location	Barkhor, Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Country	China
	Location within Tibet Autonomous Region
Geographic coordinates	29°39′10″N 91°7′58″E / 29.65278°N 91.13278°E
Architecture
Founder	Songtsen Gampo
Date established	7th century

Muru Ningba or Meru Nyingba (rMe ru snying pa) (Tibetan: རྨེ་རུ་སྙིང་པ་) is a small

Buddhist monastery located between the larger monasteries of Jokhang and Barkhor in the city of Lhasa, Tibet, China. It was the Lhasa seat of the former State Oracle who had his main residence at Nechung Monastery.^[1]

It is located immediately behind and east of the Jokhang and may be accessed from the north side of the Barkhor.

History

It is said that Emperor

Tibetan alphabet

in the first half of the 7th century.

The present building, first constructed during the reign of King

Tibetan Buddhist

school.

The building was destroyed during the persecution of Buddhism under

Atisha (980-1054 CE). In the 16th century, the monastery was incorporated into the Gelug school under Sonam Gyatso, the 3rd Dalai Lama (1543–1589).^[3]

It became the Lhasa residence of the

Pehar

in his trances.

Description

The lhakang contains a number of fine murals — the central image being that of

Guru Rinpoche (Padmasambhava), with images of the five Nyingma Yidam

-Protectors and Tseumar and Tamdrin in glass cases around the walls.

On the western side of the gallery upstairs is the Gongkar Chode Branch Temple, a

Sakya shrine dedicated to an image of Gonpo Pelgon Dramtso or Bramze, the Sadhu-Protector of the monastery. His image is to the right of the door and used to be flanked by images of the six-armed Mahakala, Panjara and Shridevi.^[3]^[4]

The oldest extant structure is the Jambhala Lhakhang which was originally built under Ralpacan. It is quite small (7.5 x 7.2 metres), with a low ceiling. It is said to have been where Thonmi Sambhota worked on the alphabet and later became attached to Nechung.[3]

The Dhukang or Assembly Hall, a very active temple, was built in the 19th century by Nechung Khenpo Sakya Ngape, and renovated in 1986. There are frescoes portraying the protector deity

Avalokiteshvara is new with a copper Padmasambhava to the right and a sand mandala to the left. Behind is an inner sanctum with more images and upstairs is the Tsepame Lhakang with 1,000 small images of Amitayas (or Amitābha) Buddha.^[5]

Footnotes

^ Dowman (1998), p. 40.
^ Vitali (1990), p. 19.
^ ^a ^b ^c Dorje (1999), p. 88.
^ Dowman (1998). pp. 48-49.
^ Dorje (1999), pp. 88-89.

References

Dorje, Gyume (1999). Footprint Tibet Handbook with Bhutan. Footprint Handbooks, Bath, England.
ISBN 0-8442-2190-2
.

Dowman, Keith (1998). The Power-Places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London and New York.
ISBN 0-7102-1370-0
.

Vitali, Roberto (1990). Early Temples of Central Tibet. Serindia Publications, London.
ISBN 0-906026-25-3
.

[1] Dowman (1998), p. 40.

[2] Vitali (1990), p. 19.

[Dorje_1999,_p._88-3] Dorje (1999), p. 88.

[4] Dowman (1998). pp. 48-49.

[5] Dorje (1999), pp. 88-89.

[1]

[3]

[4]

[5]

v t e Buddhist monasteries in Tibet
Lhasa	Ani Tsankhung Nunnery Drepung Monastery Drigung Monastery Ganden Monastery Jokhang Kundeling Monastery Muru Nyingba Monastery Namgyal Monastery Nechung Nyethang Drolma Lhakhang Temple Ramoche Temple Reting Monastery Sanga Monastery Taklung Monastery Tsomon Ling Tsurphu Monastery Yangpachen Monastery Yerpa Zhuowaqudeng Monastery Sera Monastery: Chupzang Nunnery Drakri Hermitage Garu Nunnery Keutsang Hermitage Keutsang East Hermitage Khardo Hermitage Negodong Nunnery Nenang Nunnery Pabonka Hermitage Panglung Hermitage Purbuchok Hermitage Rakhadrak Hermitage Sera Chöding Hermitage Sera Gönpasar Hermitage Sera Utsé Hermitage Takten Hermitage Trashi Chöling Hermitage
Lhoka Prefecture	Gongkar Chö Monastery Mindrolling Monastery Samye Tradruk Temple Yungbulakang Palace
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Ngari Prefecture	Khorzhak Monastery Mangnang Monastery Simbiling Monastery
Chamdo Prefecture and former Kham	Galden Jampaling Monastery Karma Gon Monastery Benchen Monastery Dorje Drak Dzogchen Monastery Dzongsar Monastery Kandze Monastery Katok Monastery Nanwu Si Monastery Palyul Monastery Riwoche Monastery Shechen Monastery Surmang Tongkor Monastery
Nyingchi Prefecture	Buchu Monastery Lamaling Monastery Tsozong Gongba Monastery