Located inside the Thekchen Choling temple complex in Mcleodganj near
Dharamsala, Kalachakra Temple is a popular Tibetan temple which was built in
1992.
Kalachakra Temple is situated on the west side of the Tsuglagkhang Temple, the
shrine is known for housing the stunning murals of Kalachakra (Wheel of Time)
which are linked to the Avalokitesvara, of whom Dalai Lama is a manifestation.
Used as a centre of public teaching by Dalai Lama himself, the stunning temple
is an architectural marvel and boasts of Tibet’s rich ethnicity and artistic
prowess.
The walls and the pillars of the temple are adorned with several beautiful
traditional Tibetan Thangka paintings. Aside from this, the temple also has a
statue of Shakayamuni Buddha, which is surrounded by stunning fresco
decorations of seven hundred and seventy two deities of the mandala, and there
is also a central Kalachakra image.
|
Kalachakra Temple seen from south to north.
Here we see the Temple from the main street of McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala.
|
|
Closer view of the Temple.
On the left side is the stupa. On the right side is the large prayer
wheel. Below are the prayer wheels.
|
|
Kalachakra Temple facade.
The facade of the Temple faces west.
|
|
Prayer wheels.
A prayer wheel is a cylindrical wheel (Tibetan: 'khor lo) on a spindle
widely used in Tibet and areas where Tibetan culture is predominant.
-
Traditionally, a mantra is written in Ranjana script or Tibetan
script, on the outside of the wheel. The mantra
Om mani padme hum is most commonly used.
-
Also sometimes depicted are dakinis, Protectors and very often the
eight auspicious symbols (ashtamangala).
-
At the core of the cylinder is a "life tree" often made of wood or
metal with certain mantras written on or wrapped around it. Many
thousands (or in the case of larger prayer wheels, millions) of
mantras are then wrapped around this life tree.
-
According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, spinning such a wheel
will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the
prayers.
-
Photograph by Suyan Ramesh, distributed under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
-
See more at
Prayer wheel - Wikipedia.
|
|
Entrance to the large prayer wheel.
The large prayer wheel is on the right side of the Temple.
|
|
Large prayer wheel.
Prayer wheels larger than human size are to be seen in separate rooms in
Tibetan Buddhist temples and can be set in motion by pilgrims.
-
With the help of a small bell the number of revolutions can be
counted.
-
The cylinders of fixed prayer wheels are often inscribed with the
formula Om mani padme hum (meaning "jewel in the lotus") in
ornamental Lantsa (Ranjana) letters.
-
Photograph by Wojciech Kocot, distributed under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
-
See more at
Prayer wheel, Large wheels - Wikipedia.
|
|
Ladder to climb to the platform.
We climb onto a platform to properly appreciate the stupa.
|
|
Kalachakra Temple stupa.
The Kalachakra Temple in Dharamshala is dedicated to the Kalachakra.
-
The temple features fresco decorations of 722 deities of the mandala,
Shakayamuni Buddha, and the central Kalachakra image.
-
In addition, the walls and columns of the temple feature different
traditional Tibetan Thangka paintings.
-
Photograph by Wojciech Kocot, distributed under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
-
See more at
Kalachakra - Wikipedia.
|
See also
Source
Location
