Namgyal Monastery (Tibetan: rnam rgyal) (also often referred to as
"Dalai Lama's Temple") is currently located in Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala, India.
It is the personal monastery of the 14th Dalai Lama. Another name for this
temple-complex is Namgyal Tantric College.
This monastery key role is to assist with rituals involving the Dalai Lama of
Tibet. Its main tantric practices reportedly include those of Kalachakra,
Yamantaka, Chakrasamvara, Guhyasamaja, and Vajrakilaya.
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Entrance to Thekchen Choling Monastery.
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The Tibet Museum.
The Tibet Museum is the official museum of the Central Tibetan
Administration's Department of Information and International Relations
and is located IN CTA complex in T building, in the Dharamshala suburb
of McLeod Ganj.
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The Tibet Museum aims to disseminate knowledge of Tibetan history and
culture while raising awareness of the occupation of Tibet and the
ongoing human rights abuses and environmental destruction committed by
CCP China.
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Established in 1998, the Tibet Museum now has a collection comprising
over 30,000 photographs, day to day life objects, a traveling
exhibition, and a permanent exhibition that tell about Tibet idintity
by telling story through culture, history and struggle.
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See more at
Tibet Museum (Dharamshala) - Wikipedia.
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Tibetan National Martyrs Memorial.
Memorial sculpture depicting the faces and fists of men and women who
died fighting for Tibet.
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Namgyal Monastery courtyard.
Following the Tibetan uprising of 1959, Namgyal Monastery relocated to
Dharamshala, India, where it continues, active, to this day.
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According to Namgyal's website, Namgyal (Dharamshala) has "nearly 200"
monks (up from 55 in 1959), representing all four main Tibetan
monastic lineages.
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Throne of the Dalai Lama.
On top of the throne is a photo of the 14th Dalai Lama.
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Going up to the Dalai Lama Temple.
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Dalai Lama Temple courtyard.
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Entering Dalai Lama Temple.
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Golden statue of Buddha.
Bhumisparsha Buddha: the right hand pointing towards the ground is the
gesture of taking the earth as a witness for determination. The left
hand carries the alms bowl.
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The bhumisparsa or "earth witness" mudra of Gautama Buddha is
one of the most common iconic images of Buddhism. Other names include
"Buddha calling the earth to witness", and "earth-touching".
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It depicts the story from Buddhist legend of the moment when Buddha
attained complete enlightenment, with Buddha sitting in meditation
with his left hand, palm upright, in his lap, and his right hand
touching the earth.
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In the legend, Buddha was challenged by the evil one, Mara, who argue
for a witness to attest his right to achieve it. In response to Mara,
Buddha touched the ground, and Phra Mae Thorani, the earth goddess,
appeared to be the witnesses for the Buddha's enlightenment.
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See more at
Mudra, Buddhist Iconography - Wikipedia.
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The side walls are covered with thangkas.
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Entering the Kalachakra Tibetan Temple.
We can read on the poster:
- «Make sure that your shoes are nor stolen by someone.»
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Inside the Kalachakra Tibetan Temple.
The Kalachakra Tibetan Temple is on the left side of the Dalai Lama
Temple.
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Kalacakra (Tibetan: dus kyi 'khor lo) is a polysemic term in
Vajrayana Buddhism that means "wheel of time" or "time cycles".
"Kalacakra" is also the name of a series of Buddhist texts and a major
practice lineage in Indian Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism. The tantra
is considered to belong to the unexcelled yoga (anuttara-yoga) class.
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The Dalai Lamas have had specific interest in the Kalacakra practice,
particularly the First, Second, Seventh, Eighth, and the current
(Fourteenth) Dalai Lamas. The present Dalai Lama has given over thirty
Kalacakra initiations all over the world, and is the most prominent
Kalacakra lineage holder alive today.
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See more at
Kalachakra - Wikipedia.
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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.
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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.
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Also sometimes depicted are dakinis, Protectors and very often the
eight auspicious symbols (ashtamangala).
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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.
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According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, spinning such a wheel
will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the
prayers.
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Photograph by Suyan Ramesh, distributed under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
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See more at
Prayer wheel - Wikipedia.
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Small stupa.
In Buddhism, a stupa (lit. 'heap') is a mound-like or hemispherical
structure containing relics (such as sarira – typically the
remains of Buddhist monks or nuns) that is used as a place of
meditation.
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Circumambulation (pradakhshina) has been an important ritual
and devotional practice in Buddhism since the earliest times, and
stupas always have a pradakhshina path around them.
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See more at
Stupa - Wikipedia.
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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.
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With the help of a small bell the number of revolutions can be
counted.
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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.
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Photograph by Wojciech Kocot, distributed under a CC-BY 4.0 license.
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See more at
Prayer wheel, Large wheels - Wikipedia.
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Views over Mcleod Ganj, Dharamsala.
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Leaving Tsuglagkhang Complex.
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See also
Source
Location
