Do-drul Chorten is a stupa in Gangtok in the Indian state of Sikkim.
The stupa was built by Trulshik Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan
Buddhism in 1945.
Inside this stupa, a complete set of Dorjee Phurba, Kangyur (Holy Books) and
other religious objects. Around the stupa are 108 Mani Lhakor or prayer
wheels.
The stupa is surrounded by Chorten Lakahang and Guru Lakhang, where two
statues of Guru Rinpoche are present.
|
Poster advertising Do-drul Chorten.
Do-drul Chorten is situated 2.5 km (1.5 mi) south of Gangtok.
|
|
Walking uphill to Do-drul Chorten.
|
|
Weisang stove.
At the top of the slope is a Weisang stove.
-
Weisang is an ancient and widespread Tibetan custom. According to the
traditional Weisang ritual: first cypress and juniper branches and
herbs are piled up and lit. In the fire and smoke roasted barley flour
or grain is placed along with a few drops of holy water.
-
Weisang is done on many occasions, such as to celebrate a bumper
harvest, ward off attacks by enemies, defeat an opposing team, bring
peace and prosperity, attract good luck to a weddings or funerals,
ensure safety on a road trip, and ward off illnesses.
-
As an everyday act of worship, Tibetans commonly burn some cedar or
juniper branches with herbs outside temples and monasteries and in
front of the gates at their homes to eliminate the evil and purify the
air.
|
|
Do-drul Chorten.
Around the stupa are 108 Mani Lhakor or prayer wheels (bottom).
-
A prayer wheel is a cylindrical wheel (Tibetan: 'khor lo) on a
spindle made from metal, wood, stone, leather, or coarse cotton,
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, but other mantras may
be used as well.
-
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 based on the lineage texts
regarding prayer wheels, spinning such a wheel will have much the same
meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers.
-
See more at
Prayer wheel - Wikipedia.
|
|
Entrance to the Do-drul Chorten.
Inside this stupa, a complete set of Dorjee Phurba, Kangyur (Holy Books)
and other religious objects.
-
The Phurba or Kila is a three-sided peg, stake, knife, or nail-like
ritual implement deeply rooted in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and Bon
traditions.
-
Its primary association is with the meditational deity Vajrakilaya
(Dorje Phurba), embodying the essence of transformative power.
-
The phurba's ritual usage is extensive and encompasses various
practices. It is used to establish stability during ceremonies and
symbolizes powerful attributes of Vajrayana deities.
-
The phurba's energy is fierce and transfixing, used for purposes such
as exorcism, weather manipulation, meditation, and blessings. The
implement's connection with Vajrakilaya represents the transmutation
of negative energies.
-
Different traditions and lineages emphasize various aspects of the
phurba, using it for healing, meditation, and connecting with
spiritual energies. Ultimately, the phurba stands as a potent emblem
of transformation, symbolic power, and the interconnectedness of the
spiritual and material realms.
-
See more at
Phurba - Wikipedia
and
Vajrakilaya - Wikipedia.
|
See also
Source
Location
