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Namgyal Monastery, Dharamsala, India

Nyingma Tradition, 16th century, about 200 monks.

TsuglagKhang complex is one of the most sacred places for Tibetans in India and is the official home of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso. The complex also includes the Tibet Museum, Namgyal Monastery (gompa) and the Tsuglagkhang Temple.

Namgyal Monastery. Photo: Wandering Minds, Youtube.

Namgyal Monastery, also known as Namgyal Tantric College is the personal monastery of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Location

TsuglagKhang complex is located in the south west corner of Mcleod Ganj in Dharmasala, in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is known as "Little Lhasa" or "Dhasa", because of its large population of Tibetans. The Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered in McLeod Ganj.

History

Namgyal Monastery was founded by His Holiness the second Dalai Lama, Gedun Gyatso (1440-1480) in 1574, at Drepung Gaden Palace. The original name was Phende Lekshey Ling.

In 1576, the 3rd Dalai Lama established a relationship with the Mongol King, Altan Khan, and Vijaya Long-Life rituals were performed for Altan Khan. Vijaya is known as Namgyal Ma the victorious goddess) in Tibetan, and consequently the monastery was re-named Namgyal (Victorious) Dratsang (Monastic College).

The 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682) introduced many new elements of tantric rites and rituals into the tradition of the monastery. Prayers and rituals were later performed for the welfare and prosperity of the Tibetan Government.

The tradition of performing the four major tantric rites of Guhyasamaja, Chakrasamvara, Yamantaka, and Kalachakra was instituted during the time of His Holiness the Seventh Dalai Lama, Kalsang Gyatso (1708-1757).

Since that time the monastery has also been known as the Kalachakra Monastery and the number of the monks was established to 175.

Then the monastery was moved into the red section at the top of the Potala Palace, the winter residence of the Dalai Lama, to better serve the needs of both the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan Government by performing important ritual prayers and ceremonies.

In 1751, after the establishment of the Kashag¹, His Holiness also recognized the special responsibility of Namgyal monks by conferring various official ranks on them. Since that time, the monastery has had the honor and responsibility of serving the successive Dalai Lamas and the Tibetan Government.

After the Chinese invasion of Tibet in 1959, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and one hundred thousand Tibetans fled to India, Bhutan, and Nepal. Among the original refugees were 55 monks from Namgyal Monastery.

After His Holiness the Dalai Lama was granted asylum in India, Namgyal Monastery was re-established.

At present, the monastery has nearly two hundred monks engaged in the study of Buddhist Sutra and Tantra while at the same time pursuing modern studies.

The monastery has become second home for these young monks where they receive free accommodation and food as well as traditional and modern education.

The curriculum and the rigors of monastic life have been meticulously maintained into exile. The novice monks of today must first pass a series of challenging entrance examinations and, if accepted, undertake the traditional years of philosophical study.

A Namgyal monk’s average day consists of two hours of ritual, two hours of sacred arts, three hours of philosophy classes, two and a half hours of debate, and several hours of meditation and personal study.

Students who successfully complete the thirteen-year program receive the degree of Master of Sutra and Tantra from Namgyal Monastery.

Each monk is also required to complete meditation retreats for each of the principal deities and protectors, as well as receive training in ritual activities.

The cycle of retreats required for the study and practice of rituals performed by the monastery might take five or six years to complete, then a monk is free to pursue personal retreat practice he chooses.

Branches

• Bodh Gaya: Gandhen Phelgyeling Bodhgaya Monastery was built in 1938 and in January 1998 became an integral part of Namgyal Monastery.

• Delhi: Namgyal Kyitsal, was blessed and named by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in 2000.

• Kushinagar: The Buddhist temple of Kushinagar was offered to His Holiness the Dalai Lama in the year 1967. Kushinagar is the Parinirvana place of the Buddha.

• Shimla: Namgyal Monastery built in 1992 a home for 50 elderly people at Shimla.

• Ithaca: Namgyal Monastery Institute of Buddhist Studies was established in 1992 as the North American seat of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s monastery in Dharamsala, India.

The monastery is home to several Tibetan monks, led by Venerable Tenzin Choesang. An annual two-week Kalachakra Retreat is hosted each summer and a week-long Kalachakra Retreat in the early spring.

In addition, the monastery offers Weekend teachings on a variety of subjects in Tibetan Buddhism, as well as evening classes in the fall and spring. The evening classes are taught by a Geshe (master teacher) on loan from Namgyal-India. Each year a new Geshe arrives to continue the tradition.

Features

The monastery houses a three-meter statue of Buddha Sakyamuni made up of gilded bronze. The walls on both sides of the statue have 100 volumes of Kangyur and 225 volumes of Tengyur.

On the right hand side of the Buddha Sakyamuni statue there is a smaller statue of the fasting Buddha in meditation posture.

Buddha Sakyamuni. Photo: The Polymath, Google photos.

Statues of Avalokiteshvara and Padmasambhava are located in a separate room on the right hand side of Buddha Sakyamuni.

The temple complex houses the Tibetan Museum that displays artifacts related to the Chinese invasion of Tibet. Documentaries are screened each day at 3 p.m., except on Mondays.

The monastery has a worship hall that can accommodate a quite large number of people. Prayer wheels are located all across the monastery.

Festivals and Ceremonies

• New Year Celebration and Great Prayer Festival, Ritual Cake Offerings on the first Tibetan month.
• Ten days worships of Vajrakilaya on the 2nd Tibetan month.
• Creation of Sand Mandala, followed by seven days Worship of Shri Kalachakra on the 3rd Tibetan month.
• Four days ritual of Shri Guhyasamaja on the 4th Tibetan Month.
• One Hundred Thousand Tshog Offering² of Guru Padmasambava for five days, invocation of Dharma Protectors on the Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama on 5th Tibetan month.
• Four days Ritual of Shri Chakrasamvara, followed by seven days of Creation of Sand Mandalas on the 6th Tibetan Month.
• Summer retreat with training of ritual dance, drawing mandala, chanting styles, and making ritual cakes during the 7th Tibetan month.
• Seven days Palden Lhamo rites and ritual cake offerings, on the 8th Tibetan Month.
• Three days Vajra Bhairava ritual on the 9th Tibetan month.
• Seven days Mahakala ritual on the 10th Tibetan month.
• Training for the Chamsing ritual dance on the 11th Tibetan month.
• Cham dance on the 12th Tibetan month.

Travel and Visiting

Visitors must pass through a security screening and bag check to enter parts of the complex; cameras and phones are permitted only when teachings are not in progress. Photo taking of the monks' debates and the rest of the complex is allowed, but not in the temple.

The complex is open to visitors from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The nearest international airport is Bagdogra in Siliguri, 96 km from Darjeeling. There are flights from most major cities in India. Taxies are available form Bagdogra to Darjeeling and the trip takes about two hours and half.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namgyal_Monastery
https://www.namgyal.org/about/
https://www.namgyalmonastery.org/
https://www.thrillophilia.com/attractions/namgyal-monastery
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Darjeeling

Footnotes

1. The governing council of Tibet during the rule of the Qing dynasty and post-Qing period until the 1950s

2. Tsok (Skt. gaṇacakra) is an important Vajrayana practice of offering and purification.