Tashiding Monastery, Sikkim, India

Nyingma Tradition, 17th century, about 70 monks.

Tashiding Monastery is a Buddhist monastery of the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism. Tashiding means "The Devoted Central Glory" and is part of Buddhist religious pilgrimage circuit starting with the first monastery at Yuksam in Sikkim known as the Dubdi Monastery, Norbugang Chorten, Pemayangtse Monastery, the Rabdentse ruins, the Sanga Choeling Monastery, and the Khecheopalri Lake.

Tashiding Monastery. Photo: Walter Callens, Wikipedia.

Location

This monastery located at an altitude of 1465 m is built on top of a hill above the confluence of the Rathong Chu and Rangeet rivers, with the Mt. Kanchendzonga providing the scenic back drop. It is about 16 km from Yuksam, 40 km from Gezing via Legship.

History

Padmasambhava visited the place in 8th century A.D, along with his retinue of followers and recognized it as one of the holy places in Sikkim. The monastery by this name was founded in 1641 by Ngadak Sempa Chempo Phunshok Rigzing, who belonged to the Nyingma sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

In the 17th century, Ngadak Sempa Chemp built a small Lhakhang at this location. This was enlarged into the present monastery during the reign of Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal.¹ Pedi Wangmo (the half sister of the third Chogyal Namgyal) built the main monastery and installed many statues which are still seen in the monastery.

Lhatsun Chenpo ² built the Chortens, which are considered holy. Yanchong Lodil, the master craftsman crafted the flagstones that surround the monastery. These are carved with the holy Buddhist mantra Om Mane Padme Hum (ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པ་དྨེ་ཧཱུྃ).

Frequent earthquakes damaged the building, following which Lamas had to rebuild it in 1995 with the financial help from the Sikkim State Government. Presently, the monastery has 60-70 monks.

Four caves are located around the monastery and town, where Buddhist saints meditated. On the East is the Sharchog Bephug, on the South is the Khandozangphu, in the West is Dechenpug cave and on the North is the Lhari Nyingphug.

The main deity deified in the monastery is Tashiding and hence the monastery is also known as 'Dakkar Tashiding'.

Features

The Monastery itself consists of a "Mani Lhakang"³ at the entrance surrounded by flags, and lead to the guest house.

The Golden Chorten near Tashiding Monastery. Photo: Dhillan Chandramowli, WIkipedia.From this point ahead is the main 'Tashiding Gompa' which is called as Chogyal Lhakhang or the monastery, followed by the 'butter lamp house', four chortens, 'Tsenkhang', a new butter lamp house and finally terminating at the 'Guru Lhakhang', which is the temple of Guru Rinpoche.

Other basic essential structures such as kitchen, school and residential housing are located on the left side of the approach path to the monastery.

In the "Chorten area", there are 41 chortens categorized as "Chortens of Enlightenment", "Chortens of Reconciliation" and "Chortens of Great Miracle".

The main temple has undergone renovation work in modern times and is encircled by traditional buildings and chortens at the far end of the site, which holds the relics of Sikkim Chogyals and Lamas, including the 'Thong-Wa-rang-Dol' chorten which is believed to purify the mind.

Festivals

For the monasteries following Jhang-Ter lineage of Nyingmapa Sect in Sikkim, the most important festival is "Bhumchhu", a sacred holy water ceremony, which is held annually and attracts a large number of pilgrims and devotees.

Lama Ngadag Sempa Chhenpo introduced Bhumchhu ceremony in 17th century with a gift of a precious vase that he had brought from Tibet.

The most holy stupa in Sikkim is also at Tashiding. So sacred that the mere act of beholding it would cleanse all sins according to its name. Its full title is Thong-Warang-Drol and bears the meaning “Saviour by mere sight”. It contains the precious relic of Mythical Buddha “Wod-Srung” antecedent to Buddha Shakya Muni. Because of this reputation, this Stupa became a sacred object for pilgrims.

Further, Lamas built many other sacred stupas for different purposes of spiritual benefit for the devotees. Later, the lamas according to the order and at the expense of donating pilgrims built “Mendang” around Tashiding Chhoedtens.

The Mendang bears mystic charms of the protective divinities of Lamaism and the pictures of the protective divinities carved on stone blocks. At present, the above Chhoedtens and Mendang monuments have become the most important religious heritages of Sikkim as well as of the Himalayas.

On the fifteenth day of the first month of the Tibetan New Year, devotees from all over Sikkim gather in Tashiding for the Nyingmapa Bhumchu festival, when they are blessed with the holy water from an ancient bowl said by legend never to dry up. Oracles consult the water’s level to determine the future. Bhumchu festival is linked by an ancient legend to Guru Padmasambhava.

Travel

As of May 2015, it is still necessary to obtain a Restricted Area Permit (also known as Inner Line Permit - ILP) for foreigners to travel in Sikkim.

Pakyong airport in Sikkim and Bagdogra in Siliguri, North Bengal at 110Km and 134Km respectively, are the nearest airports to Tashiding Monastery. Daily flights are available from Delhi and other major Indian cities. Taxis for hire are available from all cities.

The Bumchu Festival is celebrated in the first month of the Tibetan calendar (February/March), and also the months of March/ April and September/October are generally considered the best time to visit Sikkim. Visitors are expected to maintain silence when inside the monastery and avoid taking photographs in the main prayer hall.

Source

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tashiding_Monastery
• http://www.sikkimeccl.gov.in
• http://cpreecenvis.nic.in
• https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/7433595.pdf
• https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Sikkim

Footnotes

1. Chakdor Namgyal was the third king of Sikkim.

2. Buddhism was introduced in Sikkim by Lhatsun Chenpo. His name means "The Great Reverened God." His religious name is Kun-zang name-gye (Skt. Samantahbhadra) He is also known by the title of Lhatsun nam-kha-Jig-med (Skt. Abhijñākāsadeva) with reference to his alleged power of flying.

3. Lhakhang are religious structures (temples) found throughout the Himalayas that house sacred objects and in which religious activities take place. Lhakhang means "the house of gods": enlightened beings such as the Buddha, his followers, and other deities.