Page 32 - Seniorstoday March 2023
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and it is from here that he went to Tibet.
The road from Dirang to Tawang is
through the infamous Sela pass (13700
ft). While the views of the surrounding
area are nothing short of stunning, it is the
tricky weather here which can be the main
talking point. One minute you could be
driving through calm and pleasant weather
and the very next curve can be through
snow and rain. Even in summer time you
will see Yaks grazing lazily as there are a
few settlements of the Brokpa’s (shepherds
of West Kameng) around here.
Downwards from the pass and in the
many mountain folds is the magnificent
Tawang monastery. The famous Gaden
Namgyal Lhatse roughly translated as “The
peak of the heavenly abode of joyfulness
and complete victory” and, popularly
known as the Tawang Monastery was
Gorgeous sunsets
founded in the year 1680-81.This great
was of a form of Shamanism generally place of worship happens to be the second
referred to as Bon. The Bon religion oldest Gelugpa monastery in Asia, largest
believed in the existence of numerous gods in India and second largest in the world.
and spirits. With the advent of Buddhism
in the region people gradually gave up
their old religion and started adopting
Buddhism. However, like the Tibetans,
the Monpas did not completely supplant
their old religion; rather they absorbed a
number of these deities into the Buddhist
Pantheon as protectors of the faith and are
worshipped according to Buddhist rituals.
The Monpa believe in the law of Karma and Tawang Monastery
follow the Wheel of Life very religiously. The monastery stands on the spur of a hill,
Strong believers of the fact that any action about 10,000 feet above sea level and is
or deed that we do with our body, speech inhabited by nearly 700 monks belonging
or mind will have a corresponding result. to the Mahayana School of Buddhism. The
It is one’s karma, positive or negative, that most imposing building of the monastery
determines one’s birth. is the assembly hall known as Dukhang.
The Buddhist faith and teaching were It is a three-storied building whose inner
brought by the great Master – Guru walls are painted with murals of various
Rimpoche (Gure Padmasambhava) himself divinities and saints. The altar occupies the
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