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| Ribo Bumpa Gonpa - Dho
Tarap |
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| Saldang Gompa |
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| Shipshhog
Gonpa, Dho Tarap, Dolpo |
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| Ringmo
Gonpa, Dolpo |
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The majority of the
gonpas are constructed out of dry stone masonry or stone
masonry with mud mortar, with mud plaster on the inside
walls of the more important rooms, such as the lakhang
and painted red or white on the outside.
Sometimes the
outside walls are also partially plastered. In some
cases later renovation work, especially for upper
storeys and in dry areas, has used earthen brick
masonry, known as popa, which is cheaper and easier to
use but less durable, and should in fact only be used
for inside walls.
A third method is rammed earth
masonry, known as gyang, which is stronger than popa,
but less durable than stone. Timber, often transported
over quite large distances, is used for internal beams
and colums, and may be square or round.
The most
commonly used woods are pine (sala) and juniper. Key
areas are decorated with beautiful carvings and
paintworkof varying complexity. Internal walls often
have wall paintings on a clay base.
Originally, locally
made minerals were used, but most have now been
repainted with oil paints, since the colors are brighter
and they are easier to maintain.
Many beautiful old
statues and paintings have been created inside the
gonpas and on some chortens. |
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The most important
religious buildings are the monasteries, known
as gonpas, which are the centres or religious
activities and rituals, and fulfil a role
equivalent to the community church in western
religions.
Depending on its size and wealth, a gonpa may
have anything from just two or three monks to
over thirty, with an abbot or senior lama as the
chief. Chortens, also known as Stupas, are stone
structures of varying sizes, sometimes in groups
or sizes, and sometimes single structures.
They may have been built on an important
religious site or in honour of a particular
deity or to protect a place from evil
influences. They are often constructed in memory
of departed loved ones and paid for by a family.
Prayer walls, or mani walls, composed of stones
that have been intricately carved with sacred
words and decorations, known as mani stones, are
also widely found. Again they provide protection
against evil influences, sending out a silent
prayer or blessing, and are places where
travellers can receive blessings while passsing
trough.
Prayer wheels are also an important part of the
Buddhist and Bonpo religions, and consist of
hollow cylinders with manuscripts on which
prayers and sacred chants are written. Most
gonpas and religious structures have a line of
prayer wheels set into a wall nearby, which can
be turned by worshippers and visitors. |
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There are around 130
gonpas of varying sized and importance in Dolpo,
of which 24 are major institutions.
The brief description below give an indication
of what the visitor can see and the associated
religious culture and history. Most of the
gonpas are decorated with beautiful paintings
and statues, and hold a store of sacred texts,
often related to their particular history, some
of which are used during particular rituals. The
traditions and ceromonies of each gonpa were
laid down by the original founders and have been
faithfully adhered to over many generations. |
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The most
important gonpas are: |
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 A
bumpa is a vase, one of the eight sacred symbols of
Buddhism. Some chortens are built in the shape of a
vase, and thus may also be known
as bumpas. The design of Ribo Bumpa Gonpa is
based on an important chorten of this type in
Samye, Tibet. It was founded as a Nyingma
monastery more than thousand years ago by Jigdre
Nyima Gyalthsen and Lama Tenzin Targye, and
sponsored by the head of village at time.Located in Dho Tarap, it was built around the
lead of a series of three bumpa-shortens (the
other two being minor constructions in Lawang
and Takshi villages). It is linked to the legend
of Guru Rinpoche, who after ridding the region
of three troublesome demonesses, established the
three-chortens as a protection system. He is
said to have left a warning that if anu of the
bumpa-chortens is destroyed, the Lake Phoksumdo
will burst and flood the region. It is believed
that they have protected the Tarap valley from
some of the damaging hailstorms and landslides
which have beset many parts of Dolpo, and they
have also special powers to determine whether
the harvest will be good.
Three large pottery bumpas, symbolising the
original bumpa-chortens, form the central focus
of the complex, and the "Blessing of the Three
Vases" is an important ritual. The main Buddha
images are housed in the gonpa are
The Great
Teacher's Manifesto, The Eight Manifestations of
Guru Rinpoche, and the Assemply of the Three
Principal Ones. The major texts stored are
The Translated Buddha Word and The
Translated Treatises.
Official documents
with the royal seal, from the time when the King
of Mustang presided over Dolpo, are preserved
there.
In 1994, Amchi Namgyal Rinpoche was formally
declared as seat holder of Robom Gonpa in large
religous gathering of Mendum Ritual which was
presided by late Jampa Rinpoche.
Ribo Bhumpa Gonpa is in need of repair. Persons
or organizations interested to help financially this
project are kindly requested to contact:
amchidolpo@yahoo.co.in |
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 Located
in the village of Saldang in the Nangkong Valley, this
Nyingma gonpa was built more then five hundred years ago
by Lama Sushing Urgyen Tenzin. Other structures on the
site are a prtal (walk through) stupa, a small temple
housing a large prayer wheel, and the Yutlog Norling
Health and Medical Clinic. Inside there is an image
of The Buddha Past, Present and Future. The Kangyur,
or The Translated Words, which is the first part of the
Buddhist canon, and The Precious Treasure Trove are
among the major texts preserved inside the gonpa |
 Located
in Saldang, Margom Yetsher is the oldest monastery in
Dolpo, said to have been built by Choegyal Palsang more
than thousand years ago. The main images inside this
Nyingmamonastery are Lord Atisha and the Shakya tantric
system called "Path and Fruit". The main texts stored
are The Translated Buddha-Word, Translated
Treatises, and a collection of Teachings by Padma
Wanggyal of Ngari. There is also a stupa of the
eight healing Buddhas. |
 The
Jova Gonpa is of the Nyingma sect and more than eight
hundred years old. Its founder, Sherap Dragpa (the Great
Descender Rinpoche), was from one of the six ancient
Tibetan lineages. There are two major stupas: the Stupa
of the Victorious Rinpoche; and the Turquoise and Coral
Adorned Stupa. The Ngagpa lineage (which practices
tantra, through which enlightment can be reached in one
lifetime) and traditions have been passed on sice the
time of the Great and Venerable Milerapa, who introduced
the Ngagpa tradition in Dolpo. Among the images at the
temple are: Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche, Dorje
Drollo; Thubwang Guru, considered to be the King of the
Sages; and Manjushri Yamantaka, who is the Wrathful
Manifestation of Manjushri. Important texts
preserved at the site are: The Treasure Trove of
Precious Teachins, compiled by Jamgon Lodro
Thaye; Buddhas's teachings; and Gyathog Sersum. |
 Known
as the Temple of Maitreya (the future Buddga) or the
One-of-Loving-Kindness Monastery, Jampa Gonpa is a
Nyingma monastery located in the Dho Tarap valley. Its
origins are said to date from over thousand years ago,
and it was reputedly rebuilt in the fiteenth century by
Lo Amapal, at the direction of the King of Mustang.
Legend has it that he rode off to the north on a blue
yak without horns to find white clay for the plaster,
which was not locally available. After his death the
Jampa Gonpa became a place of pelgrimage for Mustang
people. The building houses the one-storey high statue
of Matreya Buddha. There are also
images of the Past, Present
and Future bodies of Lord Buddha, the Dharma Body,
Rapturous Body and Reincarnation Body. Notable texts
stored include: The Extensive, Middling and Condensed
Mothers; The Translated Buddha-Word; The Translated
Treatises; and Dujon Rinpoche's Teachings. There is a
stupa dedicated to the Eight Medicine Buddhas. |
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 Known
as the Red Cliff Retreat, Dragmer Dewa Gonpa, a Nyingma
monastery, is again located in Dho Tarap valley. It was
built nine hundred years ago by Lama Trashi Gangba and
sponsored by the village. Statues include: Lord
Buddha; Dorje Phurba (an important Nyingma personal
deity); and the Three Root Attributes of Guru Rinpoche.
There are also wonderful images of the Shakya Path and
Fruit, a system of tantric practices within the Lama
lineage. One hundred books of The Translated Buddha-Word
are stored, with many biographies of revered lamas, and
the text of the continious demon destroyer called Jo
Lungs Phurba. There is also a large stupa dedicated to
the Guardian of the Three Lineages. |
 In
its present location in Dho Tarap valley, the Bonpo
Sipchhog Gonpa was founded around 500 years ago.
Sipchhog means "sheltered place", and it is believed
that the lineage for the gonpa cane originally from a
gonpa founded 800 years ago by Treton Chime, in the
small valley of Mirbu along the Dho Tarap route. When
most of the Bonpo lineage moved to establish a larger
gonpa at Phoksumdo, the Mirbu Gonpa fell into ruin, and
so Yungdrun Gyaltsen moved the Mirbu lineage to the
present site. It houses an idol of Bon founder
Shenra and images of Namgyal and Jamma, the Affection
Goddess. Texts include The Great Realm, The Magnificent
Pure Teaching, the Bon Text to Fight against Malevolent
Spirits, and other mantras. |
 Located
near Bijer, the Bonpo Samling Gonpa was built by
Gyaltsen Rinchen nearly nine hundred years ago.
Important images on the site include the Bon expositor
Khritstung Gyalba and lama lineages. Notable texts are
the Three Mind Sutras and Mantras, biographies of the
main lama of the site, and documents showing support
from the emperors of China. There are 22 stupas, some of
which are of the walk-through portal-type. |
 Known
as "The Wish Fulfilling Monastery", Sheding Dewa Gonpa
is a Nyingma temple built by Lama Sangag Dongpo and
sponsored by Dharma Raja, the King of Jumla, over aight
hundred years ago. The temple houses a one-storey high
staue of Lord Buddha and images of lamas form the Sakya,
Kagyu and Nyingma traditions. There are sutras and
biographies of the Sakya, Kagyu and Nyingma traditions.
The site has The Eight Medicine Buddhas stupa and a
stupa with walk-through portal. |
 Known
as the "White Crevasse Temple, Kakar Labrang is a
Nyingma temple in Tarap Valley. It was constructed more
than nine hundred years ago by Urgyen Tendzin, with
funding from the Kind of Mustang. Important images
includeThe Eight Eminated Aspects of Guru Rinpoche, the
Great Victorious Vajra Holder, the Venerable Lord
Milerapa, and various images of lama lineages. Well
known texts stored ate Six Volumes of Rainbow Coloured
Text, Garwang Dorje Terma (a religious teaching revealed
by Garwang Dorje), the religious teaching (or Treasure)
by the Thirteenth Karmapa, part of the hundred thousand
tantras in Rediscovered Teachings and various
biographies of important lamas. The complex has also a
large walk-through portal stupa and reliquary. |
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Other interesting
gonpas include: |
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Mekhyim
Gonpa is a Nyingma temple located in Dho Tarap. It was
established by Urgyen Tenzin and Tsering Tashi, and
built by Tenzin Targye more than seven hundred years
ago. There is also a Tathgata Stupa (one of the key
eight styles) on the site. |
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Nyima Phug Gonpa,
also known
as the "Sunny Retreat", this gonpa is located
in Dho Tarap. It was sponsored by the King of Mustang
and built more than seven hundred years ago by Urgyen
Tenzin. The Protectors of the Three Families stupa are
significant features at the site. |
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Dralung Gonpa,
is
of the Nyingma sect and located in Tingkyu. Namdrol
Sangpo, of the house of Dralung, constructed the
monastery more than nine hundred yaers ago. There are
many stupas on the site. |
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Komang Dratshang
Gonpa, located
in the village of Komang, this is also of the Nyingma
sect. It was built more than five hundred years ago. The
site has also many stupas and reliquary structures. |
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Sachen Gonpa,
located in the village of Tsharkha, Sachen is a Nyingma
Gonpa, built more than seven hundred years ago by Sagar
Rabjam. There is a walk-through portal stupa on the
site. |
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Sheding Gonpa:
This Nyingma Gonpa was built
by the accomplished Pelden Dorje more than eight hundred
years ago. There is a large reliquary at the side |
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Langgon Neser
Gonpa:
This Nyingma monastery is located at Bijer, and was
built by Tsugna Rinjen more than nine hundred years ago,
sponsored by the Kind of Jumla. The site has many
stupas. |
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Shel Sumdo Gonpa:
Shel
Sumdo is a Kagyu Nyingma monastery located in Shel, the
Crystal Mountain, and was built by Lama Tenzin Repa.
There is one very large reliquary stupa at the site. |
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Gomoche Gonpa:
Located
at Shel (Crystal Mountain), this is a Kagyupa temple
constructed by the accomplished Sengge Yeshe. A stupa of
"Complete Victory" and the foorprint of the Master
Sengge Yeshe are key manifestations at the site. |
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Drigung Gonpa:
Located
in Tiserong, this is a Kagyu Nyingma gonpa, built by
Lama Nagpa Dzume and sponsored by the King of Jumla.
There is a one-storey high image of The Accomplished
Buddha inside the temple and a large number of stupas on
the site. |
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Surboche Gonpa:
Surboche
is a Nyingma monastery located in Tiserong. It was
constructed more than seven hundred years ago by Dragon
Tsangpa Gyare. There is an amazing Great Taecher's Vase
stupa on the site. |
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Sadu Gonpa:
Sadu
monastery, located in Tiserong, follows the Nyingma
tradition. It was built by Lama Dharma Sengge more than
eight hundred years ago, sponsored by the King of Jumla. |
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Tshowa Gonpa:
Located at Phoksumdo Lake,
Tshowa is a Bonpa Gonpa. It was constructed by the
Master from the village of Pungmo more than eight
hundred years ago. The site has many stupas. |
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Hundang
Monastery:
Lokated at Mukot-6, is a centuries old Nyingma Gonpa.
The monatsery was established by the late H.E. Tenpi
Gyaltsen Rinpoche. Numbers of retreat caves adn stupas
are found in the area. |
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