Thikse
Encyclopedia
Thikse Gompa or Thikse Monastery (also transliterated from Ladakhi as Tikse, Tiksey or Thiksey) (thiksok Nambar tak pe ling) is a Tibetan Buddhist
monastery of the Yellow Hat (Gelugpa) sect, located on top of a hill, approximately 19 kilometres east of Leh in Ladakh
, India
. It is noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace
in Lhasa
, Tibet
and is the largest gompa
in central Ladakh.
The monastery is located at an altitude of 3600 metres (11,811 ft) in the Indus valley. It is a 12-storey complex and houses many items of Buddhist art such as stupa
s, statues, thangka
s, wall paintings and swords. One of the main points of interest is the Maitreya
(future Buddha) Temple which is installed to commemorate the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama
to this monastery in 1970. A 15 metres (49.2 ft) high statue of Maitreya, the largest such statue in Ladakh, covering two storeys of the building is defied in the monastery. A nunnery is also part of the complex.
to spread the teachings of the new school. Tsongkhapa gave one of his disciples, Sherab Sangpo, a small statue of Amitayus (Chepakmet), the Buddha
of longevity who is invoked for long life, health and happiness. It contained bone powder and a drop of Tsongkhapa's own blood. Tsongkhapa directed him to meet the King of Ladakh with a message seeking his help in the propagation of Buddhist religion. The King, who was then staying in the Nubra valley
near Shey
, greatly liked the gift of the statue. After this meeting, the King directed his minister to help Sherab Sangpo to establish a monastery of the Gelugpa order in Ladakh. As a result, in 1433, Sangpo founded a small village monastery called Lhakhang Serpo (meaning Yellow temple) in the village of Stagmo, to the north of the Indus River
. In spite of his efforts, the lamas who embraced the Gelugpa order, were initially few, although some of his disciples became eminent figures over the years.
In the mid 15th century, Palden Sangpo continued the monastic work started by his teacher, Sherab Sangpo. He decided to build a larger monastery here that was dictated by an unusual event that occurred while choosing the site for the monastery. Legends narrate that Tsongkhapa had predicted that his doctrine would prosper on the right bank of the Indus River. This prediction came true when the Thiksey monastery was established first. This was followed by others such as the Spituk
and Likir
monasteries, which are also situated on the right bank of the Indus. According to another legend, Sherab Sangpo and Palden Sangpo were performing some sacred rituals near the Sangmo Lakhang. The ritual offerings (known in local language as torma (ritual cakes) made from sattu or chickpea flour) were then taken to a rock outcrop to be thrown down to the valley. As they were about to throw the torma into the valley, two crows appeared suddenly from somewhere and carried away the ceremonial plate with the offering of torma. They then placed the torma at a location on the other side of the hill. When Palden Sangpo and his disciples began looking for the torma, they reached Thiksey, where they found that the crow had placed the torma on a stone in perfect order and in an undisturbed condition. Palden took this finding as a divine directive to build the monastery here.
The new Thiksey monastery, was located a few miles (kilometres) away from Stagmo, located on a sacred hill above a village of the same name. The monastery is believed to have been built on the site of an earlier Kadampa
establishment, or as a 'daughter house' of the small chapel of Stagmo, about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) to the north. Rinchen Zangpo
, the Translator, is also known to have built a temple named Lakhang Nyerma at Thiksey, dedicated to protector goddess Dorje Chenmo. Today all that can be seen are some ruins.
Thiksey grew in prominence in Ladakh, second only to Hemis Monastery
, administering ten other monasteries in the region, such as the Diskit
, Spituk
, Likir
and Stok
. The monastery came to own or control some 1327.3 acres (537.1 ha) of land and some 25 villages became attached to the monastery.
In around 1770, the Lama
of Hanle
dictated that his elder son should inherit the throne of Ladakh, while other princes should be lamas at Thikse and Spituk. As a result princes such as Jigsmet Namgyal served as lamas at Thikse.
in Lhasa
, Tibet
, the former official seat of the Dalai Lama
s. Thus, Thikse Monastery is also known as 'Mini Potala'. The motorable approach road from the valley passes through the east side of the Thikse Monastery's main building. There is statue of the Tibetan protective deity on this path at the entrance at the lower level. The highest level of the complex has a stupa
(chorten). It has an attached nunnery. Like Likir and Rangdum
monasteries, it was built as a fort monastery in the Central Tibetan pattern. There are excellent views across the Indus Valley flood plain both east and westbound from it, from which the gompa at Matho
(to the east), the royal palace at Stok
(across the valley to the south) and the former royal palace at Shey
(to the west) are clearly visible.
(future Buddha) Temple erected to commemorate visit of the 14th Dalai Lama
to this monastery in 1970. It contains a 15 metres (49.2 ft) high statue of Maitreya Buddha - the largest such statue in Ladakh covering two storeys of the building. He is unusually portrayed as seated in the lotus position rather than his usual representations as standing or in a sitting posture on a high throne. As the largest Buddha statue deified in the monastery, it took four years to craft. It was made by the local artists under the master Nawang Tsering of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (Leh) - in clay, gold paint and copper.
–the Wheel of Life. This wheel has insignia images of a snake, a bird and a pig that signify greed, desire and ignorance. The purpose of this depiction is meant to remind that these earthly ties need to be overcome in order to get enlightenment in life and to prevent the cycle of death and rebirth.
The main prayer room next to this wall has many handwritten and painted books. Behind this prayer hall is the small inner sanctum of the Buddha flanked by Bodhisattvas, Manjushri to the right and Maitreya to the left. The assembly hall also has an image of the 11 headed Avalokitesvara
with Padmasambhava
. The centre of the assembly hall has a seat for the Dalai Lama and to its right, for the head lama and to its left, another deity is pictured. The hall also has murals of the deities Mahakala
and Dukar. 225 volumes of the text Tangyur, wrapped in silk - are stored in wooden shelves in the hall.
with her 21 images placed in glass-covered wooden shelves. Also, small shrines devoted to several guardian divinities including Cham-spring - the protector deity of Thikse - can also be seen between the main courtyard and the staircase. The Chi-khang has an image of the Buddha with two of his disciples and the deity Yamantaka. The courtyard mural depicts Tsong Khapa, the Buddha, Padmasambhava
, Palden Lhamo
and Mahakala
.
and Stangyur. Only men are allowed to enter this floor. There are big stupas and mani walls at the entry to the monastery. Jina, p. 320 A small room above the temple is exclusively used as a school room to teach local boys of the villages and some of these boys are chosen as Lamas. The top floor is also the official residence of the incarnate lama of the monastery. A large pillar engraved with the Buddha's teachings is also located here. The monastery complex has a number of white washed huts, which house the Lamas.
of Thiksey Monastery was also important in these positive developments in the betterment of nuns. The monastery donated the land for a new nunnery at Nyerma, near Thiksey, at the same place where the very first monastic seat was established by Rinchen Zangpo, the Tibetan translator, in the tenth century. The nunnery is now under the patronage of Thiksey Monastery.
Today the nunnery houses 26 nuns, ranging from the ages of 43 to 87. The nuns themselves had taken steps to assert their position in the society by changing their traditional name of ‘ani’ (literal meaning “aunt” - a derogatory connotation of a servant) to "cho-mos", the “female religious practitioners”. They even adopted the testament of Mahaprajapati on this issue, expressed by Buddha’s aunt and nun as their anthem. Under the influence of the 14th Dalai Lama’s words, Thiksey Rinpoche Nawang Jamyang Chamba Stanzin and Tsultrim Tharchin, a geshe became nuns’ activists at Thiksey. The Dutch Foundation for Ladakhi Nuns (DFLN), a voluntary non-profit organization is also functioning in Nyerma, providing monetary and individual services to the cause of the upliftment of the Buddhist nuns of Ladakh.
(October–November). Sacred dances such as the mask dance or Cham Dance
are performed as a part of this ritual. Another special feature is the trade fair held at the base of the monastery, in which villagers from all over Ladakh assemble to barter and trade items and socialize. Sand mandala
s are made for smaller festivals. The morning prayers at 7 am, with synchronized chanting of the Buddhist sūtra
s at this monastery, attract many worshippers to observe the services.
Facilities such as medical clinic, hotel & restaurant, souvenir shops and so forth are available at Thiksey. A fee of 20 rupees is charged for entry to the monastery.
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism is the body of Buddhist religious doctrine and institutions characteristic of Tibet and certain regions of the Himalayas, including northern Nepal, Bhutan, and India . It is the state religion of Bhutan...
monastery of the Yellow Hat (Gelugpa) sect, located on top of a hill, approximately 19 kilometres east of Leh in Ladakh
Ladakh
Ladakh is a region of Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of the Republic of India. It lies between the Kunlun mountain range in the north and the main Great Himalayas to the south, inhabited by people of Indo-Aryan and Tibetan descent...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is noted for its resemblance to the Potala Palace
Potala Palace
The Potala Palace is located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It was named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara...
in Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
, Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
and is the largest gompa
Gompa
Gompa and ling are Buddhist ecclesiastical fortifications of learning, lineage and sadhana , located in Tibet, India, Nepal, and Bhutan...
in central Ladakh.
The monastery is located at an altitude of 3600 metres (11,811 ft) in the Indus valley. It is a 12-storey complex and houses many items of Buddhist art such as stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
s, statues, thangka
Thangka
A "Thangka," also known as "Tangka", "Thanka" or "Tanka" is a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery, usually depicting a Buddhist deity, famous scene, or mandala of some sort. The thankga is not a flat creation like an oil painting or acrylic painting...
s, wall paintings and swords. One of the main points of interest is the Maitreya
Maitreya
Maitreya , Metteyya , or Jampa , is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on...
(future Buddha) Temple which is installed to commemorate the visit of the 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
to this monastery in 1970. A 15 metres (49.2 ft) high statue of Maitreya, the largest such statue in Ladakh, covering two storeys of the building is defied in the monastery. A nunnery is also part of the complex.
History
In the early 15th century, Tsongkhapa, the founder of the reformed Gelugpa School (the Yellow hat sect), sent six of his disciples to remote regions of TibetTibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
to spread the teachings of the new school. Tsongkhapa gave one of his disciples, Sherab Sangpo, a small statue of Amitayus (Chepakmet), the Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
of longevity who is invoked for long life, health and happiness. It contained bone powder and a drop of Tsongkhapa's own blood. Tsongkhapa directed him to meet the King of Ladakh with a message seeking his help in the propagation of Buddhist religion. The King, who was then staying in the Nubra valley
Nubra Valley
Nubra Valley is about 150 km north of Leh, the capital town of Ladakh, India. Local scholars say that its original name was Ldumra . The Shyok River meets the Nubra or Siachan River to form a large valley that separates the Ladakh and the Karakoram Ranges. The average altitude of the valley is...
near Shey
Shey
Shey is a town in Ladakh that has the old summer Palace of the kings of Ladakh. It is located 15 km. from Leh towards Hemis. The palace was built more than 555 years ago by Lhachen Palgyigon, the king of Ladakh...
, greatly liked the gift of the statue. After this meeting, the King directed his minister to help Sherab Sangpo to establish a monastery of the Gelugpa order in Ladakh. As a result, in 1433, Sangpo founded a small village monastery called Lhakhang Serpo (meaning Yellow temple) in the village of Stagmo, to the north of the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
. In spite of his efforts, the lamas who embraced the Gelugpa order, were initially few, although some of his disciples became eminent figures over the years.
In the mid 15th century, Palden Sangpo continued the monastic work started by his teacher, Sherab Sangpo. He decided to build a larger monastery here that was dictated by an unusual event that occurred while choosing the site for the monastery. Legends narrate that Tsongkhapa had predicted that his doctrine would prosper on the right bank of the Indus River. This prediction came true when the Thiksey monastery was established first. This was followed by others such as the Spituk
Spituk Monastery
Spituk Monastery or Spituk Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in Leh district, Ladakh, northern India, 8 kilometres from Leh. It was founded by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od in the 11th Century...
and Likir
Likir Monastery
Likir Monastery or Likir Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, northern India, located approximately west of Leh. It is picturesquely situated on a little hill in the valley near the Indus River and the village of Saspol about north of the Srinigar to Leh highway...
monasteries, which are also situated on the right bank of the Indus. According to another legend, Sherab Sangpo and Palden Sangpo were performing some sacred rituals near the Sangmo Lakhang. The ritual offerings (known in local language as torma (ritual cakes) made from sattu or chickpea flour) were then taken to a rock outcrop to be thrown down to the valley. As they were about to throw the torma into the valley, two crows appeared suddenly from somewhere and carried away the ceremonial plate with the offering of torma. They then placed the torma at a location on the other side of the hill. When Palden Sangpo and his disciples began looking for the torma, they reached Thiksey, where they found that the crow had placed the torma on a stone in perfect order and in an undisturbed condition. Palden took this finding as a divine directive to build the monastery here.
The new Thiksey monastery, was located a few miles (kilometres) away from Stagmo, located on a sacred hill above a village of the same name. The monastery is believed to have been built on the site of an earlier Kadampa
Kadampa
The Kadampa tradition was a Tibetan Mahayana Buddhist school. Dromtönpa, a Tibetan lay master and the foremost disciple of the great Indian Buddhist Master Atisha , founded it and passed three lineages to his disciples. The Kadampa were quite famous and respected for their proper and earnest...
establishment, or as a 'daughter house' of the small chapel of Stagmo, about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) to the north. Rinchen Zangpo
Rinchen Zangpo
Rinchen Zangpo , also known as Lha Lama Yeshe O'd or Mahaguru, was a principal lotsawa or translator of Sanskrit Buddhist texts into Tibetan during the second diffusion of Buddhism in Tibet . He was a student of the famous Indian master, Atisha. His associates included Legpai Sherab...
, the Translator, is also known to have built a temple named Lakhang Nyerma at Thiksey, dedicated to protector goddess Dorje Chenmo. Today all that can be seen are some ruins.
Thiksey grew in prominence in Ladakh, second only to Hemis Monastery
Hemis Monastery
Hemis Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Drukpa Lineage, located in Hemis, Ladakh . Situated 45 km from Leh, the monastery was re-established in 1672 by the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal...
, administering ten other monasteries in the region, such as the Diskit
Diskit Monastery
Diskit Monastery also known as Deskit Gompa or Diskit Gompa is the oldest and largest Buddhist monastery in the Nubra Valley of Ladakh, northern India....
, Spituk
Spituk Monastery
Spituk Monastery or Spituk Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in Leh district, Ladakh, northern India, 8 kilometres from Leh. It was founded by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od in the 11th Century...
, Likir
Likir Monastery
Likir Monastery or Likir Gompa is a Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, northern India, located approximately west of Leh. It is picturesquely situated on a little hill in the valley near the Indus River and the village of Saspol about north of the Srinigar to Leh highway...
and Stok
Stok Monastery
Stok Monastery or Stok Gompa or Palace is a Buddhist monastery in Leh district, Ladakh, northern India, 15 kilometres south of Leh. It was founded by Lama Lhawang Lotus in the 14th Century and has a notable library including all 108 volumes of the Kangjur. A ritual dance-mask festival is held...
. The monastery came to own or control some 1327.3 acres (537.1 ha) of land and some 25 villages became attached to the monastery.
In around 1770, the Lama
Lama
Lama is a title for a Tibetan teacher of the Dharma. The name is similar to the Sanskrit term guru .Historically, the term was used for venerated spiritual masters or heads of monasteries...
of Hanle
Hanle
Hanle can mean:* Hanle , located in eastern Indian Ladakh, near the Chinese border** The Indian Astronomical Observatory, adjacent to Hanle village, location of the highest major astronomical telescopes in the world and colloquially known as Hanle** Hanle Valley, valley containing Hanle village,...
dictated that his elder son should inherit the throne of Ladakh, while other princes should be lamas at Thikse and Spituk. As a result princes such as Jigsmet Namgyal served as lamas at Thikse.
Modern history
Restoration of the old monasteries in Ladakh, including the Thiksey monastery, is being carried out by the Archeological Survey of India, at the request of the concerned Monastery administration. This, however, has not been without its controversy. It is said that the traditional mud and stone courtyards have been changed to granite, which has marred the brightness of the place. Similarly, the restored right wing of the monastery involving construction of new kitchen, the dining hall for the monks by replacing the old traditional central courtyard has caused dissonance to the entire old edifice of the monastery. As a result, a balance to the restoration and renovation works has been sought to retain the old order in consonance with the new works.Exterior
Thikse Monastery is the largest such structure in central Ladakh. Located on a hill slope, its building are arranged in an ascending order of importance and are well spaced, from the foot of the hill housing the dwelling units to the top of the hill enshrining the monasteries and potang (official residence) of the chief lama. The architecture of the monastery strongly resembles the Potala PalacePotala Palace
The Potala Palace is located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. It was named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara...
in Lhasa
Lhasa
Lhasa is the administrative capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region in the People's Republic of China and the second most populous city on the Tibetan Plateau, after Xining. At an altitude of , Lhasa is one of the highest cities in the world...
, Tibet
Tibet
Tibet is a plateau region in Asia, north-east of the Himalayas. It is the traditional homeland of the Tibetan people as well as some other ethnic groups such as Monpas, Qiang, and Lhobas, and is now also inhabited by considerable numbers of Han and Hui people...
, the former official seat of the Dalai Lama
Dalai Lama
The Dalai Lama is a high lama in the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" branch of Tibetan Buddhism. The name is a combination of the Mongolian word далай meaning "Ocean" and the Tibetan word bla-ma meaning "teacher"...
s. Thus, Thikse Monastery is also known as 'Mini Potala'. The motorable approach road from the valley passes through the east side of the Thikse Monastery's main building. There is statue of the Tibetan protective deity on this path at the entrance at the lower level. The highest level of the complex has a stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
(chorten). It has an attached nunnery. Like Likir and Rangdum
Rangdum Monastery
Rangdum Monastery is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery belonging to the Gelugpa sect, situated on top of a small but steep sugarloaf hill at an altitude of 3,657 m at the head of the Suru Valley, in Ladakh...
monasteries, it was built as a fort monastery in the Central Tibetan pattern. There are excellent views across the Indus Valley flood plain both east and westbound from it, from which the gompa at Matho
Matho
Matho Gonpa is a Tibetan Buddhist Gompa in Ladakh to the east of Leh, Jammu and Kashmir, on the banks of the Indus River. The better known Thiske Gompa lies just to the west and Hemis Gompa to the south east. Matho Gompa lies approximately 26 kilometres to the east of the Ladakhi capital...
(to the east), the royal palace at Stok
Stok
Stok or Stak, museum and gompa in village of the same name, situated in the Indus Valley 17 km south east of the Ladakhi capital, Leh. Stok is the current residence of the former royal family of Ladakh and the museum contains the shrines, crown, ceremonial dress and jewelry of the Ladakhi...
(across the valley to the south) and the former royal palace at Shey
Shey
Shey is a town in Ladakh that has the old summer Palace of the kings of Ladakh. It is located 15 km. from Leh towards Hemis. The palace was built more than 555 years ago by Lhachen Palgyigon, the king of Ladakh...
(to the west) are clearly visible.
Maitreya Buddha
One of the main points of interest is the MaitreyaMaitreya
Maitreya , Metteyya , or Jampa , is foretold as a future Buddha of this world in Buddhist eschatology. In some Buddhist literature, such as the Amitabha Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, he or she is referred to as Ajita Bodhisattva.Maitreya is a bodhisattva who in the Buddhist tradition is to appear on...
(future Buddha) Temple erected to commemorate visit of the 14th Dalai Lama
14th Dalai Lama
The 14th Dalai Lama is the 14th and current Dalai Lama. Dalai Lamas are the most influential figures in the Gelugpa lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, although the 14th has consolidated control over the other lineages in recent years...
to this monastery in 1970. It contains a 15 metres (49.2 ft) high statue of Maitreya Buddha - the largest such statue in Ladakh covering two storeys of the building. He is unusually portrayed as seated in the lotus position rather than his usual representations as standing or in a sitting posture on a high throne. As the largest Buddha statue deified in the monastery, it took four years to craft. It was made by the local artists under the master Nawang Tsering of the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (Leh) - in clay, gold paint and copper.
Assembly Hall
A wall at the entrance to the assembly hall or main prayer hall depicts murals of the Tibetan calendar with the BhavacakraBhavacakra
The bhavacakra is a symbolic representation of samsara found on the outside walls of Tibetan Buddhist temples and monasteries in the Indo-Tibet region...
–the Wheel of Life. This wheel has insignia images of a snake, a bird and a pig that signify greed, desire and ignorance. The purpose of this depiction is meant to remind that these earthly ties need to be overcome in order to get enlightenment in life and to prevent the cycle of death and rebirth.
The main prayer room next to this wall has many handwritten and painted books. Behind this prayer hall is the small inner sanctum of the Buddha flanked by Bodhisattvas, Manjushri to the right and Maitreya to the left. The assembly hall also has an image of the 11 headed Avalokitesvara
Avalokitesvara
Avalokiteśvara is a bodhisattva who embodies the compassion of all Buddhas. He is one of the more widely revered bodhisattvas in mainstream Mahayana Buddhism....
with Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava ; Mongolian ловон Бадмажунай, lovon Badmajunai, , Means The Lotus-Born, was a sage guru from Oddiyāna who is said to have transmitted Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet and neighbouring countries in the 8th century...
. The centre of the assembly hall has a seat for the Dalai Lama and to its right, for the head lama and to its left, another deity is pictured. The hall also has murals of the deities Mahakala
Mahakala
Mahākāla is a Dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism, and a deity in Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, particularly in the Vajrayana school. He is known as Daheitian in Chinese and Daikokuten in Japanese...
and Dukar. 225 volumes of the text Tangyur, wrapped in silk - are stored in wooden shelves in the hall.
Tara temple
A temple is also dedicated to goddess TaraTara (Buddhism)
Tara or Ārya Tārā, also known as Jetsun Dolma in Tibetan Buddhism, is a female Bodhisattva in Mahayana Buddhism who appears as a female Buddha in Vajrayana Buddhism. She is known as the "mother of liberation", and represents the virtues of success in work and achievements...
with her 21 images placed in glass-covered wooden shelves. Also, small shrines devoted to several guardian divinities including Cham-spring - the protector deity of Thikse - can also be seen between the main courtyard and the staircase. The Chi-khang has an image of the Buddha with two of his disciples and the deity Yamantaka. The courtyard mural depicts Tsong Khapa, the Buddha, Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava
Padmasambhava ; Mongolian ловон Бадмажунай, lovon Badmajunai, , Means The Lotus-Born, was a sage guru from Oddiyāna who is said to have transmitted Vajrayana Buddhism to Bhutan and Tibet and neighbouring countries in the 8th century...
, Palden Lhamo
Palden Lhamo
Palden Lhamo , Palden Lamo , Shri Devi , or Ukin Tengri is a protecting Dharmapala of the teachings of Gautama Buddha in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. She is also called Remati...
and Mahakala
Mahakala
Mahākāla is a Dharmapala in Vajrayana Buddhism, and a deity in Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, particularly in the Vajrayana school. He is known as Daheitian in Chinese and Daikokuten in Japanese...
.
Lamokhang temple and quarters
The top floor of the monastery houses the Lamokhang temple, which is a repository of numerous volumes of scriptures including KangyurKangyur
The Tibetan Buddhist canon is a loosely defined list of sacred texts recognized by various schools of Tibetan Buddhism, made up of the Kangyur or Kanjur and the Tengyur or Tanjur .-The Tibetan Buddhist Canon:In addition to earlier foundational Buddhist texts from early Buddhist schools, mostly...
and Stangyur. Only men are allowed to enter this floor. There are big stupas and mani walls at the entry to the monastery. Jina, p. 320 A small room above the temple is exclusively used as a school room to teach local boys of the villages and some of these boys are chosen as Lamas. The top floor is also the official residence of the incarnate lama of the monastery. A large pillar engraved with the Buddha's teachings is also located here. The monastery complex has a number of white washed huts, which house the Lamas.
Nunnery
The nunnery or the school for the community of nuns is located within the precincts of the monastery and is managed by the Monastery Administration. In Ladakh, nunneries were held in a grossly inferior status and Buddhist nuns in particular lived in appalling conditions. In the 1990s, awareness was raised on the status of the nuns in Ladakh, and Thiksey received a degree of international attention and support. In 1995, the Sakyadhita Conference of Buddhist Women was held in Leh, leading to the establishment of the Ladakh Nuns Association in 1996. This was important in raising the status of the nuns in Ladakh, to ensure a shift in their functional role of “servitude and to one of true spiritual practice”. The Chief Lama, Thiksey RinpocheRinpoche
Rinpoche or Rinboqê is an honorific used in Tibetan Buddhism. It literally means "precious one," and is used to address or describe Tibetan lamas and other high-ranking or respected teachers. This honor is generally bestowed on reincarnated lamas, or Tulkus, by default...
of Thiksey Monastery was also important in these positive developments in the betterment of nuns. The monastery donated the land for a new nunnery at Nyerma, near Thiksey, at the same place where the very first monastic seat was established by Rinchen Zangpo, the Tibetan translator, in the tenth century. The nunnery is now under the patronage of Thiksey Monastery.
Today the nunnery houses 26 nuns, ranging from the ages of 43 to 87. The nuns themselves had taken steps to assert their position in the society by changing their traditional name of ‘ani’ (literal meaning “aunt” - a derogatory connotation of a servant) to "cho-mos", the “female religious practitioners”. They even adopted the testament of Mahaprajapati on this issue, expressed by Buddha’s aunt and nun as their anthem. Under the influence of the 14th Dalai Lama’s words, Thiksey Rinpoche Nawang Jamyang Chamba Stanzin and Tsultrim Tharchin, a geshe became nuns’ activists at Thiksey. The Dutch Foundation for Ladakhi Nuns (DFLN), a voluntary non-profit organization is also functioning in Nyerma, providing monetary and individual services to the cause of the upliftment of the Buddhist nuns of Ladakh.
Festivals
The annual festival held in the monastery precincts is known as the Gustor ritual, which is held from the 17th to 19th day of the ninth month of the Tibetan calendarTibetan calendar
The Tibetan calendar is a lunisolar calendar, that is, the Tibetan year is composed of either 12 or 13 lunar months, each beginning and ending with a new moon. A thirteenth month is added every two or three years, so that an average Tibetan year is equal to the solar year.The Tibetan New Year...
(October–November). Sacred dances such as the mask dance or Cham Dance
Cham Dance
The cham dance , also spelled tscham or chaam, is a lively masked and costumed dance associated with some sects of Buddhism, and is part of Buddhist festivals. The dance is accompanied by music played by monks using traditional Tibetan instruments...
are performed as a part of this ritual. Another special feature is the trade fair held at the base of the monastery, in which villagers from all over Ladakh assemble to barter and trade items and socialize. Sand mandala
Mandala
Maṇḍala is a Sanskrit word that means "circle". In the Buddhist and Hindu religious traditions their sacred art often takes a mandala form. The basic form of most Hindu and Buddhist mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point...
s are made for smaller festivals. The morning prayers at 7 am, with synchronized chanting of the Buddhist sūtra
Sutra
Sūtra is an aphorism or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. Literally it means a thread or line that holds things together and is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew , as does the medical term...
s at this monastery, attract many worshippers to observe the services.
Facilities such as medical clinic, hotel & restaurant, souvenir shops and so forth are available at Thiksey. A fee of 20 rupees is charged for entry to the monastery.