Prelims
Thiksey Monastery
Context: US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited the historic Thiksey Monastery in Ladakh during his official tour of the Union Territory.
About Thiksey Monastery:
What It Is?
- Thiksey Monastery (or Thiksey Gompa) is a prominent Tibetan Buddhist monastery affiliated with the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) order. Renowned for its hierarchical architecture built along the slopes of a hill, it closely resembles the Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet, earning it the moniker Mini Potala of Ladakh.
Location:
- Perched atop a hillock in Thiksey village in central Ladakh, situated approximately 19 km east of Leh.
- Overlooks the Indus River Valley on its right bank, offering views of the surrounding Himalayan terrain and the Stok mountain range.
History:
- Founded In: 1433 AD.
- Founders: Established by Spon Palden Sherab under the guidance of his master Jangsem Sherab Zangpo, one of the prominent disciples of Je Tsongkhapa (the founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism).
Key Features of Thiksey Monastery:
- 12-Storey Terraced Architecture: The sprawling 12-level complex ascends the hill in tiers, with white-washed monk quarters clustered at the base and red/yellow sacred temples (lhakhangs) crowning the summit.
- Colossal Maitreya Buddha Statue: Houses a 15-metre-high (49-foot) statue of the Maitreya (Future) Buddha, which spans two full storeys of the monastery. Consecrated by the 14th Dalai Lama in 1980, it is adorned with gold plating and lotus motifs.
- Repository of Sacred Art & Manuscripts: Features historic shrines including the Tara Temple (housing statues of the 21 manifestations of Goddess Tara), ancient stupas, woodblock Kangyur/Tengyur scriptures, and restored murals depicting Buddhist deities.
- Daily Morning Chanting & Rituals: Renowned for its traditional morning assembly prayers (Puja), where monks perform rhythmic chanting accompanied by Tibetan horns (dungchen), cymbals, and drums.
- Thiksey Gustor Festival: Annually celebrates the vibrant Gustor festival, featuring masked monastic dances (Cham) that enact the victory of good over evil, culminating in the symbolic destruction of sacrificial effigies (Torma).
