Introduction
:Lamayuru monastery popularly known as, "Yangdrung Gomp" is situated 126 km west of Leh, on the Leh - Srinagar highway. In ancient times there was a huge lake in this place. The great saint Nyimagung, made a prophesy saying: " May a monastery be founded in this place" and he then offered a votive water offering to all the naga serpent spirits who were the guardians of that place. The grains of that corn that formed part of this offering were carried by the waves of different places along the cliff side by the edge of the lake and when they had become mixed with the earth they sprouted forth as corn in the shape of a swastika. At the time when a monastery was later founded there it was called Yangdrung "swastika". In the 11th century the mahasiddha Naropa came to this place and the cave where he resided and meditated is still to be seen today. Then Rinchen Zangpo, the Translator came and built many temples and stupas and so the teachings of the Kadampa school came to flourish greatly there. Thereafter, for many years the monastery was administered by the Red Hats order of the Tibetan Buddhism., but later it was taken over by Digungpa order. Then the rituals and observances of the Digung Kargud School were introduced and the monastery received the name of Yangdrung Tharpaling.
There are about 200 monks residing in the monastery today.
Festival
: There is a custom whereby each year on the 17th and 18th of the 15th
Tibetan month the festival of the so called "Yangdrung Kabgyat" is
held during which sacred mask dances are performed and the rituals of
hurling a votive offering is observed . At this time many people from the
districts of Sham (Lower valley) and Stod (upper valley) assemble there in
their colourful best to witness the festival. Monastery : In this monastery there are various shrines to be seen, including Metal statues and clay statues, thangkas and wall paintings. While circumambulating the gompa you can catch the sight of the village and surroundings.
JOIN US FOR THIS SPECTACULAR FESTIVAL IN LADAKH.
For detail itinerary and costs please contact us, as soon as possible to avoid any disappointment.
