Kye Gompa is said to have been founded by Dromtön (Brom-ston, 1008–1064 CE), a pupil of the famous teacher, Atisha, in the 11th century. This may, however, refer to a now destroyed Kadampa monastery at the nearby village of Rangrik, which was probably destroyed in the 14th century when the Sakya sect rose to power with Mongol assistance.[7][8]
In the mid 17th century, during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama, Kye was extensively plundered and damaged by the Mongols, and became a Gelugpa establishment.[9] Around 1821, it was sacked again during the wars between Ladakh and Kulu. In 1841, it was severely damaged by the Dogra army under Ghulam Khan and Rahim Khan. Later that same year, it was also attacked by Sikhs.[10] In the 1840s, it was ravaged by fire and, in 1975, a violent earthquake caused further damage which was repaired with the help of the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Public Works Department.[11]
The walls of the monastery are covered with paintings and murals, an example of the 14th century monastic architecture, which developed as the result of Chinese influence.[citation needed]
Kye monastery has a collection of ancient murals and books, including Buddha images.[12]
There are three floors, the first one is mainly underground and used for storage. One room, called the Tangyur is richly painted with murals. The ground floor has the beautifully decorated Assembly Hall and cells for many monks.[10]
Kye Gompa now belongs to the Gelugpa sect, along with Tabo Monastery and Dhankar Gompa, one of three in Spiti.
The monastery of Kee, for instance, accommodates nearly 250 monks, who reside within the sacred walls throughout the year. Some monks go to South Indian Monasteries during winters, the rest of them stay inside the monastery walls. These monasteries have their regular heads; these heads are the reincarnations of Guru Rinpoche. The current head of Kee Monastery is from Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. He is 19th birth of Guru Rinpoche.
A celebration of its millennium was conducted in 2000 in the presence of the Dalai Lama.[12] A new Prayer Hall was inaugurated on 3 August 2000 by the Fourteenth Dalai Lama. It was presented through a tableau in the 69th Republic Day celebration held at Delhi.
In recent times the monastery has also hosted the "Kachen Dugyal Memorial Old Aged – Handicapped Society" which provide accommodation for a number of elderly and disabled people.
GalleryEdit
Key monastery kitchen, Spiti, India. 2004
Kachen Dugyal Memorial Old Aged – Handicapped Society, Spiti Monastery, 2004
^ abSurfIndia.com - Kye monastery 4 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
ReferencesEdit
Handa, O. C. (1987). Buddhist Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN81-85182-03-5.
Handa, O. C. (2005). Buddhist Monasteries of Himachal. New Delhi, India: Indus Publishing Company. ISBN81-7387-170-1.
Harcourt, A. F. P. (1871). On the Himalayan Valleys:— Kooloo, Lahoul, and Spiti". Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London, Vol. 15, No. 5, 336–343.
Kapadia, Harish. (1999). Spiti: Adventures in the Trans-Himalaya. 2nd Edition. Indus Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN81-7387-093-4.
Janet Rizvi. (1996). Ladakh: Crossroads of High Asia. Second Edition. Oxford University Press, Delhi. ISBN0-19-564546-4.
Cunningham, Alexander. (1854). LADĀK: Physical, Statistical, and Historical with Notices of the Surrounding Countries. London. Reprint: Sagar Publications (1977).
Francke, A. H. (1977). A History of Ladakh. (Originally published as, A History of Western Tibet, (1907). 1977 Edition with critical introduction and annotations by S. S. Gergan & F. M. Hassnain. Sterling Publishers, New Delhi.
Francke, A. H. (1914). Antiquities of Indian Tibet. Two Volumes. Calcutta. 1972 reprint: S. Chand, New Delhi.
Sarina Singh, et al. India. (2007). 12th Edition. Lonely Planet. ISBN978-1-74104-308-2.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Key Monastery.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Key Monastery.
August 29, 2023
monastery, gompa, tibetan, དཀ, དག, wylie, dkyil, dgon, also, spelled, pronounced, like, english, word, tibetan, buddhist, monastery, gelugpa, sect, located, hill, altitude, metres, above, level, close, spiti, river, spiti, valley, himachal, pradesh, lahaul, sp. Kye Gompa Tibetan དཀ ལ དག ན Wylie dkyil dgon 1 also spelled Kyi Ki Key or Kee pronounced like the English word key is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery of the Gelugpa sect located on top of a hill at an altitude of 4 166 metres 13 668 ft above sea level close to the Spiti River in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh Lahaul and Spiti district India 2 Kye MonasteryReligionAffiliationTibetan BuddhismSectGelugLocationLocationSpiti Valley Himachal Pradesh Lahaul and Spiti district IndiaCountryIndiaLocation within Himachal PradeshGeographic coordinates32 17 52 N 78 00 43 E 32 29778 N 78 01194 E 32 29778 78 01194ArchitectureFounderDromtonDate established11th centuryIt is the largest monastery of the Spiti Valley and a religious training centre for lamas It reportedly had 100 monks in 1855 3 The monastery is dedicated to Lochen Tulku the 24th reincarnation of the great translator Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo 4 5 It is about 12 km 7 5 mi north of Kaza and 210 km 130 mi from Manali by road 6 Contents 1 History 2 Gallery 3 See also 4 Footnotes 5 References 6 External linksHistory EditKye Gompa is said to have been founded by Dromton Brom ston 1008 1064 CE a pupil of the famous teacher Atisha in the 11th century This may however refer to a now destroyed Kadampa monastery at the nearby village of Rangrik which was probably destroyed in the 14th century when the Sakya sect rose to power with Mongol assistance 7 8 In the mid 17th century during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama Kye was extensively plundered and damaged by the Mongols and became a Gelugpa establishment 9 Around 1821 it was sacked again during the wars between Ladakh and Kulu In 1841 it was severely damaged by the Dogra army under Ghulam Khan and Rahim Khan Later that same year it was also attacked by Sikhs 10 In the 1840s it was ravaged by fire and in 1975 a violent earthquake caused further damage which was repaired with the help of the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Public Works Department 11 The walls of the monastery are covered with paintings and murals an example of the 14th century monastic architecture which developed as the result of Chinese influence citation needed Kye monastery has a collection of ancient murals and books including Buddha images 12 There are three floors the first one is mainly underground and used for storage One room called the Tangyur is richly painted with murals The ground floor has the beautifully decorated Assembly Hall and cells for many monks 10 Kye Gompa now belongs to the Gelugpa sect along with Tabo Monastery and Dhankar Gompa one of three in Spiti The monastery of Kee for instance accommodates nearly 250 monks who reside within the sacred walls throughout the year Some monks go to South Indian Monasteries during winters the rest of them stay inside the monastery walls These monasteries have their regular heads these heads are the reincarnations of Guru Rinpoche The current head of Kee Monastery is from Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh He is 19th birth of Guru Rinpoche A celebration of its millennium was conducted in 2000 in the presence of the Dalai Lama 12 A new Prayer Hall was inaugurated on 3 August 2000 by the Fourteenth Dalai Lama It was presented through a tableau in the 69th Republic Day celebration held at Delhi In recent times the monastery has also hosted the Kachen Dugyal Memorial Old Aged Handicapped Society which provide accommodation for a number of elderly and disabled people Gallery Edit Key monastery kitchen Spiti India 2004 Kachen Dugyal Memorial Old Aged Handicapped Society Spiti Monastery 2004 Close up Kye village Spiritual signs Covered in snow in winter Dedication plaqueSee also EditList of highest towns by countryFootnotes Edit spyi ti dkyil dgon gyi byung ba Buddhist Digital Resource Center Retrieved 4 June 2023 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link Sarina Singh et al 2007 p 343 Handa 1987 p 131 Confortin Emanuele 22 September 2022 Stayed at Key Monastery of Spiti Valley and Savoured Tsampa Raacho Trekkers Retrieved 4 June 2023 Sharma Rama Where the Gods live The Tribune India Retrieved 3 June 2023 The Beautiful key Monastery India https www amusingplanet com 2012 12 the beautiful key monastery india html Francke 1914 pp 45 47 Handa 1987 pp 97 99 Handa 2005 pp 172 a b Handa 2005 pp 173 Handa 2005 pp 174 a b SurfIndia com Kye monastery Archived 4 August 2009 at the Wayback MachineReferences EditHanda O C 1987 Buddhist Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh Indus Publishing Company New Delhi ISBN 81 85182 03 5 Handa O C 2005 Buddhist Monasteries of Himachal New Delhi India Indus Publishing Company ISBN 81 7387 170 1 Harcourt A F P 1871 On the Himalayan Valleys Kooloo Lahoul and Spiti Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of London Vol 15 No 5 336 343 Kapadia Harish 1999 Spiti Adventures in the Trans Himalaya 2nd Edition Indus Publishing Company New Delhi ISBN 81 7387 093 4 Janet Rizvi 1996 Ladakh Crossroads of High Asia Second Edition Oxford University Press Delhi ISBN 0 19 564546 4 Cunningham Alexander 1854 LADAK Physical Statistical and Historical with Notices of the Surrounding Countries London Reprint Sagar Publications 1977 Francke A H 1977 A History of Ladakh Originally published as A History of Western Tibet 1907 1977 Edition with critical introduction and annotations by S S Gergan amp F M Hassnain Sterling Publishers New Delhi Francke A H 1914 Antiquities of Indian Tibet Two Volumes Calcutta 1972 reprint S Chand New Delhi Sarina Singh et al India 2007 12th Edition Lonely Planet ISBN 978 1 74104 308 2 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Key Monastery Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Key Monastery Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Key Monastery amp oldid 1166092029, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
