Lhalung Monastery, Lhalun Monastery or Lalung Monastery (also known as the Sarkhang or Golden Temple), was one of the earliest monasteries founded in Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India, by the great Tibetan Buddhist lotswa (translator) Rinchen Zangpo, the king of western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge during the late 10th century CE. The altitude of the neighbouring village of Lhalun is 3,658 metres (12,001 feet).[1]
The name Lhalun literally means 'land of the gods' (lha = deities, devtas; lung = land, area) and it is said that the Lhalung Devta is head of all the Devtas of the valley and emerges from the Tangmar mountain beyond the village. This mountain is said to change colour depending on the moods of the devtas or deities; red showing anger, yellow, happiness, etc.[2]
The village has 45 homes is 14 km from the main road and is the largest in the Lingti valley. At some places remains of an ancient wall encircling all the monastery buildings may be found. It is probable that, like Tabo, it was designed as a choshor site, a place for learning and debate as opposed to a simple village monastery or a chapel for worship by the local people. There is also a sacred tree here which may be as old as the earliest monastery.[3][4]
"The Lha-lun monastery, built by Rin-chen-bZang-po, was originally a Kah-dam-pa (Kadampa) establishment to which the Great Lotsaba belonged. But it might have turned into a Sa-kya-pa (Sakyapa) stronghold in the 14th century. Some of the damaged temples at Lha-lun may be the spoils of that period. In the 17th century, this monastery was annexed to the Ge-lug-pa (Gelugpa) fold by the Mongold despite the Sa-kya-pa (Sakyapa) resistance and, a loss of a few more temples. Thus out of the nine temples of the Lotsaba's time, only one now remains...."[5]
For a sketched floor plan of the one remaining temple of Lhalung Monastery see Handa (1987), p. 87.
Handa, O. C. (1987). Buddhist Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh. Indus Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN81-85182-03-5.
Kapadia, Harish. (1999). Spiti: Adventures in the Trans-Himalaya. Second Edition. Indus Publishing Company, New Delhi. ISBN81-7387-093-4.
External linksedit
Media related to Lalung Gompa at Wikimedia Commons
December 18, 2023
lhalung, monastery, lhalun, monastery, lalung, monastery, also, known, sarkhang, golden, temple, earliest, monasteries, founded, spiti, himachal, pradesh, india, great, tibetan, buddhist, lotswa, translator, rinchen, zangpo, king, western, himalayan, kingdom, . Lhalung Monastery Lhalun Monastery or Lalung Monastery also known as the Sarkhang or Golden Temple was one of the earliest monasteries founded in Spiti Himachal Pradesh India by the great Tibetan Buddhist lotswa translator Rinchen Zangpo the king of western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge during the late 10th century CE The altitude of the neighbouring village of Lhalun is 3 658 metres 12 001 feet 1 Lhalung MonasteryOld statues Lhalung Gompa ReligionAffiliationTibetan BuddhismLocationLocationSpiti Himachal Pradesh IndiaCountryIndiaGeographic coordinates32 08 46 N 78 14 06 E 32 146 N 78 235 E 32 146 78 235ArchitectureDate established10th centuryThe name Lhalun literally means land of the gods lha deities devtas lung land area and it is said that the Lhalung Devta is head of all the Devtas of the valley and emerges from the Tangmar mountain beyond the village This mountain is said to change colour depending on the moods of the devtas or deities red showing anger yellow happiness etc 2 The village has 45 homes is 14 km from the main road and is the largest in the Lingti valley At some places remains of an ancient wall encircling all the monastery buildings may be found It is probable that like Tabo it was designed as a choshor site a place for learning and debate as opposed to a simple village monastery or a chapel for worship by the local people There is also a sacred tree here which may be as old as the earliest monastery 3 4 The Lha lun monastery built by Rin chen bZang po was originally a Kah dam pa Kadampa establishment to which the Great Lotsaba belonged But it might have turned into a Sa kya pa Sakyapa stronghold in the 14th century Some of the damaged temples at Lha lun may be the spoils of that period In the 17th century this monastery was annexed to the Ge lug pa Gelugpa fold by the Mongold despite the Sa kya pa Sakyapa resistance and a loss of a few more temples Thus out of the nine temples of the Lotsaba s time only one now remains 5 For a sketched floor plan of the one remaining temple of Lhalung Monastery see Handa 1987 p 87 Contents 1 Gallery 2 Footnotes 3 References 4 External linksGallery edit nbsp Altar with Guru Rinpoche nbsp Young woman making offerings Lhalung Gompa 2004 nbsp Abbot of Lhalung Gompa 2004 nbsp Lhalung Old statue nbsp Lhalung Gompa prayer wheel nbsp Lhalung gilded wooden figures nbsp Lalung Gompa mandala wall paintingFootnotes edit Kapadia 1999 p 82 TrekNature Learning about nature through photography Indian Himalaya Safaris to Kinnaur Spiti and Dharamsala Private Journeys amp Independent Travel in Indian Himalayas Shimla Kinnaur Spiti Manali Dharamsala to Amritsar Tour Archived from the original on 4 February 2010 Retrieved 17 January 2010 Ecosphere Spiti Eco Livelihoods Archived from the original on 13 May 2009 Retrieved 20 July 2009 Handa 1987 p 86 References editHanda O C 1987 Buddhist Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh Indus Publishing Company New Delhi ISBN 81 85182 03 5 Kapadia Harish 1999 Spiti Adventures in the Trans Himalaya Second Edition Indus Publishing Company New Delhi ISBN 81 7387 093 4 External links edit nbsp Media related to Lalung Gompa at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Lhalung Monastery amp oldid 1143983385, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
