Arunachal Pradesh Gyangong Ani Gompa
Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh is known for its nunneries referred as AniGompas, among which GyangongAniGompa is one. This nunnery is located in a distance of 5km from Tawangtownship, hosting about 50 Buddhist nuns.
This AniGompa is managed by theTawang Monastery, providing assistance for the day to day needs of the nuns and for the monastery administration. The nunnery’s location and the rituals followed by the nuns here would bring one the nostalgic memory of the bygone era, when Buddhism was propagated through sermons done in a calm and serene environment, under the shades of a tree.
This nunnery like many others provides facility for nuns to live and the girl children join on their own to observe self-devoted lives.
History
The GyangongAniGompa Nunnery is situated at the top of a beautiful hillock about 5 km north of Tawang and it was founded by the Buddhist monkMera Lam LodreGyamtso, who subsequently gave the Nunnery to his elder sister to administer.
Traditionally at least one girl from every family joins the AniGompa and this practice is going on for several years.
Tawang City has a rich history, Monpa tribe living in this place centuries before and Mon Kingdom was holding the reigns ruling Tibet and Bhutan region. Buddhism was brought in during 8th Century, by Guru Padmasmbhava and during 18th Century British power made Tawang an important centre of the North East. When 1914 McMohan line was drawn up, Tawang became an Indian city.
Apart fromGyangongAniGompa, Tawang houses few other monasteries, such as Urgelling Monastery, Righyalling Monastery and Taksang Monastery, apart from Tawang Monastery, which is called GaldenNamgyalLhaste. As for nunneries, Tawang houses three AniGompas, which are Brama Dung ChingAniGompa, GyangongAniGompa and SingsurAniGompa.
Architecture
Gompas and Monasteries follow huge and expansive size of architecture, comparable to Palaces, maintaining uniqueness in any place they are established. If the Gampa is constructed amidst the living places, the Gampa building will be of different colour and size and anyone can clearly mark a Gampa from a far away place. Likewise, the Meditation Caves annexed to Cliffs, will be of distinct architecture that they stand out inviting Buddhist monks and other Buddhism followers to come there and do their Prayers.
The interior design of a Gompa will vary according to the region in which it is constructed. But, there will always a common design, which would have the meditation hall in the centre and benches or sitting arrangement around for the monks to do their Prayers and Meditation, while Buddha Murti or Thangka will be in the centre. In the Gompa architecture ancient principles of environmental metaphysics are always adopted to keep the Gompa in a serene atmosphere.
With regard to the Eye of Buddha statue, the eyes are painted in such a manner that the followers would not dare to see Buddha’s eyes directly.
Festivals
GyangongAniGompa observes a few festivals which are according to Monpa calendar and culture.
- Predominant among the festivals celebrated is the Losar Festival occurring at the break of the Monpa New Year, which is 15-day festival in January/February, the highlight of this festival being the colourful AjiLhamu dance, Yak dance, and also Lion and Peacock dance.
- The Torgya Festival comes next which is a 3-day celebration, signifying the destruction of evil spirit and destructive forces, praying for happiness and prosperit among people.
- The SakaDawafestival which comes in the fourth month of Lunar calendar, marks Buddha’s Nirvana achievement.
- The DupkaTse-Shi Festival which falls in the Lunar Calendar 6thmonth, highlights Buddha’s preaching of the Four Nobel Truths pronounced at Sarnath.
- The LhababDeuchen Festival coming in the Monpa 9thmonth,signifies the reincarnation of Lord Buddha as Shakyamuni.
- To commemorate Tsongkya-pa’s death, the GandenNgamchoe festival is celebrated.Tsongkha-pa is the founder of Gelugpa Sect.
How to Reach
Air: To reachTawangin Arunachal Pradesh by air one has to alight at the Lilabari (North Lakhimpur) Airport which is situated in Assam, 67 kms from the capital, Itanagar, and there are direct flights from Kolkata to this destination. There are also helicopter Services available to reach Tawang, from Guwahati in Assam which travel would take around 1 hour 20 minutes.
Rail: Harmuty Railway Station in Assam is the nearest railway station, which is 23 km from Naharlagun and 33 km from Itanagar, while the nearest convenient rail point is North Lakhimpur in Assam,which is 50 km from Naharlagun and 60 km from Itanagar.
Road: Public transport provided by Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Corporation provides facility for one to reach Tawang by road, which runs regular bus-services to various places in Arunachal Pradesh. There are long distance bus services to Itanagar from Guwahati, every day, which is about 429 km travel.
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