Arunachal Pradesh Urgelling Monastery
Urgelling Monastery is considered to be famous because it was the birth place for the 6 Dalai Lama during 1683. Located at a distance of about 5 kms towards the south of Tawang township, it is one of three monasteries, which were built during the time period of Urgen Sangpo, who is said to be the younger brother of famous Treasure traveller, Terton Pempalingpa. It is said to be built during the year about 1489 AD. The significance of the monastery was doubled because the 6th Dalai lama was born in this monastery, Tsangyang Gyatso, who later on became the 6th Dalai Lama. The Urgelling Monastery is also known for the beautiful landscape, that surrounds the monastery, with the majestic Himalayas surrounding the monastery. This monastery belonged to the Lamaistic Mahayana sect of Buddhism.
History
When Dalai Lama was born in this Urgelling Monstery, a number of incidents preceded the birth, which were considered auspicious. The Lama’s mother experienced some divine phenomenon, showing the birth of a holy child. It is believed that when she drank from a stream, the water turned into milk. During an illness in the early period, the Dalai Lama was saved miraculously by the guardian deity of Dorjee Dahpa. After being well known in the world as a Dalai Lama, he inscribed with his fingers the world god knows, which is still seen in the monastery. To protect the valuables from being destroyed by the mongolion forces, they were handed over to the Tawang monastery, which is located closeby.
Architecture
After the birth of the 6th Lama, the monastery saw a lot of visitors and became a favoured place for meditation by the monks. But in 1714, it was destroyed by the forces of Lajang Khan and took away all the precious possessions, including holy scriptures and statues and it was taken into the Tawang monastery. Presently, the Urgelling monastery is a small shrine with few monks living in peace and practice meditation and follow Buddhist spiritual practices. In the present times, the monastery has double storied main temple, an eight pillar assembly hall, four pillar altar hall, two pillared deities hall, a residential quarter for the Dalai Lama and tantric practice halls, twenty rooms in the courtyard for the residential quarters of the monks who reside in the complex.
Festivals
Lots of festivals were celebrated in the Urgelling Monastery such as Losar and Torgya, which are important days in the Tibetan Calendar and also give opportunity for the Buddhist followers to arrive in the monastery and seek pleasures and blessings, and celebrated their brotherhood.
Losar festival is held usually in the month of January, which marks the beginning of the Tibetan new year. It is celebrated for about 15 days, during which there are dances and folk music by the monks and lamps are lighted and flags are hoisted.
Torgya is another important festival by the Lamas, conducted for three days, starting from 28th days of the Lunar calendar of the 11th month. During this time, Torgya is a cylindrical structure, which is constructed by the Lamas and they light every corner of the monastery with colourful lights, decorations and traditional dances.
There are other festivals such as Saka Dawa, which marks the day of enlightment of the Buddha, held in the 4th month of the Tibetan calendar and the Dukpa Tse Shi, which is held in the 6th month of the lunar calendar, to commemorate the first sermon of the Buddha.
Reaching There
Urgelling Monastery is found at a distance of 5 kms from Tawang, with the nearest airport located in Tezpur in Assam, which is about 375 kms from Tawang. This airport has flights connecting to Kolkata, twice in a week. One can also take a flight from Guwahati in Assam to Reach Tawang.
Guwahati in Assam is having the nearest railway station, at about 560 kms , which is turn has train connectivity to many other places in India.
Reaching Tawang is easiest by road as it has good road connectivity from Bomdila, which is at a distance of 185 kms or Tezpur at a distance of 365 kms or guwahati at 555 kms.
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