Himachal Pradesh Lhalung Monastery
Lhalung Monastery is known by various names in Himachal Pradesh, namely the Lhalun Monastery, Sarkhang Monastery, or the Golden Temple and is said to be the oldest in the region of Spiti in Himachal Pradesh. This monastery was probably, founded as the earliest monastery in the Northern India by Rinchen Zangpo, who was the Iotswa or Translator of Tibetan Buddhist sect, was also the king of Guge the Himalayan Kingdom, as early as 10th Century CE, this monastery is located at a height of about 3658 mts in the Lhalun village. Lhalun in local parlance means the land of the gods. Lhalung Devta is the head deity of this monastery, who is said to have emerged from the valleys, beyond the mountains of Tangmar. Legends are adrift that the color of these mountains changes according to the moods of these deities, into blue or red, representing anger or happiness is reflected as yellow and so on. Monastery of Lhalung is located at the base of a mountain, upwards of which are plenty of settlements and cattle graze the fields. There is a hill top of Lhodrag, near the Bhutan border.
History
Legends say that the Lhalung Monastery was built overnight by gods, after a willow tree was planted here by Lotsava Rinchen Zangpo. This is the tree that still exists in the compound. According to written scriptures, found inside the Lhalung Monastery and from legends, it is learnt that the monastery was built by Rin-chen-bZong-po, which in actuality was a structure of the Kadampa sect of Buddhism. Great Lotsaba belonged to this sect. During the 14th century, the monastery became influenced by the Sakyapa sect, which are evident from some of the remnants of the old Lhalung monastery. Then in the 17th century, the Lhalung monastery was taken over by the Gelugpa sect, led by the Mongold, when more destruction ensued and presently only one shrine is still remaining.
Architecture
Around the Lhalung monastery, there are about 45 homes, and this is located at a distance of about 14 kms from the main road. In the Lingti Valley, it is the largest settlement which is found. There are remnant walls surrounding the monastery buildings. It is highly probable that the monastery was built like a fort as was the Tabo monastery, but over the years, most of the walls were dilapidated. It was probably a Choshor site, where meditations and learning were practised, rather than being a local site of worship, as it is presently utilised for. A tree is located within this monastery, which is possibly belonging to the beginning of the monastery originally. A circumambulation passage is present around the inner sanctum, which was at a particular time, decorated with beautiful paintings, which presently have faded out. A white temple is present outside the main Gompa, where four images of Buddha has been built, facing towards the four cardinal directions. These are also considered to be as old as the monastery. Lots of Buddhist relics and motifs related to Buddhist rituals have been found.
Reaching There
The Lhalung monastery is about 2 hours drive from Dhankar.
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