https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Rumtek_MonasteryRumtek Monastery - Revision history2026-08-06T13:19:51ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rumtek_Monastery&diff=139564&oldid=previmported>Billjones94 at 11:46, 30 August 20212021-08-30T11:46:25Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox Tibetan Buddhist monastery<br />
|name = Rumtek Monastery<br />
|native_name=Rum-theg Dgon-pa<br />རུམ་ཐེག་དགོན་པ་<br />
|image =Vikramjit-Kakati-Rumtek.jpg<br />
|alt = <br />
|caption = Rumtek Monastery<br />
|map_type = India Sikkim<br />
|coordinates = {{coord|27|17|19|N|88|33|41|E|type:landmark_region:IN-SK|display=inline,title}}<br />
|map_caption = Location within Sikkim<br />
|country = India<br />
|location= Near [[Gangtok]], [[Sikkim]], [[India]]<br />
|founded_by =[[Wangchuk Dorje, 9th Karmapa Lama]]<br />[[File:Karmapa9.jpg|100px|Wangchuk Dorje]]<br />
|year_completed=16th century<br />
|sect = [[Karma Kagyu]]<br />
}}<br />
'''Rumtek Monastery''' ({{bo|t=རུམ་ཐེག་དགོན་པ་|w=rum theg dgon pa}}), also called the '''Dharma Chakra Centre''', is a [[gompa]] located in the [[India]]n state of [[Sikkim]] near the capital [[Gangtok]]. It is the seat-in-exile of the Gyalwang Karmapa, inaugurated in 1966 by the 16th Karmapa. It is also a focal point for the sectarian tensions within the [[Karma Kagyu]] school of [[Tibetan Buddhism]] that characterize the 17th [[Karmapa controversy]].<br />
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==History==<br />
Originally built under the direction of [[Changchub Dorje, 12th Karmapa Lama]] in the mid-18th century,<ref>Achary Tsultsem Gyatso; Mullard, Saul & Tsewang Paljor (Transl.): [http://himalaya.socanth.cam.ac.uk/collections/journals/bot/pdf/bot_2005_02_03.pdf A Short Biography of Four Tibetan Lamas and Their Activities in Sikkim], in: [http://www.digitalhimalaya.com/collections/journals/bot/index.php?selection=12 Bulletin of Tibetology] Nr. 41, 2/2005, p. 57.</ref> Rumtek served as the main seat of the Karma Kagyu lineage in [[Sikkim]] for some time. But when [[Rangjung Rigpe Dorje, 16th Karmapa]], arrived in Sikkim in 1959 after fleeing [[Tibet]], the monastery was in ruins. Despite being offered other sites, the Karmapa decided to rebuild Rumtek. To him, the site possessed many auspicious qualities and was surrounded by the most favorable attributes. For example, flowing streams, mountains behind, a snow range in front, and a river below. With the generosity and help of the Sikkim royal family and the local folks of Sikkim, it was built by the 16th Karmapa as his main seat in [[exile]].<br />
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After four years, construction of the monastery was completed. The sacred items and relics brought out from [[Tsurphu Monastery]], the Karmapa's seat in Tibet, were installed. On [[Losar]] in 1966, the 16th Karmapa officially inaugurated the new seat, called "The Dharmachakra Centre, a place of erudition and spiritual accomplishment, the seat of the glorious Karmapa."{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}<br />
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The monastery is currently the largest in Sikkim.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}} It is home to the community of monks and where they perform the rituals and practices of the Karma Kagyu lineage. A golden [[stupa]] contains the relics of the 16th Karmapa. Opposite that building is a college, Karma Shri Nalanda Institute for Higher Buddhist Studies.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}<br />
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Rumtek is located {{convert|24|km}} from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, at an altitude of about {{convert|1500|m}}.<br />
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==Controversy==<br />
Rumtek is at the centre of the [[Karmapa controversy]], with a lengthy battle being played out in the Indian courts. Two rival organisations, each supporting a different candidate for the 17th [[Karmapa]], claim stewardship of the monastery and its contents. The two organisations are the Tsurphu Labrang (supporting [[Ogyen Trinley Dorje]]) and the Karmapa Charitable Trust (supporting [[Trinley Thaye Dorje]]). Since 1992, the monastery has been the site of pitched battles between monks supporting one candidate or the other.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/tibetan-buddhist-factions-come-to-blows-a-dispute-that-has-challenged-the-dalai-lamas-authority-led-yesterday-to-a-battle-writes-tim-mcgirk-in-new-delhi-1429837.html|title=Tibetan Buddhist factions come to blows: A dispute that has challenged the Dalai Lama's authority led yesterday to a battle, writes Tim McGirk in New Delhi|first=Tim|last=McGirk|location=[[New Delhi]]|date=1994-03-18|access-date=2010-08-20|publisher=[[The Independent]]}}</ref><br />
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Neither candidate resides, nor has been enthroned, at Rumtek. [[Ogyen Trinley Dorje]] was enthroned at Tsurphu Monastery. Monks supporting Trinley Thaye Dorje (the minority) were thrown out of Rumtek by Indian security forces in order to quell violence between the two factions.<ref name="two">{{Cite news|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/EL24Ad02.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031225042558/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/EL24Ad02.html|url-status=unfit|archive-date=2003-12-25|title=The tale of two Karmapas|first=Julian|last=Gearing|date=2003-12-24|access-date=2010-08-20|publisher=[[Asia Times]]}}</ref> Armed Indian soldiers still patrol the monastery to prevent further sectarian violence.<ref name="two"/><br />
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==Gallery==<br />
<gallery><br />
Image:Dharma Chakra Centre.jpg|Dharma Chakra Centre<br />
Image:PrayerWheelsRumtek.JPG|Prayer Wheels in the Monastery<br />
Image:Lamas Rumtek.jpg|Students of Rumtek Monastery<br />
Image:Rumtek Monastery - Front View.jpg|Rumtek Monastery<br />
Image:Rumtek Monastery 04.jpg|Rumtek Monastery<br />
Image:Rumtek Monastery 07.jpg|Doors in Rumtek Monastery<br />
</gallery><br />
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==See also==<br />
* [[Tourism in North East India]]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
{{Commons category}}<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20041013171418/http://www.kagyuoffice.org/mainseats.rumtek.monastery.html Rumtek details at Kaguoffice.org - Supporters of Ogyen] <br />
* [http://www.rumtek.org Rumtek Monastery's Official Website - Supporters of Ogyen Trinley Dorje]<br />
* [http://www.karmapa-issue.org Information on the Rumtek case in the Indian courts - Supporters of Trinley Thaye Dorje]<br />
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{{Buddhism topics}}<br />
{{Karmapas}}<br />
{{Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim}}<br />
{{North East India}}<br />
<br />
[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim]]<br />
[[Category:Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and temples in India]]<br />
[[Category:Karma Kagyu monasteries and temples]]<br />
[[Category:1740 establishments in India]]<br />
[[Category:Religious organizations established in the 1740s]]<br />
[[Category:Gangtok]]<br />
[[Category:Tourism in Northeast India]]</div>imported>Billjones94