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{{Short description|Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, India}}
{{Use dmy dates}}
{{Use Indian English}}
{{good article}}
{{Infobox Tibetan Buddhist monastery
|name = Tawang Monastery
|image =Tawang Monastery (Tibetan Buddhist).jpg
|image size =
|alt =
|caption =Tawang Monastery
|map_type = India Arunachal Pradesh#India
|coordinates = {{coord|27|35|07.91|N|91|51|25.99|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
|map_caption = Location within India
|location_country =India
|location= [[Tawang]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], [[India]]
|founded_by =Mera Lama Lodre Gyasto
|year_completed = 17th century
|date_renovated = 2002 by the [[14th Dalai Lama]]
|sect = [[Gelug]]
|lineage=
|head_lama =
|no._of_monks =450
|architecture = 65 residential buildings
|colleges=17 gompas
|festivals=
|footnotes =
}}
'''Tawang Monastery''', located in [[Tawang]] city of [[Tawang district]] in the [[States and Union Territories of India|Indian]] state of [[Arunachal Pradesh]], is the largest monastery in India. It is situated in the valley of the [[Tawang Chu]], near the small town of [[Tawang Town|the same name]] in the northwestern part of Arunachal Pradesh, in close proximity to the Chinese and Bhutanese border.

Tawang Monastery is known in Tibetan as '''Gaden Namgyal Lhatse''', which translates to "the divine paradise of complete victory." It was founded by Merak Lama '''Lodre Gyatso''' in 1680–1681 in accordance with the wishes of the [[5th Dalai Lama]], Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso. It belongs to the [[Gelug]] school of [[Vajrayana Buddhism]] and had a religious association with [[Drepung Monastery]] of Lhasa, which continued during the period of [[British Raj|British rule]].

The monastery is three stories high. It is enclosed by a {{Convert|925|ft}} long compound wall. Within the complex there are 65 residential buildings. The library of the monastery has valuable old scriptures, mainly [[Kangyur]] and [[Tengyur]].

==Etymology==
The full name of the monastery is Tawang Galdan Namgye Lhatse. 'Ta' means "horse", 'wang' means "chosen", which together forms the word 'Tawang', meaning "the location selected by horse". Further, 'Gadan' means "paradise", 'Namgyal' means "complete victory" and 'Lhatse' means "divine". Thus, the full meaning of the 'Tawang Galdan Namgye Lhatse' is the "site chosen by the horse is the divine paradise of complete victory".{{Sfn|Bareh|2001|p=325}}

==Location==
[[File:Tawang 2.jpg|thumb|View in the distance]]
[[File:Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh (21).jpg|thumb|View from Tawang DC Office]]
The monastery is situated near the top of a mountain, at an elevation of about {{Convert|10000|ft}}, with a commanding view of the [[Tawang Chu]] valley, which comprises snow-capped mountains and coniferous forest. It is bounded on its southern and western flanks by steep ravines formed by streams, a narrow spur on the north and a gently sloping ground on the east. The monastery is entered from the northern direction along a sloping spur, which has alpine vegetation.{{Sfn|Dalal|2010|p=363}}{{Sfn|Mibang|Chaudhuri|2004|p=211}}<ref name=Dalai>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Landslides-hit-Tawang-monastery/articleshow/7003169.cms?referral=PM|title=Landslides hit Tawang monaster|newspaper=The Times of India}}</ref>{{Sfn|Das|2009|p=178}} {{Sfn|Bareh|2001|p=325}} Nearby [[Tawang Town]], named after the monastery, is well connected by road, rail and air services. [[Bhalukpong]], which is the nearest rail head, is {{Convert|280|km}} away by road. [[Tezpur Airport]] is the nearest airport at a road distance of {{Convert|350|km}}.<ref name=Majumdar/>

==Legends==
[[File:Palden Lhamo, Tawang Monastery.jpg|right|thumb|A [[thangka]] of [[Palden Lhamo]] guardian deity of the monastery]]
Three legends are narrated to the establishment of the monastery. In the first legend it is said that location of the present Monastery was selected by a horse which belonged to Merag Lama Lodre Gyatso who was on a mission assigned to him by the [[5th Dalai Lama]] to establish a Monastery. After an intense search, when he failed to locate a suitable place, he retired into a cave to offer prayers seeking divine intervention to choose the site. When he came out of the cave, he found his horse missing. He then went in search of the horse and finally found it grazing at the top of a mountain called Tana Mandekhang, which in the past was the palace of King Kala Wangpo. He took this as a divine and auspicious guidance and decided to establish the monastery at that location. Seeking the help of the local people, Mera Lama established the monastery at that location in the latter part of 1681.<ref name=National>{{Cite web|url=http://tawang.nic.in/page18.html|title=History|publisher=National Informatics Centre, Government of India}}</ref>{{Sfn|Kohli|2002|p=328}}

The second legend of the derivation of the name Tawang is linked to Terton Pemalingpa, diviner of treasures. At this location, he is stated to have given "initiations" of ''Tamdin'' and ''Kagyad'', which resulted in the name "Tawang". ‘Ta’ is an abbreviated form for "Tamdin" and ‘Wang’ means "initiation".<ref name=National/>

According to the third legend, a white horse of the Prince of Lhasa had wandered into [[Monpa people|Monpa]] region. People, who went in search of the horse, found the horse grazing at the present location of the monastery. The people of the area then worshipped the horse and the location where it was found and venerated it every year. Eventually, to honour the sacred site, the Tawang Monastery was built at the site.{{cn}}

One more legend narrated is about the goddess painted on a [[thangka]] in the monastery which is of [[Palden Lhamo]]. This female deity is compared to the [[Hindu]] Goddess [[Kali]]. Like Kali, Palden Lhamo's thangka is drawn in black colour, with flaming eyes, dressed in skirt made of tiger skin, and a garland of skulls around her neck. A moon disc adorns her hair, similar to the one seen on [[Shiva]]. She is also associated with Goddess [[Saraswati]] and [[Tara (Buddhism)|Ma Tara]]. Legend also states that in the past she had lived in [[Sri Lanka]] as the consort of a demon king who practiced human sacrifice. As she was not supportive of this practice she fled from the kingdom. As she was running away, the king shot her with an arrow, which struck the backside of the mule that she was riding. When she drew out the arrow, it left a gaping hole in the mule's back, and through this gap Palden Lhamo could watch the teachings of Lord Buddha.{{Sfn|Pal|2014|p=100}}

==History==
[[File:Tawang Monastery second largest monastery in Asia Arunachal Pradesh India.jpg|thumb|left|View of the Tawang Monastery from the Jaswantgarh War Memorial]]
The monastery was founded by Merek Lama Lodre Gyamsto in 1680–81 at the behest of the [[5th Dalai Lama]], who was his contemporary.{{Sfn|Dalal|2010|p=363}}{{Sfn|Kohli|2002|p=328}}<ref name=main>{{Cite web|url=http://tawang.nic.in/|title=Tawang District: The Land of Monpas|publisher=National Informatics Centre, Government of India}}</ref> When Merek Lama was experiencing difficulties in building the monastery at the chosen location of Tsosum, the ancient name for Tawang, the 5th Dalai Lama issued directives to the people of the area to provide him all help. To fix the perimeter of the Dzong, the Dalai Lama had also given a ball of yarn, the length of which was to form the limit of the monastery.{{Sfn|Kler|1995|p=31}}

Prior to the dominance of the Gelug sect of Buddhism in Tawang, the [[Nyingmapa]] or the Black Hat sect of Buddhism was dominant and this resulted in their hegemony and even hostile approach towards the founder, Merek Lama. This problem was compounded by the [[Drukpa Lineage|Drukpas]] of Bhutan, who also belonged to the Nyingmapa sect, who even tried to invade and take control of Tawang. Hence, when the Tawang monastery was built like a fort structure, a strategic location was chosen from the defense point of view.{{Sfn|Mibang|Chaudhuri|2004|p=211}}
[[File:6DalaiLama.jpg|thumb|The [[6th Dalai Lama]]]]
In 1844, Tawang Monastery had entered into two agreements with the [[East India Company]]. One agreement, signed on 24 February, pertained to surrender by the Monpas of their right to the Karlapara Duar in return for an annual fee (''posa'') of Rs 5,000, and another, dated 28 May, related to the Shardukpens to abide by any order of the British administration in India in return for an annual fee of Rs 2,526 and seven annas.{{Sfn|Arpi|1962|p=440}} Tawang officials used to travel almost to the plains of [[Assam]] to collect monastic contributions.{{Sfn|Richardson|1984|p=149-150}} According to Pandit Nain Singh of the [[Great Trigonometrical Survey|Trignometrical Survey of India]], who visited the monastery in 1874–75, the monastery had a parliamentary form of administration, known as the ''Kato'', with the Chief Lamas of the monastery as its members. It was not dependent on the ''Dzonpan'' (head of Tsona Monastery) and Government of Lhasa, and this aspect was supported by G.A. Nevill who had visited the monastery in 1924.{{Sfn|Bose|1997|p=140}}
[[File:"Gaden Namgyal Lhatse" (Tibetan) was consecrated by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet on 15 October 1997 detail, from- Tawang Monastery 100 (22) (cropped).jpg|alt=|thumb|"Gaden Namgyal Lhatse" (Tibetan), consecrated by Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet on 15 October 1997]]
Until 1914, this region of India was under the control of Tibet. However, under the [[Simla Accord (1914)|Simla Agreement of 1913-14]], the area came under the control of the [[British Raj]].{{Sfn|Mullin|p=159-60}}{{Sfn|Bose|1997|p=140}} Tibet gave up several hundred square miles of its territory, including the whole of the Tawang region and the monastery, to the British.{{Sfn|Shakya|2012|p=530}} This disputed territory was the bone of contention for the [[Sino-Indian War|1962 India China war]],{{Sfn|Mullin|p=159-60}}{{Sfn|Bose|1997|p=140}} when China invaded India on 20 October 1962 from the northeastern border, forcing the Indian army to retreat. They occupied Tawang, including the monastery, for six months, but did not desecrate it.{{Sfn|Kapadia|Kapadia|2005|p=60}} China claimed that Tawang belonged to Tibet. It is one of the few monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism that have remained protected from Mao's Cultural Revolution without any damage. Before this war, in 1959, the [[14th Dalai Lama]] had fled from Tibet, and [[Dalai Lama's escape from China|after an arduous journey]], crossed into India on 31 March 1959, and had reached Tawang and taken shelter in the monastery for a few days before moving to [[Tezpur]].{{Sfn|Richardson|1984|p=210}} 50 years later, in spite of strong protests by China, the Dalai Lama's visit on 8 November 2009 to Tawang Monastery was a monumental event to the people of the region, and the abbot of the monastery greeted him with much fanfare and adulation.<ref name=Majumdar>{{Cite news|last=Majumdar|first=Sanjoy|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8351813.stm|title=Frontier town venerates Dalai Lama|work= BBC News}}</ref>

As of 2006 the monastery had 400 monks,<ref name=Kent>{{Cite news|last=Kent|first= Thomas |url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=1,2720,0,0,1,0|title=Young Buddhist monks lead insular lives in India|publisher= Spero News}}</ref> and the number was reported to be 450 in 2010.<ref name=Dalai/> Tawang Manuscript Conservation Centre was established in the monastery in August 2006, which has curated 200 manuscripts, and 31 manuscripts have been treated for preservation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.namami.org/convervation.htm|title=National Conservation Centres|publisher=National Mission for Manuscripts|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506234603/http://www.namami.org/convervation.htm|archive-date=2012-05-06}}</ref> In November 2010, it was reported that the monastery was threatened by a risk of [[landslide]], with ''[[The Times of India]]'' reporting "massive landslides around it".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-28/india/28259439_1_monastery-gaden-namgyal-lhatse-massive-landslides |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104024839/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2010-11-28/india/28259439_1_monastery-gaden-namgyal-lhatse-massive-landslides |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 November 2012 |work=[[The Times of India]] |title=Landslides hit Tawang monastery }}</ref> Professor Dave Petley of [[Durham University]] in the [[United Kingdom]] (UK), an acknowledged landslide expert, wrote: "the northern flank of the site appears to consist of a landslide scarp ... The reasons for this are clear – the river, which flows towards the south, is eroding the toe of the slope due to the site being on the outside of the bend. In the long term, erosion at the toe will need to be prevented if the site is to be preserved."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.agu.org/landslideblog/2010/11/28/acute-landslide-threats-to-the-tawang-monastery-northern-india/ |title=Acute landslide threats to the Tawang Monastery, northern India|publisher=American Geophysical Union }}</ref>

The monastery currently has control over 17 [[gompas]] in [[West Kameng district]].{{Sfn|Kohli|2002|p=328}} The monastery has administrative control over two [[dzongs]], each headed by a monk; the Darana Dzong built in 1831 and the Sanglem Dzong, also known as Talung Gompa, in the south-west part of Kameng district. These dzongs not only collect taxes but also preach Buddhism to the Monpas and Sherdukpens of Kameng.{{Sfn|Bareh2001|p=31}} The monastery owns cultivable lands in the villages of Soma and Nerguit and a few patches in some other villages which are tilled and cultivated by farmers, who share the produce with the monastery.{{Sfn|Kler|1995|p=32}} The present resident head of the monastery is the incarnate Gyalsy Rinpochey.{{Sfn|Mullin|p=159-60}}

The Dalai Lama also visited Tawang Monastery in 2017.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/06/world/asia/dalai-lama-sucessor-tibet-china-buddhism.html | title=Dalai Lama's Journey Provokes China, and Hints at His Heir | newspaper=The New York Times | date=6 April 2017 | last1=Barry | first1=Ellen }}</ref>

==Features==
[[File:Tawang Monastery Doorway Mandala.jpg|right|thumb|The Manadala at the "Kakaling", the entry gate to the monastery]]

===Entrance and outer walls===
At the entrance to the monastery there is colourful gate structure, known as the ''Kakaling'', which is built in the shape of a "hut-like structure", with side walls built of stone masonry. The roof of the ''Kakaling'' features [[mandalas]], while the interior walls have murals of divinities and saints painted on them. A distinctive mural, the ninth mural from the southwest west corner of the southern wall, is of ''Ningmecahn'', the protector deity of the [[Bon religion]], who is considered the guardian deity of the Tawang region. Ahead of the main gate of the ''Kakaling'', to its south, is another entry, an open gate.{{Sfn|Mibang|Chaudhuri|2004|p=212}}<ref name=Tawang>{{Cite web|url=http://tawangmonastery.org/|title=Tawang Monastery (Gonpa)|publisher=Tawang Monastery organization|access-date=7 September 2009|archive-date=24 November 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091124041421/http://www.tawangmonastery.org/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The main entrance to the monastery, to the south of the open gate, has massive doors fitted on the northern wall. This outer wall is {{Convert|925|ft}} in length, with heights varying from about {{Convert|10|-|20|ft}}. Apart from the main gate, the southern side of the monastery has another entry gate, which also has a massive door. Nearer to the gate, there are two small openings in the wall which provide the complete view of the exterior part of the eastern wall that connects to the ''Kakaling''. According to a legend, the 5th Dalai Lama had given a roll of thread to be bound around the walls of the monastery to denote the extent to which the monastery should be built.<ref name=Tawang/>

===Main buildings===
The monastery, built like a large mansion, is triple storied with a large assembly hall, ten other functional structures and with 65 residential quarters for students, Lamas and monks.<ref name=Dalai/>{{Sfn|Bareh|2001|p=325}}{{Sfn|Pal|2014|p=100}}<ref name=Tawang/> The monastery has a school and its own water supply facility,{{Sfn|Pal|2014|p=100}} and a centre for Buddhist cultural studies.{{Sfn|Dalal|2010|p=363}}

The ground floor of the monastery is where ritual dances are performed. The walls of the monastery also have a profusion of [[thangka]]s of Buddhist deities and saints. Curtains are suspended over the balcony and these are painted with Buddhist symbols. Within the precincts of the monastery there are residential buildings to accommodate about 700 monks, which now houses 450 monks.{{Sfn|Dalal|2010|p=363}}{{Sfn|Kler|1995|p=31}}{{Sfn|Mibang|Chaudhuri|2004|p=212}} The abbot of the monastery resides in a house located near the gate at the southeastern corner of the monastery.{{Sfn|Kler|1995|p=31}}

[[File:Tawang Monastery, AP (20).jpg|thumb|250px|First View of Tawang Monastery]]

A notable feature on the wall of the front porch on the ground floor is a footprint on a stone slab. It is said that this footprint belonged to a resident of the monastery, who was a water carrier, known as ''Chitenpa''. He served in the monastery for a long time and on one fine day he announced that he had completed his service to the monastery and then stamped his left foot on the stone slab which created a dented formation of his step. This step is venerated as a miracle in view of a belief among the people of the region that such an imprint on a stone slab could only be created by a divine person who was a true devotee of the monastery.{{Sfn|Mibang|Chaudhuri|2004|p=212}}

====Main temple (Dukhang)====
[[File:Sakyamuni Buddha.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Image of Buddha in the Dukhang.]]
[[File:Tawang Monastery, AP (64).jpg|thumb|250px|Close view of Buddha Image]]

The main temple in the monastery, to the west of the entry gate, is known as the Dukhang ('Du' means "assembly" and 'Khang' means "building"{{Sfn|Kler|1995|p=31}}).
It was built in 1860–61. A large image of [[Buddha]] of {{Convert|18|ft}} height is deified; it is gilded and decorated, and is in a lotus position. This image is on the northern face of the assembly hall and is installed over a platform and its head extends up to the first floor.<ref name=Tawang/> Next to the Buddha image there is a silver casket that holds a special thangka of the goddess Sro Devi (Palden Lhamo), which is the guardian deity of the monastery. It is said that it was painted with the blood drawn from the nose of the 5th Dalai Lama, which renders an ethereal "living quality" to the thanka. This thangka image, also known as Dri Devi, was donated to the monastery by the 5th Dalai Lama.<ref name=Tawang/> The main temple fell into a dilapidated condition and was renovated in 2002 in the traditional Buddhist architectural style. It has been exquisitely decorated with paintings, murals, carvings, sculptures and so forth.{{Sfn|Kohli|2002|p=328}}

===Library and texts===
[[File:Tawang Monastery 100 (23).jpg|thumb|250px|Main entrance to the monastery]]
[[File:Tawang Monastery library.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Sacred texts in the library hall of the monastery]]
[[File:Tawang Monastery 100 (85).jpg|thumb|250px|From Monastery Museum]]
[[File:Tawang Monastery 100 (83).jpg|thumb|250px|Old religious texts are kept at museum]]
[[File:Religious texts at Tawang.jpg|thumb|Religious texts with letters in gold at Tawang Monastery]]
The monastery has a printing press for printing religious books using paper made locally. Wooden blocks are used for printing. The books are used usually by the literate Monpa Lamas who refer to it for conducting religious rituals.{{Sfn|Bisht|2008|p=100}}
The entire second floor houses the library. It contains the scriptures of [[Gyetengpa]], [[Doduipa]], [[Mamtha]], [[Kangyur]], [[Tengyur]] and [[Zungdui]], which have been affected due to insect attacks. The collection in the library consists of two printed books of Tengyur (in 25 volumes), which are commentaries on Buddhist teachings; three sets of Kangyur, the translated version of the canons of Buddhist teachings; and Chanjia Sangbhums in five volumes. Of the three sets of Kangyur, two are handwritten and one is printed. The printed sets are in 101 volumes. One handwritten set has 131 volumes and the other 125 volumes; the letters of these 125 books are washed in gold. The religious text, Gyentongpa, has letters washed in gold in all its pages.{{Sfn|Mibang|Chaudhuri|2004|p=212}}{{Sfn|Bareh2001|p=31}} At some stage, some of the sacred scriptures were lost and the reason was attributed to the monks of the Tsona monastery who used to visit Tawang during winter time. In the past, these monks had demanded that the gilded image of the Buddha be gifted to them. This was not accepted by the Lamas of the Tawang Monastery and as result the Tsona Lamas refused to part with some of the sacred texts and records of the Tawang Monastery which were with them. They again took away more books in 1951.{{Sfn|Kler|1995|p=31}}

==Customs and festivals==
Monpas, who belong to the Gelug sect, are the dominant sect of the Kameng region. Many Monpa boys join the monastery and become monks.{{Sfn|Bisht|2008|p=100}} When young boys join the monastery to train, it is on the condition that it is a lifetime commitment. If a monk wishes to leave the monastery, a heavy penalty is levied. According to a past custom, in a family of three sons, the middle son was conscripted to the monastery and in a family of two sons the youngest son was inducted into the monastery.<ref name=Kent/>

The main Monpa festivals held in the monastery are the [[Choksar]], [[Losar]], Ajilamu, and Torgya. Choksar is the festival when the Lamas recite religious scriptures in the monasteries. Following the religious recitations, the villagers carry the scriptures on their back and circumambulate their agricultural land seeking blessings for the good yield of crops without any infestations by pests and to protect against attack by wild animals. In the Losar festival, which marks the beginning of the [[Tibetan New Year]], people visit the monastery and offer prayers.{{Sfn|Bisht|2008|p=101}} [[Torgya]], also known as Tawang-Torgya, is an annual festival that is exclusively held in the monastery. It is held according to the [[Buddhist calendar]] days of 28th to 30th of ''Dawachukchipa'', which corresponds to 10 to 12 January of the [[Gregorian calendar]], and is a Monpa celebration. The objective of the festival is to ward off evil spirits and ushering all round prosperity and happiness to the people in the ensuing year.{{Sfn|Kohli|2002|p=328}}{{Sfn|Pathak|Gogoi|2008|p=27-30}} During the three-day festival, dances performed by artists in colorful costumes and masks are held in the courtyard, including the ''Pha Chan'' and the ''Losjker Chungiye'', the latter of which is performed by the monks of the monastery. Each dance represents a myth and costumes and masks represent animal forms such as cows, tigers, sheep, monkeys and so forth.{{Sfn|Kohli|2002|p=328}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==Bibliography==
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== External links ==
*[http://tawang.site Tawang Monastery] multilingual site
*[http://www.arunachaltourism.com/tawang.php Tawang] at Arunachaltourism.com
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_if3p9GLcM A walk around Tawang Monastery]

{{North East India}}
{{Buddhist monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh}}

[[Category:Buddhist monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Buddhist temples in India]]
[[Category:Gelug monasteries and temples]]
[[Category:Religious organizations established in the 1680s]]
[[Category:Tourism in Northeast India]]

Tawang Monastery - Revision history

103.163.62.197: Drafted a new article format.