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About Likir |
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Likir is a small town situated in Ladakh, which is part of the
state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. It is perhaps most
well-known for the nearby Klu-kkhyil (meaning "water spirits")
Gompa. The Likir Monastery was first constructed in the 11th
century and was rebuilt in the 18th century, and currently has
a 25-foot-tall (7.6 m) gold-covered Buddha statue.It is
occupied by monks of the Gelukpa order. It is positioned 52 km
from Leh.
Khalatse is a nearby trekking place. Likir Monastery or Likir
Gompa (Klud-kyil) is a Buddhist monastery in Ladakh, northern
India, situated about 52 kilometres (32 mi) west of Leh.It is
picturesquely located on a little hill in the valley near the
Indus River and the village of Saspol about 9.5 kilometres
(5.9 mi) north of the Srinigar to Leh highway.It belongs to
the Gelugpa sect of Tibetan Buddhism and was set uped in 1065
by Lama Duwang Chosje, under the command of the fifth king of
Ladakh, Lhachen Gyalpo (Lha-chen-rgyal-po).Although Likir now
seems rather out of the way, it used to be on a major trade
route which is travelled via Tingmosgang, Hemis and Likir to
Leh. |
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History of Likir |
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Likir
is mentioned in the Ladakhi records as having been erected by
King Lhachen Gyalpo. The name Likir means "The Naga - Encircled",
representing the bodies of the two great serpent feelings, the
Naga-rajas, Taksako and Nanda. It originally belonged to the
early Kadampa order of Tibetan Buddhism.
When Francke visited the monastery in 1909 he was shown a long
message written in black ink on a wall which summarize the
history of the monastery. Francke had it copied and interprets it
as follows:"King Lha-chen-rgyal-po constructed the monastery in
the 11th century. In the 15th century, Lama Lha-dbang-chos-rje
[a famous pupil of Tsongkhapa] converted the lamas to the
reformed doctrines of the Ge-lug-pa order, and thus constructed
the monastery afresh as a Ge-lug-pa establishment.Then it is
stated that seven generations after Lha-chen-rgyal-po, King
Lha-chen-dngos-grub arose, and that he launched the tradition of
sending all the novices to Lhasa. This statement is found in
exactly the same words as we find in the Gyal-rabs"
The monastery was a large chorten with frescoes inside which
represent Tsongkapa and other lamas of his time."Painted above
the door, a very strange figure is found which looks much like
one of the normal representations of Srong-btsan-sgam-po (Songtsän
Gampo).The figure wears a three-pointed hat of white colour and
carries two leopard skins under his arms." The lower part of the
chorten is a square room which a lama said was the earliest
temple at Likir, and was already there when King
Lha-chenrgyal-po founded the monastery.
The monastery presently has about 120 Buddhist monks and a
school, in which almost thirty students study. The Central
Institute of Buddhist Studies runs it and teaches in three
languages, English,Hindi and Sanskrit. It also serves as the
venue of an annual event Dosmochey, the assembly of votive
offerings and sacred dances which takes place on the 27th day to
29th day of the 12th month of the Tibetan calendar.
It is the seat of the Ngari Rinpoche, the present emanation of
whom is the younger brother of the Dalai Lama. Although he does
not permanently reside here, he attends for the more significant
pujas. |
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Layout and Interior |
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The
monastery has two assembly halls, known as Dukhangs and the
older one is situated on the right of the central courtyard with
six rows of seats for the lamas and a throne for the Head Lama
of Likir.The Dukhangs contain statues of Amitabha ,Bodhisattva,
three large statues of Maitreya ,Sakyamuni, and Tsong Khapa,
founder of the yellow-hat sect.The verandah has thangka
paintings of the Guardians of the Four Directions and wheel of
life mandala held by Yama and the courtyard has a large Jupiter
tree, a rare species.The Dukhang contains glass-fronted
bookcases holding the Thandshur and the Kandshur and two
rolled-up thangkas hang from the beams close to entrance which
contains pictures of Sakyamuni and Likir's guardian divinity.
The monastery is also a storehouse of old manuscripts, the
monastery has a notable thangka collection and earthen pots and
old costumes.Sitting on the roof is a 23 metre (75 ft) high
gilded gold statue of Maitreya (the future) Buddha.It was
completed in 1999.
The newer Dukhang, about 200 years old is situated diagonally
across from the courtyard's entrance and contains a statue of
Avalokitesvara with 1000 arms and 11 heads. Bookcases stand at
the statue sides, with the volumes of the Sumbum, describing the
life and teachings of Tsong Khapa.The left wall has paintings of
the 35 Confessional Buddhas while the right wall has an image of
Sakyamuni with two of his chiefs by his side.
A ladder leads out of the hall, followed by a doorway into the
courtyard which in turn leads to the Zinchun, which is the head
lama's room which contains mainly thangkas and images of lamas
and the 21 manifestations of the White Tara, the consort of
Avalokitesvara.Then there is the Gonkhang room which is devoted
to the guardian divinities which is accessed by descending the
stairs outside the courtyard of the head lama's room. The
Gonkhang was created in 1983 when the monastery underwent
renovation and was completed a year later. The walls of the
Gonkhang include thangkas of the divinities as does a
glass-fronted room in front of the Gonkhang. |
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Form of the Likir complex |
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The monastery is positioned on top of a hill alongside the
valley of river Indus. The valley has agricultural fields
at the lower level and the monastery complex occupying the
high grounds. The main temple is roughly at the highest
plateau of the hill. The complex itself consists of the
assembly hall , the monk’s quarters , the main temple, and
services such as dining and kitchen as its identifiable
parts. The parts of the complex has been modified and built
over a long period of time, and its present state suggest
a well compact,equipped and strategically sited monastery. |
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