| Monastery at Pemayangtse
(Perfect Sublime Lotus)
This monastery is situated 120 Kms west of Pemayangtse.
Opens from sunrise to sunset.
This is the second oldest monastery of Sikkim.
The monastery was constructed in 1705A.D. The original building
was designed on the Tibetan monastery pattern. But now the main building
has completely been rebuilt in concrete and also painted in Sikkimese
style. But the original carved altar, thrones, old images, old painted
banners and the ritual objects have been left intact to maintain the continuity
with the past. The walls and the ceiling of the large Dukhang (Prayer
Hall) has numerous thangkas and wall paintings. There is an exceptional
collection of religious art works including an exquisite wooden sculpture
on the top floor depicting the heavenly palace of Guru Rimpoche. The monks'
quarters build in stone and wood is sited at the side of the monastery.
This is the headquarters of the Nyingmapa sector. The monks have
been recruited here from the leading families of Sikkim according to Nyingmapa
tradition.
According to the tradition, only unmarried Bhutia
monks with no physical blemish can live at this monastery. They are mostly
drawn from the elite Bhutias. Since its inception the monastery has been
closely associated with the royal family. Only the head lama of this monastery
was permitted to enthrone the erstwhile Chogyals. The lamas of this
monastery once completed the chronicle of Sikkim and kept the hand written
manuscript in the library of the monastery but unfortunately it
was destroyed during Gurukha invasions. Only two pages of this manuscript
could be spotted by Hooker at a later stage. Rumtek,
Gangtok Chhulakhang, Rinchinpong, Talung, Enchey, Lingtam, Namchi and
Singtam are other renowned monasteries of Sikkim. |
