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Buddhist Architecture in the Western Himalaya

Historical Tradition

Chronicles mention that in the year 1011 the great transla- tor Lotsawa Rinchen Zang-po, then aged 55 years, visited Ladakh. In this particular mo- ment in time, he is said to have laid the foundation stones for three monasteries, including the one of Nyarma. Moreover it is reported that the protec- tress Sri Devi Mahavajra (dPal ldan lha mo rdo rje chen mo) has also been present at that time, which explains why the monasterial site is also called Nyar ma rdo rje chen mo. The original site consisted of eight temple halls of different size with the gtsug lag khan as its main temple. The most important statue was the one of Buddha Dipamka- ra, which was surrounded by numerous tantric deities. The length and width of the great temple halls measured 25 feet (gom khru) each, while the walls’ strength amounted to 3 ells (lag khru) and their height to 13 ells. The external wall embracing the site measured 250 feet in length, 2.5 ells in strength and 8 ells in height. Additinally, there were ap- proximately hundred big and small stupas. The Caren were filled with Tsatsas and marked with numerous mantras in the Lantsa script, block prints or si- milar imprints. In the South and West of this location many figures engra- ved in stone could be found. In the area of the Northern and Eastern border of the monaste- ry, only an ‘earshot’ away (i.e. The Ruins of Nyarma approx. 2 miles), a hermita- ge (mtshams khang) in which Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo is FWF - FSP - University of Vienna / University of Technology Graz / Holger Neuwirth believed to have deepened his realisation, could be found. Not far away there was a well, which is held to have sprung from the force of his blessing. This special site, which was lar- gely built by the great Lama- translator and many other di- vine lamas, repeatedly played a significant role in early tea- ching but, nonetheless, still persists – despite later loo- tings, robberies and demoliti- ons caused by floods, turmoil and wars - in the minds of be- lievers. In the present time, the site is placed under the reign of the reincarnations that originate from the Bodhisattva line rela- ted to Sherab Zangpo. Every year and beginning with the fourth day of the fourth Ti- betan month, the monks hold a ceremony of sacrifice, which lasts for two days and during which diverse rituals are exe- cuted. From the 10th day of the fifth month the Sangha von Khrigse is assembled in order to offer catharses, prayers and benevolent formulas.

Tibetan text by the Nyarma Society Translation by Dr. Andrea Loseries; Fotos: Holger Neuwirth / Carmen Auer

Layout Carmen Auer c Jänner 2006 / www.archresearch.tugraz.at