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Dharamsala: Perched on the high slopes of the Kangra Valley, in the enchanting world where the spinning of the wheel and fluttering prayer flags spread the message of peace and universal harmony, Dharamsala is the home of the Buddhist spiritual head, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and the Tibetan government in exile. Exalted Tenzin Gyatso His
Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, fearing persecution by the invading
Chinese army, left Lhasa in Tibet overnight, in disguise and sought
political asylum in India in 1959.
Also see Namgyalma Stupa erected as a memorial to those who laid down their lives for the cause of the freedom of Tibet. |
Pandit
Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India settled them in this area.
The place was liked by Dalai Lama and he made it his residence, and
is now more popular as "Tibetan Kingdom in Exile or "Little Lhasa
in India". Facing destruction of their culture and religion (of the
country's 6,259 monasteries, nunneries and temples, all but eight
have been completely destroyed since the Chinese occupation), over
80,000 Tibetans have fled the Chinese occupation of their country
and followed their spiritual leader and mentor and made India their
home. It has a traditional aura, soft-spoken, smiling Tibetans and
a bracing climate. Against the backdrop of the splendid, snow-capped
Dhauladhar heights are pine, deodar, oak and rhododendron. 
Tsuglag
Khang, or the Main Temple, is the most important Tibetan Buddhist
temple outside of Tibet, and one of the first structures built when
His Holiness arrived in India, and today it is a place that is often
bustling with prayerful activity. Named after a 7th century temple
in Lhasa, Tsuglag Khang is simple in comparison, yet still fascinating
and extremely peaceful. The temple enshrines three main images: a
three meter high gilded bronze statue of the Shakyamuni Buddha; one
of Avalokitesvara, the Buddha of Compassion of whom the Dalai Lama
is considered an incarnation; and Padmasambhava, the 8th century Indian
who introduced Buddhism to Tibet. Both Avalokitesvara and Padmasambhava
are facing Tibet. The image of Avalokitesvara has a fascinating history.
During the period when the Chinese destroyed Buddhist temples, the
original Avalokitesvara image, which was in the Jokhang Temple in
Lhasa, was thrown away. A wrathful and a peaceful face images of the
Avalokitesvara were salvaged, and in 1970, after passing through many
hands, these faces were encased in the new Avalokitesvara which stands
at Tsuglag Khang. It is silver crafted and has eleven faces, one thousand
arms and one thousand eyes. Also at Tsuglag Khang is a collection
of sacred texts known as the Khagyur and the Tengyur. The Khagyur
are the direct teachings of Buddha, whereas the Tengyur are commentaries
on the Khagyur by Indian and Tibetan scholars.