Rumtek Monastery
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Rumtek monastery or Dharma_Chakra_Centre is located at 24 kilometers away from Gangtok,East Sikkim. The Monastery is the seat of the Karmapa Kagyu lineage outside Tibet. The main monastery is surrounded by the monks dormitory. Roof peak of the monastery is comprised of four storied golden sculpture, known as ghanzira. Inside, the monastery is the paintings of the Kagyu lineage, the eight great Bodhisattvas, the sixteen Arhats, the Genduk Chogngi etc. Behind the Rumtek Monastery is the Karma Shri Nalanda Institute of higher Buddhist studies. Karma Shri Nalanda Institute was founded to preserve and propagate the noble teachings of the Lord Buddha, particularly the Kagyu tradition of Mahayana Buddhism.
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Brief History
During 16th century, His Holiness the 6th Gyalwang Karmapa founded the seat near Kagyu monastery. The Rumtek monastery was built just about 2 kilometers away from this old monastery. It is said that the 1st Karmapa spent many years meditating in a cave and ten thousand fairies came to congratulate him and each offered a strand of her hair. These strands of hair were woven into a black hat which was passed down and is still worn by the karmapa on ceremonial occasions.
Activities in Rumtek Monastery
Every month Rumtek Monastery holds various puja devoted to certain deity. This puja last from usually one to two weeks.
Losar
On this Tibetan New Year, All the monks of Rumtek monastery make offerings to his holiness the Dalai Lama, his holiness the Gyalwa Karmapa and high tulkus. This festivities continue upto day 3 with performances of lhamo, a traditional Tibetan opera depicting tales of the Buddha, Guru Padmasambhava, and the Gyalwa Karmapa's previous lives.
Dubchen and Tsechu
This week-long ritual is performed forth month (May or June of the Gregorian calendar) of every year, along with chams on 9th and 10th of puja.
Dungdrub Puja
Puja is organized yearly (May or June of the Gregorian calendar) by the Karmapa's Satu Dungdrub Committee, especially for world peace and to help people develop tranquility and compassion by following the path of the Buddha's teachings.
Birthday of His Holiness the Seventeenth Gyalwa Karmapa
The Birthday of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee is celebrated along with cultural programs, sacred monk dances, folk songs throughout this day.
Gutor
End of every Tibetan year (February or March in the Gregorian calendar), the monks perform week long Mahakala puja, along with ritual dances held for two days before the eve of Losar.
Reaching Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek is only half and hour drive from Gangtok, and 110 km from Siliguri which is about 4 hour drive. You can easily hired a taxi from Gangtok exclusively for Rumtek Monastery, or Rumtek Monastery is usually included in "Tour around Gangtok" tour packages of our Travel agency.
Contact Informations
For the monks' community
- Pal Karmae Sangha Dhuche, Dharma Chakra Centre, P.O. Rumtek Monastery, East Sikkim, India 737-135.
- Karma Gyaltsen Sonam (Discipline Master)or Umdze Woser Rapten. Phone: 91-3592-252329; 91-3592-252254.
Karma Shri Nalanda Institute
- KSNI, Dharma Chakra Centre, P.O. Rumtek Monastery, East Sikkim, India 737-135
- Website : http://www.rumtek.org