Tabo Monastery

Set 3050 m above sea level, Tabo Monastery, one of the most important in the country, is considered the most sacred after the Tholing Gompa in Tibet. The monastery is situated in the village of Tabo, in the Lower Spiti valley of the state Himachal Pradesh, India. It lies on the left bank of the Spiti River. Founded in 996 AD, it has exquisite frescoes and stucco statues, and often called 'Ajanta of the Himalayas'.

The largest monastic complex in Spiti, the old section has 9 temples, 23 chortens, a monk's chamber and an extension that houses the nun's chamber.

The complex houses several caves which were used as dwelling units by the monks and contemporary structures too. According to an inscription on one of the walls, " This temple was first founded by the ancestor the Bodhisattva in the Ape Year and now 46 years later the Royal Descendent, the Mighty One Chang - Chub Od, motivated by the thought of enlightenment, has carried out repairs to this temple', the year 996 AD is considered as the year of monastery's construction. But tradition attributes Tabo's founding to the Great Translator and teacher Rinchensang Po. He also founded several other monasteries in the area. 

The temples of the complex

The Temple of the Enlightened Gods (gTsug Lha-khang) 
Also known as the Assembly Hall (du-khang), this is the main attraction of the complex. It houses an entrance hall, an assembly hall and a sanctum. There is a 4 bodied image of Vairocana, one of the five spiritual sons of the primordial, self creative Buddha in the assembly hall, portrayed in a posture "turning the wheel of law". The old Entry Hall in the Main Temple is considered as a sacred monument which boasts portraits of the founder of the temple, Yeshe O'd and his two sons Nagaraja and Devaraja. It also served as the temple for the protective deity of the Main Temple, Dorje Chenmo (originally called Wi-nyu-nin).

The Mystic Mandala Temple or Initiation Temple (dKyil-hKhor-khang)
 The wall facing the door is embellished by a large painting of Vairocana, who is surrounded by the eight Bodhisattvas. Mystic mandalas cover the other areas. It is here, that the initiation to monkhood takes place.

    NEXT