URGELLING MONASTERY :

Urgelling monastery is the birthplace of His Holi Highness , the sixth Dalai Lama 'Tsangyang Gyatso ' who was born on 1 March, 1683 in Tawang to Lama Tashi Tenzin of Urgeling, a descendant of the treasure revealer Pema Lingpa, and Tsewang Lhamo, a Monpa girl hailing from a royal family of Bekhar Village. The sacred Urgelling monastery lies about five kilometers to the south of the serene Tawang town. Its foundation was laid by Urgen Sangpo, the youngest brother of Terton Pempalingpa, the celebrated Treasure-Revealer. It was established in the 15th century. A home to the Buddhist monks and Lamas following the Lamaistic Mahayana school of thought, the monastery became a sacred place for the Buddhists since 1683 CE, the year when the sixth Dalai Lama was born. The monastery was restored and enlarged in the year 1699 by Desi Sangye Gyamtso,

The Mongols led by Lajang Khan attacked the monastery in the 18th century. In order to save the statues and scriptures penned down in gold and silver transported from this monastery to Twang monastery during the attack. The huge tree growing beside it believed to have tree growing beside it, believed to have grown from a staff thrust into the ground by the 6th Dalai Lama himself casts copious shadows all around.    

Tags: Urgelling Monastery, Tawang, Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, Lama, Tashi Tenzing, Urgelling, Monpa, Buddhists, Mahayana, Mongols, Tawang Monastery