Buddhism In India
Buddhism is one of the ancient Indian religions. People from India started following Buddhism from the ancient Kingdom of Magadha. The Gautama Buddha was the founder of Buddhism in India. Siddhartha Gautama was born in India about 2,500 years ago in Lumbini and grown up in Kapilavastu. The Lumbini was currently situated in Nepal. Still, many people in India are following Buddhism on large scale. This article is about the list of famous Buddhist monastery in India. The monastery represents the place where a group of monks living together. Usually, the Buddhists believe that the religious journey of monks will give benefit the entire community. Also, it will bring prosperity and protection to their life. Here, the locations of famous Buddhist monasteries in India are explained in detail.
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Buddhist Monastery In India
People in India usually consider monasteries as the holiest and sacred places. The people from all over the world who are searching for eternal peace will visit monasteries for acquiring it. Some monasteries in India are also teaching Buddhism and the life of Buddha. The monastery will represent the place or building occupied by the monks belongs to a single religion. The life of Buddhists will revolve around ‘Sanghas’ which means "Orders of Disciplines". The entire Buddhist community beliving that, the religious journey of monks will bring prosperity and protection for the entire community.
Famous Buddhist Monasteries in India
Hemis Monastery
The Hemis Monastery is one of a Tibetan Buddhist monastery belongs to the Drukpa Lineage. This was located in the Hemis region of Ladakh in India. The Hemis Monastery is situated 45 km south of Leh in Ladakh union territory and also located on the West bank of river Indus. In 1674, the Ladakhi king Sengge Namgyal re-established this Himalayan Monastery. People around here will celebrate a festival called Guru Padmasambhava every year of June - July. This is one of the most famous festivals.
Tabo Monastery
The Tabo Monastery is situated in the Tabo village of Spiti Valley at Himachal Pradesh in India. During the Tibetan year of 996 CE, Tibetan Buddhist lotsawa (translator) Rinchen Zangpo (Mahauru Ramabhadra) were founded the Tanbo monastery on behalf of the king, who ruled the western Himalayan Kingdom of Guge, Yeshe-O.
Tsulglagkhang Monastery
Tsulglagkhang Monastery is one of the most famous monasteries among the Buddhist people. Buddhist people are considering this place as the home of His Holiness Dalai Lama. This place is located in the Maclodganj suburb of Dharamshala district in Himachal Pradesh. Many people are also calling Tsulglagkhang Monastery as Dalai Lama's temple.
Thiksey Monastery
Thiksey Monastery was occupied by the Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism. The monastery is also known as gompa. The Thiksey gompa is situated 19 in the Himalayan range in the Thiksey village, which is located 19 kilometres east of Leh in the Ladakh region of India. The Thiksey Monastery looks similar to the Potala Palace in Lhasa of Tibet. Thiksey Monastery contains a twelve-story complex and contains many Buddhist arts such as stupas, thangkas, statues, wall paintings and swords.
Tawang Monastery
The Tawang Monastery is situated in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh in India. This is one of the largest monasteries in India and it is the second-largest monastery in the world. The first world’s largest monastery is Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
Bylakuppe Monastery (Namdraling)
Bylakuppe Monastery is situated in the Bylakuppe in the Mysore district of Karnataka. This is the largest monastery in India to teach the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world. The majority of the people here belongs to the sangha community with more than five thousand lamas. Bylakuppe Monastery is well known for teaching the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. They also have a junior high school in the name of Yeshe Wodsal Sherab Raldri Ling to teach Buddhism. They also have a religious college and hospitals, monks and nuns can make use of it.
Shashur Monastery
Shashur Monastery is a famous Buddhist monastery located in Himachal Pradesh of India. The Shashur Monastery are concentrating on teaching the Drugpa sect. During the 17th century, Lama Deva Gyatsho of Zanskar, the king of Bhutan and a missionary of Nawang Namgyal was built the Shasur Monastery.
Mindrolling Monastery
Mindrolling Monastery is one of the important monasteries of the Nyingma School, which is located in Tibet. In 1676, the Mindrolling Monastery was founded by Rigzin Terdak Lingpa. This monastery was situated in Zhanang County, Shannan Prefecture, which is in the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. This place is located 43 kilometres east of the Lhasa airport and the south side of the Tsangpo river.
Ghum Monastery
The Ghum Monastery is situated in the Ghum hilly region of West Bengal. Lama Sherab Gyatso has founded the Ghum Monastery in 1875 AD. This monastery is famous for the 15 feet statue of the Maitreya Buddha. Ghum Monastery is following the tradition Gelukpa or the Yellow Hat sect.
Kye Gompa Monastery
Kye Gompa Monastery is one of the Buddhist monasteries, which is located on the top of the Himalayas near the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh. This Kye Gompa Monastery is located at an altitude of 4,166 metres above sea level close to the Spiti river. The Kye Gompa Monastery is one of the biggest monasteries of Spiti Valley and a famous religious training centre for Lamas.
Lingdum Monastery
Lingdum Monastery is a famous Buddhist monastery located near Ranka village of East Sikkim, which will take one hour travel time to reach from Gangtok, which is the capital of Sikkim. Monks here are following the Zurmang Kagyu tradition.
Alchi Gompa Monastery
Alchi Gompa Monastery is located in the Alchi village of Leh District in India. This place will come in under the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council of Jammu and Kashmir. Likir Monastery was carrying over the administration of Alchi Gompa Monastery. Many historians said that the Alchi Gompa Monastery was constructed between 958 AD to 1055 AD by the Guru Rinchen Zangpo
Shankar Monastery
Shankar Monastery is situated near the Leh region of Ladakh. Spituk monastery established the Shankar monastery as its daughter. the Abbot of Spituk, the Venerable Kushok Bakula were the senior incarnate lame of Ladakh are residing in Shankar monastery Because of his ancient lineage and personal authority.
Matho Monastery
Matho Monastery is located on the bank of the Indus river and is one of the famous Tibetan Buddhist monasteries. The Matho Monastery is 26 kilometres away from the Leh region of Ladakh. This monastery was conducted by the Saskya order. During the 16th century, Lama Tugpa Dorjay has founded the Matho monastery.
Nako Monastery
Nako Monastery was located in the Kinnor district of Himachal Pradesh of India. In 996 AD, the Nako Monastery was established. This was one of the oldest Monasteries in India, which was followed by Lamas over centuries. Nako Monastery was established by Lochen Rinchen Zangp during the first half of the eleventh century.
Rumtek Monastery
Rumtek Monastery is situated near the Gangtok of Sikkim in India. The Rumtek Monastery is also known as the Dharmachakra centre. The Dharmachakra centre was constructed under the guidelines of Changchub Dorje, who is the 12th Karmapa Lama during the mid-1700s.
This article clearly gave you a list of famous Buddhist monastery in India with their locations. Also, It provided information about the largest monastery in India and the oldest monastery in India and about the religion they are following.
FAQs on List Of Famous Buddhist Monastery In India - Complete List Here
1) Where is Buddhism most popular in India?
As per the census conducted in 2011 in India, the concentration of Buddhism is high in Maharashtra, here about 77% of the total Buddhist population in India are residing here. The remaining populations were spread over Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and in some other parts of India.
2) What is Buddhism called in India?
People Fourteen Dalai Lama Tibetan Buddhism are located in India, which are headed by four main sects. Particularly Gelug, Kagyu, Nyingma and Sakya are considered as high ranking Tibetan lamas. Because the main monasteries of these four sects are located in Tibet.
3) What is the main symbol of Buddhism?
According to the Buddhist traditions, they have eight important symbols. They are a pair of golden fish, a white parasol, a treasure vase, a conch shell, a dharma wheel, an endless knot, a victory banner and a lotus flower. People belong to Buddhism using these symbols throughout the religion.
