Sanga Choeling Monastery
{{short description|Buddhist monastery in Sikkim, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox Tibetan Buddhist monastery
|name = Sanga Choeling Monastery
|image =Full view of Sanga-Choeling Monastery.jpg
|alt =
|caption = Full view of Sanga-Choeling Monastery
|pushpin_map = India Sikkim
|coordinates = {{coord|27|15|50|N|88|13|17|E|type:landmark_region:IN-SK|display=inline,title}}
|map_caption = Location within Sikkim
|location_country = {{flag|India}}
|location=Sanga Choeling, Pelling, Gyalshing district, Sikkim, India
|founded_by =Lhatsün Namkha Jikmé
|founded = {{start date and age|df=yes|1701}}
|date_renovated = 1962
|sect = Nyingma
|lineage=
|dedicated_to =
|head_lama =
|no._of_monks =
|architecture = Tibetan
|festivals=
|footnotes = Nearest town Pelling
}}
The Sanga Choeling Monastery, also spelt Sange Choeling Monastery (Sikkimese: {{bo-textonly|གསང་སྔགས་ཆོས་གླིང}}, Wylie: gsang sngags chos gling, THL Sangngak Chö Ling), established in the 17th century by Lama Lhatsün Chempo, is one of the oldest monasteries in Pelling, about 10 km from Gyalshing city in the Gyalshing district in Northeast Indian state of Sikkim. The literal meaning of Sanga Choeling is "Island of the Guhyamantra teachings", where gling means a vihara and "secret Mantra teachings" is a synonym for "Vajrayana Buddhism".
The monastery is located on a ridge top above Pelling at a distance of {{convert|7|km|mi}} from Pemayangtse Monastery and is accessed by walking the steep hilly track of {{convert|4|km|mi}}, which traverses through rich forest cover.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sikkiminfo.net/west_sikkim.htm|title= Sanga Choeling Monastery|accessdate=2010-05-10|publisher=Sikkim on line}}{{Cite book|last=Silas|first= Sandeep|title= Discover India by Rail|page=19|accessdate=2010-05-06|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gL7pGaL3vooC&dq=Dubdi+Monastery%2C+Sikkim&pg=PT44|publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd|year=2005|isbn=81-207-2939-0}}
Pilgrimage to Sanga Choeling Monastery is undertaken by many Buddhist devotees as part of a religious and heritage circuit encompassing Pemayangtse Monastery, Rabdentse ruins, Khecheopalri Lake, Norbugang Chorten, Dubdi Monastery, Yuksom and Tashiding Monastery.{{Cite book|last= Choudhury|first= Maitreyee|title= Sikkim: Geographical Perspectives|page =81|accessdate=2010-05-09|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W9EwNfXkxZwC&dq=Yuksom&pg=PA83|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=2006|isbn=81-8324-158-1}}
Architecture
Sanga Choeling Monastery, built in 1697, is also known as the place of secret spells. It has clay statues dating back to the 17th century. The monastery was affected by fire several times and was rebuilt.{{Cite web|url=http://www.gurudongma.com/sikkim-darjeeling-north-bengal-hill-station-east-himalaya-tourism/leisure-cultural-tour-tours-trip-holiday-holidays-package-itinerary-vacations/gangtok-rumtek-turuk-pelling-pamayangtse-sangacholing.html |title=Nature & Culture Tours:Darjeeling and Sikkim |work=Western Sikkim |accessdate=2010-05-10 |publisher=Gurudongma |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090905000949/http://www.gurudongma.com/sikkim-darjeeling-north-bengal-hill-station-east-himalaya-tourism/leisure-cultural-tour-tours-trip-holiday-holidays-package-itinerary-vacations/gangtok-rumtek-turuk-pelling-pamayangtse-sangacholing.html |archivedate=5 September 2009 }} The Monastery's location provides very scenic and panoramic view all round.
Religiosity
On the tenth day of every month according to the Tibetan calendar, lamas recite hymns at this monastery. Every morning and evening prayers are special here. The monastery is reserved for men only and belongs to the Nyingma sect.{{Cite book|last= Bruyn|first= Pippa de|title= Frommer's India|page=731|accessdate=2010-05-10|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qG-9cwHOcCIC&dq=Sanga+Choling+Monastery%2C+Sikkim&pg=PA731|publisher=Frommer's|year= 2010|isbn=978-0-470-55610-8}}{{Cite book|last=Chopra|first=Prem Nath|title= Sikkim|page=86|accessdate=2010-05-10|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E0huAAAAMAAJ&q=Sanga+Choling+Monastery,+Sikkim|publisher=S. Chand|year=1979|isbn=9780940500655}}
Gallery
File:Entrance to Sanga-Choeling Monastery.jpg| Entrance to Sanga-Choeling Monastery
File:Painting of a siant in Sanga-Choeling Monastery.jpg| Painting of a saint in Sanga Choeling Monastery
File:A mythical painting in Sanga-Choeling Monastery.jpg| A mythical painting in Sanga Choeling Monastery
File:Painting of a drummer in Sanga-Choeling Monastery.jpg| Painting of a drummer in Sanga Choeling Monastery
File:A mandala painting in Sanga-Choeling Monastery.jpg| A Wheel of Life painting in Sanga Choeling Monastery
References
{{reflist}}
{{commons category|Sanga Choeling Monastery}}
External links
- [http://wikimapia.org/2870011/SangaCholing-Monastery Coordinates of Sanga Choeling Monastery]
{{Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim}}
Category:Buddhist monasteries in Sikkim
Category:18th-century establishments in Sikkim