| Drepung Monastery, the largest and richest monastery ever in Tibet, was founded in 1416 by a disciple of Tsong Khapa under the patron of a noble family and enlarged by the Fifth Dalai Lama later. It lies 8 kilometers (5 miles) west of Lhasa under Mt. Gambo Utse. Its name means Rice Heap in Tibetan. The monastery covers a floor space of more than 200 thousand square meters. At its peak, it had a registration of more than 10,000 thousand monks. Many high and learned lamas had learned here.
The main structures of the monastery include the Main Assembly Hall (known as Tshomchen), four Tantric colleges and Ganden Palace (Ganden Potrang). Tshomchen, covering 4,500 square meters and supported by 183 pillars, is located at the center of the monastery. Chief of Tshomchen used to have great power. The Iron Bar Lama, assistant of the Chief, would take over the administrative power of Lhasa during the Great Prayer Festival. Gilded Buddha and Sakyamuni are enshrined and worshiped in the hall. Upstairs, a collection of valuable scriptures is kept. Northwest of the hall is a small hall in which a bronze Jowo Maitreya aged 8 is enshrined and worshiped. In the front of the Buddha, a conch shell is worshiped also. It was said that it was once used by Sakyamuni and was hidden at Mt. Gambo Utse. Later Tsong Khapa discovered it and bestowed it to his disciple to be the monastery's treasure.
Loseling College is the largest among the four Tantric colleges. Each of them has a chanting hall while Loseling's chanting hall can hold 5,000 monks. Ngapa is the only one specialized in trantric Buddhism while monks in other colleges have to pass sutra examination in order to learn Tantra.
Ganden Potrang Palace used to be the living palace of Dalai Lamas before the reconstruction of Potala palace. The palace is divided into two sections. The front section is Dalai Lamas' living quarter and the rear is the chanting hall. On the first day during the grand Shonton Festival ceremony would be held in the courtyard of the palace.
Visitors will find many greatest murals in the monastery. |
