Chapter 6 - Gyelwa Lhakhang (Monastery)

[Full title: Gyelwa Lhakhang (Monastery) (rgyal ba lha khang gi skabs. Chandra 78; Chengdu 117; Roerich 87).]

Among those known as the "Four Pillars of klu mes" (klu mes kyi ka ba bzhi): except for rgyal lha khang, the records of the Lineages of Abbots of the other three monasteries are not found. This rgyal lha khang was founded by sna nam rdo rje dbang phyug, who was known to be a manifestation of Maitreya. Now sna nam rdo rje dbang phyug: he was born at nyams dga' mo in the year Fire-Male-Mouse (me pho byi ba—976 A.D.) as son of father sna nam jo sras and mother sgrol ma, Lady of zhang (zhang lcam). When he was three, in the year Earth-Male-Tiger (sa pho stag—978 A.D.), the Doctrine of the Vinaya spread from khams to dbus. At eighteen, he took up ordination in the year Water-Female-Serpent (chu mo sbrul—993 A.D.) in the presence of klu mes at a place called ra ba zlum po ("Circular Enclosure"). This year is the 93-rd year from the year Iron-Female-Hen (lcags mo bya—901 A.D.) of glang dar ma.

After that, he first erected the vihāra of chag (chag gi gtsug lag khang). Later, when he was in his thirty-seventh year, in the year Water-Male-Mouse (chu pho byi ba—1012 A.D.) he erected the vihāra of rgyal lug lhas (‘phan yul). In the same year the master mar pa was born. In his eighty-fifth year, in the year Iron-Male-Mouse (lcags pho byi ba—1060 A.D.) he died. He journeyed to India in search of instructions in the Vinaya. There he met rdo rje gdan pa. It is said that rdo rje gdan pa made him teach the Vinaya to two other novices, and thus he taught it. If this is true, then he must have known also the work of a translator. In the year Fire-Female-Serpent (me mo sbrul—1017 A.D.), which was the sixth year from the year Water-Male-Mouse (chu pho byi ba—1012 A.D.), when the temple of rgyal was founded, gru mer, after requesting klu mes permission, founded sol nag than po che. This was the seventh year of khu ston brtson 'grus gyung drung. Khu ston and nag tsho lo tsā ba, who had invited the master Atīśa, were both born in the same year (i.e. In 1011 A.D.).

After that, glang tshul byang was born in the year Wood-Male-Dragon (shing pho 'brug—1004 A.D.). In his fifty-seventh year, in the year Iron-Mouse (lcags byi—1060 A.D.), he became abbot.

After that, for forty-two years he acted as abbot. He passed away in his ninety-ninth year, in the year Water-Male-Horse (chu pho rta—1102 A.D.). He was the upādhyāya of pu to ba. ‘bring ston was born in the year Fire-Male-Dog (me pho khyi—1046 A.D.) In his fifty-seventh year, in the yeat Water-Horse (chu rta—1102 A.D.) he became abbot.

After that, from the year Water-Sheep (chu lug—1103 A.D.), fot seventeen years, he acted as abbot. At the age of seventy-four, in the year Earth-Hog (sa phag—1119 A.D.) he passed away. Rma bya rna ra ba was born in the year Iron-Mouse (lcags byi—1060 A.D.). At the age of sixty-one, he became abbot in the year Iron Mouse (lcags byi.—1120 A.D.), and occupied the chair for ten years. He died in the year Earth-Hen (sa bya—1129 A.D.) in his seventieth year. Rgyal tsha byang ye was born in the year Fire-Sheep (me lug—1067 A.D.). He became abbot in the year Iron-Dog (lcags khyi—1130 A.D.) aged sixty four, and occupied the chair for ten years. He died at the age of seventy-three in the year Earth-Sheep (sa lug—1139 A.D.). ‘brom ston was born in the year Earth-Male-Horse (sa pho rta 1—1078 A.D.)^[1] He became abbot at the age of sixty-three, in the year Iron-Ape (lcags spre—1140 A.D.), and occupied the chair for four years. He died in the year Water-Hog (chu phag—1143 A.D.), at the age of sixty-four.

After him, from the year Wood-Male-Mouse (shing pho byi ba.—1144 A,D.) to the year Water Ape (chu spre—1152 A.D.), Ar acted as abbot during one summer period only. Then for nine years there was no abbot, except for the above summer period.

The kalyāṇa-mitra tshul 'phags was a native of ngan lam, and was born in the year Iron-Male-Horse (lcags pho rta—1090 A.D.). At the age of sixty-four in the year Water-Female-Hen (chu mo bya—1153 A.D.) he became abbot, and occupied the chair for seven years. He died in the year Earth-Femal-Hare (sa mo yos—1159 A.D.), at the age of seventy. From the year Iron-Dragon (lcags 'brug—1.160 A.D.) to the year Water-Sheep (chu lug—1163 A.D.) for four years there was no abbot. Rgyal ba khyung tshang thod dmar pa was born in the year Water-Female-Sheep (chu mo lug—1104 A.D.). He became abbot in the year Wood-Male-Ape (shing pho spre'u—1164 A.D.), aged sixty-two, and occupied the chair for seven years. He died in the year Wood-Sheep (shing lug—1175 A.D.) at the age of seventy-three. From the year Fire-Ape (me spre—1176 A.D.) to die year Earth-Dog (sa khyi—1178 A.D.) for three years the chair remained empty. Rgyal ba ye grags was a native of sa dmar, and was born in the year Fire-Ape (me spre—1116 A.D.). He became abbot in the year Earth-Hog (sa phag—1179 A.D.) at the age of sixty-four, and occupied the chair for nine years. He died at the age of seventy-two. During this period, the chair remained empty in the year Earth-Ape (sa spre—1188 A.D.).

The Kalyāṇa-mitra glan was born in the year Earth-Male-Ape (sa pho spre'u—1128 A.D.). He became abbot in the year Earth-Hen (sa bya—1189 A.D.) at the age of sixty-two, and occupied the chair for three years. He died in the year Iron-Hog (Icags phag—1191 A.D.) at the age of sixty-four. From the erection of the temple (rgyal lha khang) to this year 180 years have passed.

The kalyāṇa-mitra dri 'dul acted as abbot for one year only, in the year Water-Male-Mouse (chu pho byi ba—1192 A.D.).

The kalyāṇa-mitra skyong was a native of skam skam and was born in the year Earth-Female-Hen (sa mo bya—1129 A.D.). He became abbot in the year Water-Female-Ox (chu mo glang—1193 A.D.), at the age of sixty-five, and occupied the chair for eight years. He died in the year Iron-Ape (lcags spre—1200 A.D.), at the age of seventy-two.

The kalyāṇa-mitra lcang ri ba was born in the year Iron-Dragon (lcags 'brug—1160 A.D.). At the age of forty two he became abbot, and occupied the chair for eighteen years, from the year Iron-Female-Hen (lcags mo bya—1201 A.D.) to the year Earth-Male-Tiger (sa pho stag—1218 A.D.).

After him glang ston sher seng acted as abbot for six years, from the year Earth-Hare (sa yos—1219 A.D.) to the year Wood-Ape (shing spre—1224 A.D.). Zhang ston 'tshem ba acted as abbot for thirteen years from the year Wood-Hen (shing bya—1225 A.D.), to the year Fire-Hen (me bya—1237 A.D.).

After him, from the year Earth-Dog (sa khyi—1238 A.D.) till the year Water-Mouse (chu byi—1252 A.D.), for fifteen years, the chair was empty. In the third year after the year Earth-Dog (sa khyi—1238 A.D.), in the year Iron-Male-Mouse (lcags pho byi ba—1240 A.D.) the Mongol troops came to Tibet. The temple (of rgyal) was burnt,^[2] and about five hundred of the laity, and clergy, headed by the monk so ston, were killed. The Mongol dor tog^[3] having repented, presented several measures (bre) of gold and silver, and arranged for the rebuilding of the temple. The Middle Temple (lha khang bar pa) was rebuilt by zhang lha, who was however unable to erect the temple of dar. They rebuilt the temple (lha khang) of bya grags, and placed the statue of Buddha as the chief sacred image (of the temple). After this, the temples were duly consecrated.

Then the kalyāṇa-mitra gnas brtan (occupied the chair) from the year Water-Ox (chu glang—1253 A.D.) to the year Fire-Dragon (me 'brug—1256 A.D.), for four years. Glang ston seng ge 'bum from the year Fire-Serpent (me sbrul—1257 A.D.) to the year Earth-Hare (sa yos—1279 A.D.), for twenty years. The upādhyāya bar pa from the year Iron-Dragon (lcags 'brug—1280 A.D.) to the year Earth-Mouse (sa byi—1288 A.D.), for nine years. Byang chub sems dpa' from the year Earth Ox (sa glang—1289 A.D.) to the year Fire-Horse (me rta—1306 A.D.), for eighteen years. Kun spangs lha ri ba from the year Fire-Sheep (me lug—1307 A.D.) to the year Wood-Mouse (shing byi—1324 A.D.), for eighteen years.

The mahā-upādhyāya Jñānaprajña was born in the year Wood-Male-Horse (shing pho rta—1294 A.D.). At the age of thirty-two he became abbot, from the year Wood-Ox (shing glang—1325 A.D.) to the year Iron Hare (lcags yos—1351 A.D.), for twenty-seven years. He passed away at the age of fifty-nine in the year Water-Dragon (chu 'brug—1352 A.D.). From the building of the temple (of rgyal) to this Iron-Hare year (lcags yos—1351 A.D.) 340 years have elapsed.

The mahā upādhyāya 'jam dpal ye shes was born in the year Wood-Male-Tiger (shing pho stag—1314 A.D.). He acted as abbot for one year, aged forty, in the year Water Serpent (chu sbrul—1352 A.D.). He died at the age of seventy-seven in the year Iron-Male-Horse (lcags pho rta.—1390 A.D.). The upādhyāya ye shes bsod nams rgya mtsho ba was born in the year Iron-Male-Horse (lcags pho rta—1330 A.D.). He became abbot in the year Wood-Horse (shing rta—1354 A.D.) at the age of twenty five, and occupied the chair for twenty-six years. In the year Earth-Sheep (sa lug—1379 A.D.) he became an ascetic (kun spangs), and died at the age of fifty-one in the year Iron-Ape (Icags spre'u—1380 A.D.).

The great ascetic (kun spangs chen po) bsod nams rgyal mtshan was born in the year Water-Male-Horse (chu pho rta—1342 A.D.). At the age of thirty-eight he became abbot in the year Earth-Male-Sheep (sa mo lug—1379 A.D.), and continued to act as abbot for twelve years till the year Iron-Male-Horse (lcags pho rta—1390 A.D.). In the year Iron-Horse (lcags rta—1390 A.D.), aged forty-nine, he entrusted the chair to his nephew bsod nams grags pa, and himself became an ascetic. He died at the age of sixty-eight in the year Earth-Female-Ox (sa mo glang—1409 A.D.). Spyan snga bsod nams grags pa was born in the year Fire-Male-Hen (me mo bya—1357 A.D.). He became abbot at the age of thirty-four in the year Iron-Horse (lcags rta—1390 A.D.).

After that, till the year Water-Serpent (chu sbrul—1413 A.D.) twenty-three years elapsed. This Water-Serpent (chu sbrul—1413 A.D.) is the Water-Serpent year which followed the year of the great earthquake. After that, from the year Wood-Horse (shing rta—1414 A.D.) till the present Fire-Ape year (me spre—1476 A.D.) 63 years elapsed. One must remember that the year Fire-Male-Ape (me pho spre—1476 A.D.) is the 465th year since the foundation of rgyal lha khang. After spyan snga bsod grags pa, spyan snga ye shes grags pa bzang po for three years. After him spyan snga kun dga rgyal mtshan for thirteen years. Spyan snga kun rdor ba for thirteen years. Spyan snga blo gros rgyal mtshan for three years. Spyan snga yon tan rgyal mtshan was appointed in the year Wood-Male-Hog (shing pho phag—1455 A.D.). To this Fire-Male-Ape (me pho spre—1476 A.D.) 22 years elapsed. When sna nam rdo rje dbang phyug was sixty seven, Atīśa arrived in mnga’ ris in the year Water-Male-Horse (chu pho rta—1042 A.D.). When he was seventy-two, in the yeay Fire-Female-Hog (me mo phag—1047 A.D.) he visited bsam yas. The chapter on rgyal lha khang.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

‘brom ston of rgyal.

[2]:

According to Rev. dge 'dun chos 'phel the Temple of rgyal still bears traces of fire.

[3]:

Doorda darqan. I. J. Schmidt: 'Geschichte d. Ost Mongolen," p. 110 and 111.