Namdroling Monastery : Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub Dargyeling – The Golden Temple in Bylakuppe, Coorg – the largest teaching center of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the World – Visit, Timings, History, Contact Number, Accommodations, Travel Guide (Update)
– india’s second-largest tibetan community after dharamshala
The Golden Temple, also known as Namdroling Monastery, is situated in Coorg / Kodagu district, Karnataka. Bylakuppe, located just before Kushalnagar, is India’s second-largest Tibetan community after Dharamshala. The Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery is one of the largest teaching centers of the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism in the world
Coorg is not only the land of the Kaveri, and but also the home to this greatest Buddhist monastery. Just before entering Kushalnagar, there is Namdroling Monastery “Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub Dargyeling” – the Golden Temple Tibetan Monastery is located.
History of Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple in Bylakuppe, Coorg
Initially, Dickey Larose established Bylakuppe in 1961 and was later worked upon by Lugsum Samdupling in 1969. Bylakuppe is a place for Tibetan immigrants and nearly 16000 Tibetan peoples reside in the area, along with a number of monasteries and shrines. Most famous among them are the large educational institution Sera, the smaller Tashilunpo monastery, and the Namdroling monastery.
Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihara in Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple in Bylakuppe, Coorg
Namdroling Monastery / The Golden Temple in Coorg is actually called Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihara and is the major tourist attraction of this Coorg location. The construction of the temple began in 1995 in the Tibetan tradition and was completed in 1999. The new temple, called the Padmasambhava Buddhist Vihara was inaugurated on 24 September 1999.
Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub Daryeling is the full name of the Namdroling Monastery and the foundation for this majestic monastery was laid down in 1963 by His Holiness Pema Norbu Rinpoche, the 11th throne-holder of the Palyul Lineage of the Nyingma School of Tibetan Buddhism.
Three Great Statues in the Golden Temple in Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple in Bylakuppe, Coorg
Excellent examples of Tibetan architecture and artwork can be found in the Namdroling Monastery. The main attractions of Bailkoppa/Bylakuppe are the golden Buddha sculptures, which stand 40 feet tall. The huge temple’s three enormous gold-plated statues are what give it its name, The Golden Temple.
Buddha Shakyamuni
The statue in the center is Buddha Shakyamuni / Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism and the statue of the Buddha measures 60 feet in height from the base. Prince Siddhartha, who was only 29 years old at the time, left the comforts of the palace to embark on a quest for a permanent solution to the age-old problem of the cycle of birth and death that has plagued all living beings.
Following many years of dedicated practice, he achieved enlightenment while meditating under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya and henceforth was known as the Buddha or the One Who Knows Reality. Over the course of more than four decades, he expounded the three great wheels of Dharma in order to liberate sentient beings from the quagmire of suffering and guide them toward realizing their full potential and ultimately attaining supreme enlightenment
Guru Padmasambhava
The statue to the left of the Buddha is Guru Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche. Padmasambhava was an 8th-century Buddhist master from India. According to the Nyingma school of Buddhism, Guru Rinpoche is venerated as the “Second Buddha” by the Tibetans. Guru Rinpoche, was born on Lake Sindhu in the land of Oddiyana (present-day Afghan-Pakistan border) twelve years after Lord Buddha’s passing, as prophesied by him. He is believed to be the embodiment of Buddha Amitabha’s heart. Guru Rinpoche was a proficient practitioner of the esoteric teachings of Vajrayana Buddhism. In the eighth century, Trisong Deutsen, the 38th King of Tibet, invited him to Tibet to establish Buddhism in the Land of Snow.
With Guru Rinpoche’s extraordinary power, he subdued the malevolent spirits that were impeding the spread of Buddhism in Tibet. Guru Rinpoche stayed in Tibet for 53 years and 3 months, during which he not only taught various esoteric and secret Tantra teachings out of his immense compassion for the Tibetan people but also hid numerous treasures for the benefit of future generations. Tibetans regard him as exceptionally compassionate and consider him the Second Buddha, owing to his kindness towards the beings of Tibet in the past, present, and future.
Buddha Amitayus
The statue to the right of Buddha Shakyamuni is the Buddha of Long Life called Buddha Amitayus. Buddhists believe that hearing the name of Buddha Amitayus, touching the letters of his name, reciting his name and mantra, or praising his virtues will prolong their lives. Buddha Amitayus attained enlightenment countless aeons ago, but his work still involves extending the lifespans of beings, which are increasingly becoming shorter. Alongside his consort Bhadrapalika, his son Chandraprabha, and a large assembly of immortal teachers, Buddha Amitayus resides in the Pure Land of Limitless Virtue. Buddhism holds that non-virtuous actions result in shortened lifespans and premature death.
However, anyone who hears the name of Buddha Amitayus can expect an extension in their lifespan. Moreover, when individuals approach the end of their lives, touching the letters of his name, reciting his name and mantra, or praising his qualities can lead to an extension of their lifespan. Constructing a statue of Buddha Amitayus provides numerous benefits, as it protects against evil and demonic influences, extends the lives of sincere worshippers, and bestows blessings upon the locations where the statues are placed. These locations also become powerful sites for Dharma practice.
Buddhists believe that viewing these statues, honoring them, walking around them, and making sacrifices to them causes people to develop their faith, peace, wisdom, compassion, and kindness. People’s minds are said to be cleansed and any unwholesome thoughts and behaviors are said to be eliminated.
Building a statue of Buddha Amitayus is thought to shield everyone from harm and grant the area and its inhabitants long lives. The statues of Guru Rinpoche and Buddha Amitayus measure 58 feet in height from the base. All three statues are made of copper and plated with gold. Pema Norbu Rinpoche, the monastery’s founder, is depicted in a sizable portrait at the entryway.
Wall Paintings at Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple
The large monastery’s interior is decorated with paintings of mythological monsters and gods, giving off a purely traditional and sacred atmosphere. The temple tower is highly ornate. The outer walls flanking the doorway are decorated with huge colorful murals.
The aura of the monastery apart from its lush garden not just reflects the purity of education and also the beauty of the higher enlightenment which together makes it a site rare and distinct in itself.
The Namdroling Monastery also has sacred texts, horns, trumpets, incense sticks, bells, prayer wheels, prayer beads, prayer flags, and drums. Every inch of the walls is covered with vibrant traditional Tibetan Thangka paintings and murals.
The monastery is one of the most spectacular places to visit in Coorg and the visitors are welcome to present their offerings, pray and contemplate. The Buddhist prayer “Om Mani Padme Hum” is said to have similar benefits to rotating these prayer drums. The prayer wheels and the shrines should be circled only in the clockwise direction with the right hand.
It is a place of prayer and meditation. Visitors should keep this in mind before entering the temple. The temple requests that visitors maintain silence.
One can also visit nearby Sera Monastery which is modeled after the original Sera University in Tibet. Sera Monastery belongs to the Gelugpa sect of Buddhism and is the local seat of education. It is situated about 2 KM from the main Namdroling Monastery. There are other equally beautiful smaller monasteries; the Sakya Monastery and the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery.
The monastery not only attracts a large number of young Tibetans seeking enlightenment and education but also draws a large number of tourists from all over India and abroad. With its planted gardens all around it, this location is a serene and regal sight, and is fascinating to witness hundreds of Buddhist monks fervently praying and performing holy rites.
A sangha community of more than 5000 monks resides here, making it the largest Nyingmapa teaching center in the entire globe. Along with this, the monastery also has a junior school, a religious college for monks, and a hospital.
Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery – The Golden Temple Accommodations / Hostels
The Namdroling Monastery offers lodging options within its premises, and guests can also opt to stay at the Paljor Dhargey Ling Guest House located just by the front gate. The majority of visitors prefer to stay at the guest house for their accommodation needs.
Travel Tips for Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple in Bylakuppe, Coorg
Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple in Bylakuppe, Coorg Address:
Namdroling Nyingmapa Monastery
Arlikumari, P.O. Bylakuppe – 571104. Mysore
Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple Contact Number: +91 8223254318 / +91 8223254038
Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple Official Website: https://www.namdroling.net
Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple Timings:
7:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Prayer is at 1:00 PM and it is a wonderful experience to watch the monks pray live.
Tourists can buy traditional Tibetan goods such as costumes, statues, carpets, and jewelry at shopping centers close to the temples.
Footwear stalls as well as washrooms, are provided for the comfort of the visitors, as no footwear is permitted inside the monastery. Food stalls are also available in nearby locations to get a taste of Tibetan cuisine. Multiple homestays and resorts are available nearby Kushalnagar. We can make our Coorg trip more beautiful by experiencing the Tibetan culture and Buddhism at this Golden Temple.
How To Reach Namdroling Monastery – The Golden Temple in Bylakuppe, Coorg:
Namdroling Monastery is situated at a distance of 6 km from Kushalnagar. And it is exactly 34.3 kilometers from Madikeri City to Golden Temple Coorg and takes 50 minutes to reach the temple from Madikeri. From Mysore, you have to take the Hunsur road route to reach Golden Temple and which is 88 Kilometers from the city, and takes it will take 2 hours to reach Golden Temple Coorg from Mysore.
On Road: Kushala Nagara has good bus service from Bengaluru and Mysuru. From Kushalnagar, auto or taxi can be hired to visit the temple.
Nearest Airport: Mysuru is the nearest airport, 101 km away.
Nearest Railway Station: Hasana junction, 80 km away is the nearest railway station
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Balakumar .M
Casual Walker is a curious Travel & Culture – photography magazine by Balakumar .M, an Avid Traveler and Culture Photographer, International Award-winning Entrepreneur, and Technologist, who received the Asia Innovation Award from SingTel, Singapore.
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