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| Nyetang Monastery |
Nyetang Monastery was built by Atisha at Qushui County in 11th century. After Atisha passed away, his stupa was built and enshrined in this temple. Now in the temple, some objects like conch and begging bowl that Atisha used and a wood stupa made of white sandalwood are preserved. Though being a small temple, it had an important impact on the spreading of Buddhism in Tibet.
About 20 kilometers away from Lhasa as you leave Gongga airport for the city proper to the north of the highway stands a simple but tidy temple, the Nyetang Monastery. In the 11th century Tibet had seen the riot brought about by a campaign to persecute Buddhists, and the spreading of Buddhism in Tibet was hit heavily. In 1046, Atisha, the noted monk from India and the famous ancestor in the period of the Latter Prosperity of Buddhism, came over Nyetang as invited by Drom Tonpa, his successor and the founder of Kadam Sect. Atisha cultivated disciples and preached Buddhism for nine years and he passed away at this place. The disciples built Nyetang Monastery in his honor to enshrine the statue of Tara that Atisha esteemed, and installed parts of the remains inside of the stupa nearby for Atisha. It is almost 1000 years from its establishment. The site today still enjoys flourishing burning incense, and pilgrims come in an endless stream for worshipping, some among whom come from Bengal, the homeland of Atisha.
Not far away from the holy temple is the famous stone carving of Nyetang Grand Buddha on the rock. It faces a quilt water area just by the road. Almost every tourist will take a picture before the image when they pass by here to Lhasa. |
| next : Potala palace |
| Before : Norbulingka |
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