Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(Mahakala), Dorje Jigje (Vajra Bhairavo), Chögyel (Dharmaraja), Palden Lhamo (Shri
Devi; on a horse) and Dorje Drakden (the Nechung oracle), all arranged around a central
statue of the fifth Dalai Lama.
Head up the stairs and then across the main courtyard, where performances of
cham
(a
ritual dance) are traditionally performed during the Shötun festival. Tibetan pilgrims stop
to buy amulets and traditional sacred threads here. The upper floor of the main building
has three chapels that make up the apartments of the early Dalai Lamas. The second of the
three chapels, to the right, is an audience room with wonderfully detailed murals and the
throne of the fifth Dalai Lama, next to a thousand-armed statue of Chenresig. The third is a
simple living room.
From here descend and cross over to a final chapel, the entrance of which is defaced by
a Cultural Revolution-era political slogan (Mao's image was only recently removed).
Signs lead past a refreshment stand and a corner rock shrine to Drölma to the exit to the
north.
Main Assembly Hall
BUDDHIST
The main assembly hall, or Tsogchen, is the principal structure in the Drepung complex.
film
The Name of the Rose
.
The huge interior is very atmospheric, draped with thangkas, covered in monks' robes
and yellow hats and supported by over 180 columns - the ones near the western protector
chapel dedicated to goddess Palden Lhamo are decorated with ancient chainmail and
bows.
The back-room chapel features the protector deities Chana Dorje (Vajrapani, blue) and
Tamdrin (Hayagriva, red) on either side of the door, and contains statues of Sakyamuni
with his two disciples, the Buddhas of the Three Ages, and nine chörtens above. The walls
and pillars are lined with statues of eight standing bodhisattvas. To the front centre there is
also a youthful-looking statue of Lamdrin Rinpoche (a former abbot of Drepung recognis-
able by his black-rimmed glasses); next to it is his chörten. To the east is Tsongkhapa, the
founder of the Gelugpa sect.
