This monastery has a lot of significance in Tibetan Buddhism and it’s a powerful pilgrimage place. Without it Samye Monastery in Tibet would not have been completed.
The Legend
The story tells that during the construction of Samye Monastery during daytime progress would be made only for night time to be lost: a denma (female evil spirit) would keep destroying parts of the monastery.
They asked Guru Rinpoche — since he was well experienced with spirits — for help. He accepted. He found out the spirit would be running away to other areas constantly, he would need to go to Mustang to fight her.
He set off journey to mustang, stayed in places such as Chhungzhi Rangjung Cave, Muktinath, and others, where he would meditate along the way.
Finally found the evil spirit and killed her. He spread the remains:
| Part | Where |
|---|---|
| Heart | Underneath the Lo Ghekar Temple |
| Blood | Splattered over the mountains near ??? todo |
| Intestines | Underground, protected with many stonewalls. |
| Landmarks such as the ones below also are explained through that story, in this case it is said that those rock formations are the vomit of the spirit. |
todo find photo
Inside
Since it’s said to have been built by Guru Rinpoche the monastery then is really old, and the image of Guru inside is very precious because it’s probably closest to what he must have looked like.
It’s sad no pictures were allowed, but the experience of entering such old temples are very special. To feel the glossy old wood, the irregular clay walls, the claustrophic spaces with practitioners reciting mantras and the smell of the butterlamps, boosted by devotion to Padmasambhava. I am lucky that I came here with a monk “If you want to practice, spend some time” — tells me.