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Dakas BuddhistConsulting
Tibetan Monastery Tour, South India
Visit to my reincarnated Lama, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche.
India Tour December 14 to 30, 2007.
Well I am doing another tour to India. This one is to visit my Guru, Kyabje Ling Rinpoche. Quite a few people have asked to come so I put together a little trip of 2 weeks. Remember, if you come you can stay for up to 6 months, that is 5 1/2 months after the tour with me ends. So what I am offering is 2 weeks of a guided tour to help you feel comfortable in India and then you either return home or you carry on to Nepal, Thailand or wherever your heart leads you.
The tour starts in Bangalore, South India. This is very good for those of you on the west coast. Malaysian Air and Singapore both fly right into Bangalore. From the east coast you would arrive via Europe to Delhi and connect down to Bangalore.
The break down of the tour is below. I put the dates beside each city or location. You need to register by July 31st at the latest. The reason for this is we need special permits to be at the Tibetan Settlement Camps. It takes 3 months to process those permits and so if you want to come but you ask in September it is highly unlikely you would get the required permit. The second thing is flights to India. I picked Dec 14th and the flight would leave the 12th or 13th from North America. These are less expensive days to travel on and also just before the Holiday Season rush. You will need to book and pay for your flight by June I think to guarantee a "return seat". Take this seriously if you want to come. Don't think that seats are easily available, they are not at that time of year. The flight ticket is your responsibility. You need to be in Bangalore by Dec 14th. I can arrange for you a hotel if you come earlier and if you come on the 15th and 16th we will still be in Bangalore, so that is okay. I will explain things as the tour progresses and even arrange a few teachings with some Tibetan Lamas on the trip. Remember, I am a Tibetan translator and so we will get some blessings on the way. In Drepung we will be received by Kyabje Ling Rinpoche and receive some teachings. Kyabje Ling Rinpoche is busy at that time and so we can only expect a few classes with him. The tour returns to Bangalore on the 28th of December. At that time you can go to Goa or Kerola and rest on the beach or to some other location. Flights from Bangalore are very easy to Delhi, Varanarsi, Bodha Gaya or Kathmandu. Please consider staying in India for at least 3 weeks. It is too precious to visit for just 2 weeks. The tour agency I am dealing with will help you with ongoing flights and hotels.
The cost of the tour is US$1000.00. This includes all hotels, transportation and my assistance. You will need to purchase your air ticket, your travel and health insurance. Get back to me if you are interested and I will send you a list of things to consider.
Bangalore, December 14 to 17
Lalbagh Gardens (4 kms from MG Road)
These 240-acre gardens were laid out during the Muslim era (18 century) by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, 200 years ago. They contain the largest collection of rare tropical and sub-tropical plants, century-old trees, fountains, terraces, lotus pools, rose gardens and a deer park. Lal Bagh has a magnificent glass house built in 1840, on the lines of London’s Crystal Palace. The Annual flower, fruit and vegetable shows are regularly held here. Lal Bagh also houses the offices of the Karnataka Horticultural Society that renders free advice to those interested in flowers and gardens. A giant Electronic Quartz Flower clock (diameter meters) is also in the garden.
The Fort
Situated opposite the City Market, the Fort is noted for the beautifully carved Islamic-style arches on the gate walls, and for the well-preserved Ganapathi Temple within its precincts. One of the temple’s outer walls carries an exquisite carving of Sri Krishna playing his flute, and within, there is a fine statue of Lord Ganesh, which still attracts devotees. Originally built in mud by Kempe Gowda in 1537, the Fort was extended and fortified by Tippu Sultan. He preserved as a testament to his religious tolerance, a Ganapathy
Tippu’s Palace
Situated near the fort, construction of this palace was begun by Tippu Sultan’s father Haider Ali, and completed by Tippu himself in 1791. It resembles the Daria Daulat Palace at Srirangapatna, Tipu’s capital. It was known as `Rashk-e-jannat’ – the Envy of Heaven. Constructed largely of wood, it is known for the five elaborately decorated arches surmounted by exquisite minarets, and paintings on the walls and ceiling.
Mysore City, December 17 and 18
Mysore City Palace and Museum. One of the largest palaces in India and the residence of the Wodeyar Maharaja's of the Mysore state, it was designed by British architect Henry Irwin and built in 1912, after a fire burnt down the old wooden palace. The stained glass roof of the 'Kalyana Mandapa' (marriage pavilion), wall paintings, ivory inlaid rosewood doors and the ornate golden throne here, are all remarkable.
The Chamundeswari temple in Mysore City is on the top of the hill just outside the city, dating back to the twelfth century, is dedicated to Durga Devi or goddess Chamundi (avatar of Parvathi, Shiva's consort) for celebrating her victory over the demon Mahishasura. The idol of goddess Chamundi inside the sanctorum sanctuary is in solid gold. The temple is a fine example of Dravidian temple architecture. The temple tower is 40m high with seven stories. Behind the main temple there is a small shrine dedicated to Mahabaleswara which is over a thousand years old. From the top of hill you can have a panoramic view of Mysore. There is a giant statue of Mahishasura, the demon who was killed by the goddess Chamundi (Durga Devi) near the temple. Halfway up the hill a ornamented monolithic statue of the Nandi Bull can be found. It is carved out of a single block of black granite
Sera Monastery December 19 and 20
Hassan, Hindu and Jain Temples, December 21 22
Hoysaleshwara Hindu Temple:
Ketumalla, the chief of staff of Vishnuvardhana, built this temple during 1121 A.D. Even then it is learnt that it took 105 years to complete. Even now there is some incomplete work. Both the temples are joined by one veranda from outer views. It looks like star just as Belur. The God on the northern side temple is called as Shanthaleshwara and that on southern side is called as Hoysaleshwara. These Shaiva Gods are in the shape of Linga, indication to small bull in front of these Gods big bull are kept in stone mantaps outside in front of each temple. They have been fully decorated by stone ornaments around their neck. Behind the bull in a mantap we can see big sized Suryanarayana standing with seven horses and Arundadeva. It is said that Ketumalla built these temples joined into one.
Shravanabelagola Temple of Jains
Shravanabelagola is as much a town of ponds as of temples. It is nearly impossible to reach any monument of this centre without first encountering a pond. Some ponds slumber under a still surface, while some others gently sway the lotus bed. The foundation of this holy centre was laid around 'bili-gola' (white pond) apparently a natural pond either on the Small Hill or in the valley.
The colossus of Gommateshvara rises austerely from the floor of its compound atop the southern hill. The enclosure with its statue substitutes for the garbhagriha of a more conventional temple. The statue, installed in 981 AD, was the gift of Chamundaraya, a Ganga official. At just under 18m (58ft) in height, it is the tallest free-standing sculpture in South India.
Shravanabelagola is a historical town in Karnataka State in India. This historical town of Shravanabelagola is a treasure house of historical relies and shrines and temples. Belonging to the Jain era the natural stone formations coupled with greenery makes this place unique tourist's delight. The rare sense of town planning during the Jain religious era which has been proved to be scientific now stands as a testimony to the ingenuity that prevailed in that period. The Shrutakevali Bhadrabahu caves. Jain temples and Basadis speak volumes of the religious fervour and the architectural marvels clubbed together in this town.
Largest number of Digambar Jain Basadis in India is found at Shravanabelagola and its suburbs. The temples or Basadis range from about 9th A.D. to the 19th century. The earliest on the Small Hill can not be dated with accuracy, but none of the existing temples of this hill is later than 1125 A.D. The early temples on the Small Hill, all the Basadis on the Large Hill, and one in the town are built of granite blocks.
Drepung Monastery, December 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27.
Drepung Monastery was established near Lhasa, Tibet in 1416 by Chojey Tashi Palden. It had four departments, of which Loseling, or "The Hermitage of the Radiant Mind," was the largest, housing more than three quarters of Drepung's ten to fifteen thousand monks. Drepung Loseling was especially close to the Dalai Lama incarnations; the Second Dalai Lama made his residence here in 1494, and subsequent incarnations maintained this link. After the Chinese Communist invasion of Tibet in 1959 and the forced closure and destruction of its 6,500 monasteries, some 250 monks from Loseling managed to escape the holocaust and rebuild their institution in Karnataka State, South India. The traditional training program was thus preserved. Over the years many more young spiritual aspirants have fled Chinese-occupied Tibet and sought entrance into the monastery, thus helping to preserve their traditional culture. The number of monks presently in the re-established Drepung Loseling has increased to more than 2,500.
Kyabje Ling Rinpoche
Ling Choktul Rinpoche was born in Bir, Tibetan settlement in North India in 1985 as youngest son of Mr.Sangpo.
In his autobiography "Freedom In Exile" (Harper Perennial - published 1991), the Dalai Lama noted several stories about the finding of Ling Rinpoche's reincarnation. He was only 18 months old when he was found; he "actually called the person by name and went forward to him, smiling. Subsequently he correctly identified several other of his predecessor's acquaintances." The Dalai Lama continued to describe how shortly thereafter, at the age of two when Ling Rinpoche was visiting him in Bodh Gaya, "without anyone telling him of its whereabouts, he found my bedroom, having scrambled on his hands and knees up the stairs, and laid a kata on my bed."
In 1987, at the age of two he was officially recognized by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the true reincarnation of late Khabje Ling Rinpoche and enthroned. At the age of four, he began his preliminary monastic studies.
In 1990 he joined Drepung Loseling Monastic University in South India for his further studies and presently he is in South India continuing his studies.