VELUDHARAN TEMPLES VISIT : Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement, Odeyarpalya, Kollegal, Karnataka.

Saturday 16 February 2019

Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement, Odeyarpalya, Kollegal, Karnataka.

27^th January 2019.

After Completing the Karnataka Temples Heritage visit, from Doddamallur Sri Aprameya Temple, our aim was to reach Erode before 22.00 Hrs. Considering the Sunday traffic from Bengaluru, we preferred to take the Kollegal route instead of Krishnagiri. It was around 17.00 hrs when we reached Odeyarpalya after Kollegal. Till 1956 Kollegal was in Coimbatore District and went to Karnataka, when the states were re-organized based on linguistic. After hearing about this Dhondenling Tibetan settlement, tried twice during my previous visits, but couldn’t do so. This time it came true and we visited two monasteries with Stupas of this Tibetan settlement.

Due to the forced occupation of Tibet by China in 1959 CE, about 80000 Tibetans including their Guru His Holiness Dalai Lama fled as refugees and settled in 58 places in India, Nepal, and Bhutan. In India, these refugees were settled in 39 places depending on their proficiency, like Agricultural, Handicrafts, and cluster Communities. Dhondenling Tibetan Settlement at Odeyarpalya, near Kollegal in Karnataka is one of the 5 settlements in south India. This re-settlement was established in 1974. CE with an initial population of 3160 refugees in 22 villages or refugee camps and an average of 25 to 35 families, through Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency (MYRADA). This settlement spreads over 3000 acres and consists of Living quarters, monasteries, Hostels, Old age homes, settlement offices, hospitals, school buildings, roads, etc. The settlement is on the sloppy hills and has forest converted to fertile lands, and fields with a picturesque view and atmosphere.

This Dhondenling Tibetan settlement is about 3345 feet high above mean sea level with an average temperature of 20 degrees Celsius and 140 to 170 cm rainfall. The land was developed into fertile land to cultivate crops like rice, raghi, Maize, corn, etc,. Some people weave sweaters too. There are 5 monasteries namely Dzogchen Monastery, Taksham Monastery, Tanak Monastery, Dhragyal Monastery, and Bayoe Monastery. We visited two monasteries of which the Dzogchen monastery is the biggest.

Dzogchen monastery is a two-story building in which the prayer hall is in the Ground Floor. The 30 nos of prayer wheels are installed on the back side of the monastery. The wheels are embossed with the mantra “OM MANI PADME HUM”, which means the Jewel of the Lotus flower enlightens the peace. It was believed that this mantra would spread through the wind when the wheel spun. The Front wall and inside the prayer hall have rich colorful paintings. A 4 rows of seating arrangement was provided. The altar has 3 Images of Buddha. On the left, there is a separate seat for H.H. the Dalai Lama with his Photo.

The Mantra “OM MANI PADME HUM”,

A memorial Pillar was erected 10 years completion of the Dzogchen monastery. The inscription reads as…. This pillar is dedicated to the aspiration of H.H. the Dalai Lama, H.H. Dudjom Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse, H.H. Dodrupchen Rinpoche, Chakdo Tsewang Paljo, H.E Sogyal Rinpoche, Mayum Tsering Wangmo, The Lakar Family, Khandro Tsering Chodron, Khandro Tsering-la and family, the Rigpa Sangha all the coordinator's sponsors, donors, and supporters of past, present and future.

In accordance with the ……..eelion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the construction of this monastery was begun in the early 1980s by Chakdzo Tsewang Paljor, completed by his son Dzogchen Rinpoche in 1991, and subsequently opened by the Dalai Lama in … January 1992. This pillar of dedication was unveiled by Sogyal Rinpoche on the 6^th March 2003 during a celebration to …. The completion of ten years of Dzogchen Monastery in India.