The visit to this Namdroling Monastery Golden Temple, at
Bylakuppe in Kodagu District, Karnataka, was a part of “Kodagu Heritage Walk”,
from 22nd to 24th May 2026, organised by “எண்திசை வரலாற்று மரபுநடைக்குழு”.
Inside the sanctum
sanctorum, there are three massive statues of Lord Buddha, is 60ft. in
height (from the base), and the other two are 58 feet from the base. They are made
out of copper gilded with gold. Inside the statues are scriptures, relics of
great beings, small clay mould stupas and small statues, which symbolise the
body, speech and mind of the Buddhas.
1. Buddha Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha
(centre), the founder of Buddhism. He was born to King Shudodhana and Queen
Mayadevi at Lumbini, 2561 years ago. Of the 1002 Buddhas who will come to this
world during this Fortunate Aeon, he is considered the fourth.
2. Guru Padmasambhava, revered as the Second
Buddha who brought Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet (left). Guru
Rinpoche was born twelve years after the passing of Lord Buddha, on Lake
Sindhu, in the land of Oddiyana (the present-day Afghan-Pakistan border).
Guru
Rinpoche not only gave various esoteric and secret Tantra teachings through his
immense compassion for the beings of Tibet, but also concealed many treasures
for the benefit of future generations; thus benefiting the beings of Tibet in
the past, present and future. As such, all Tibetans consider him to be
extraordinarily kind and revere him as the Second Buddha.
3. Buddha Amitayus: The Buddha of Long Life
(right). According to Buddhism, the lives of people become short, and they die
prematurely due to committing non-virtuous actions. Whosoever hears the name of
Buddha Amitayus will have the length of his or her life extended. When beings
are nearing death, if they touch the letters of his name, recite his name and
mantra, or praise his qualities, their life spans will be extended.
ARCHITECTURE
The Golden Temple
complex is huge, and it houses 40-foot-high gilded images of Guru Padmasambhava
(also known as Guru Rinpoche), Buddha Sakyamuni, and Amitayus. The temple vimana
is highly ornate. The outer walls flanking the doorway are decorated with huge
colourful murals. The doors, red in colour, have huge gold knockers and a thick
plaited rope with tassels hanging from them. The walls are adorned with colourful
paintings depicting gods and demons from Tibetan Buddhist mythology.
HISTORY AND
INSCRIPTIONS
His Holiness the 3rd
Drubwang Pema Norbu Rinpoche (1932-2009) is the founder of Namdroling Monastery
(popularly known as 'the Golden Temple'). His Holiness laid the foundation stone
of the monastery on the 31st of July, 1963. His Holiness the Dalai Lama visited
the monastery to consecrate it and bestowed the name Namdroling. Likewise, His
Holiness Chatrel Rinpoche named the monastery Thegchog, while Nyoshul Khen
Rinpoche named it Shedrub, and His Holiness himself added Dargyeling. Thus, the
complete name of the monastery came to be known as “Thegchog Namdrol Shedrub
Dargyeling” (Land of Increasing Practice and Teaching of the Utmost Yana that
achieves spontaneous Liberation).
From the founding of
the monastery till 1979, His Holiness went through great hardships to finance
the work. Bearing all hardships and weariness, Rinpoche himself engaged in
manual work along with the ordinary monks. At one stage, the skin of his hands
cracked and started bleeding. After that, the Tibetan people from the Fourth
Camp also came to assist His Holiness of their own accord.
There were only about
ten monks at the time that the monastery was established, but now there are more
than 9000 monks and nuns registered, out of which more than 3,500 monks and
nuns are present and engaged in studies, from various countries like Tibet,
India, Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia and other countries.
In 1993, at the request
of all the members of Ngagyur Nyingma, His Holiness the Dalai Lama enthroned His
Holiness as the Third Supreme Head of the Ngagyur Nyingma Tradition in
Dharamsala at Thekchen Choling Monastery. For ten years (1993- 2002), His
Holiness had rendered service to the Nyingma Tradition to the best of his
ability.
His Holiness was
appointed as the president of the Ngagyur Nyingma Monlam Chenmo (the Great
World Peace Prayer) in 1996. He worked tirelessly for 14 years (1996-2009) to
develop the Monlam Society, until he attained Mahaparinivana on the 28th
of March, 2009, at the age of 77.
LEGENDS
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
The monastery celebrates Tibetan New Year (Losar) in February / March for fifteen days.
During that time, the monastery hosts traditional colourful lama dances and
huge thangkas, a Tibetan silk painting with embroidery depicting Buddhist
deities. Watching hundreds of Buddhist monks doing religious rituals and
offering prayers loudly is an exciting sight.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The Golden Temple is
open to visitors from 7.00 hrs to 19.00 hrs daily.
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The Golden Temple is
3.7 km from Kushalnagar, 34.4 km from Madikeri, and 87 km from Mysuru.
The nearest Railway
Station is Krishnarajanagar, 58 kms.
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
