Taken 11-Aug-09
Visitors 3
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Dimensions3178 x 2591
Original file size2.97 MB
Image typeJPEG
Color spacesRGB
Date taken12-Aug-09 05:58
Date modified27-Apr-10 04:03
Shooting Conditions
Camera makeNIKON CORPORATION
Camera modelNIKON D3
Focal length70 mm
Focal length (35mm)70 mm
Max lens aperturef/2.8
Exposure1/125 at f/5
FlashNot fired
Exposure bias0 EV
Exposure modeAuto
Exposure prog.Shutter priority
ISO speedISO 6400
Metering modePattern
Digital zoom1x
Monks Lighting the Butter Lamps at Samye Monastery. South-Western Tibet 2011© Nora de Angelli / www.noraphotos.com
It is the Tibet’s very first monastery.
Samye Monastery is laid out on the shape of a giant mandala, with the main temple representing the legendary Mount Meru in the centre. Other buildings stand at the corners and cardinal points of the main temple, representing continents and other features of tantric Buddhist cosmology.
The main temple is full of Tibetan religious art in both mural and statue form, as well as some important relics. Many Tibetan Buddhists come on pilgrimage to Samye, some taking weeks to make the journey.
The first Buddhist monastery built in Tibet, was most probably constructed between 775 and 779 CE, under the patronage of King Trisong Detsen of Tibet who sought to revitalize Buddhism. It was supposedly modeled on the design of Odantapuri monastery in what is now Bihar, India. Very badly damaged during the Cultural Revolution, it has now been completely rebuilt, and although the new work is not as fine as the old, this is a magnificent example of Tibetan religious architecture, with wonderful painted wooden roof beams, and typical gilded roofs. Around the main building is a fine cloister, and there is now a substantial body of monks living and studying here.
According to tradition, the Indian monk Shantarakshita made the first attempt to construct the monastery while promoting his sutra-centric version of Buddhism. Finding the Samye site auspicious he set about to build a structure there. However, the building would always collapse after reaching a certain stage. Terrified, the construction workers believed that there was a demon or obstructive thought form in a nearby river making trouble. The legend says that: "The great religious master Padmasambhava performed this dance in order to prepare the ground for the Samye Monastery and to pacify the malice of the lha [local mountain god spirits] and srin malevolent spirits in order to create the most perfect conditions.’ He went on to say that after Padmasambhava consecrated the ground he erected a thread-cross - a web colored thread woven around two sticks - to catch evil. Then the purifying energy of his dance forced the malevolent spirits into a skull mounted on top of a pyramid of dough. His tantric dance cleared away all the obstacles, enabling the monastery to be built in 767. The dance was memorialized by the construction of Vajrakilaya stupas - monuments honoring the ritual kilya (purba) daggers - at the cardinal points of the monastery, where they would prevent demonic forces from entering the sacred grounds.
Samye Monastery is laid out on the shape of a giant mandala, with the main temple representing the legendary Mount Meru in the centre. Other buildings stand at the corners and cardinal points of the main temple, representing continents and other features of tantric Buddhist cosmology.
The main temple is full of Tibetan religious art in both mural and statue form, as well as some important relics. Many Tibetan Buddhists come on pilgrimage to Samye, some taking weeks to make the journey.
The first Buddhist monastery built in Tibet, was most probably constructed between 775 and 779 CE, under the patronage of King Trisong Detsen of Tibet who sought to revitalize Buddhism. It was supposedly modeled on the design of Odantapuri monastery in what is now Bihar, India. Very badly damaged during the Cultural Revolution, it has now been completely rebuilt, and although the new work is not as fine as the old, this is a magnificent example of Tibetan religious architecture, with wonderful painted wooden roof beams, and typical gilded roofs. Around the main building is a fine cloister, and there is now a substantial body of monks living and studying here.
According to tradition, the Indian monk Shantarakshita made the first attempt to construct the monastery while promoting his sutra-centric version of Buddhism. Finding the Samye site auspicious he set about to build a structure there. However, the building would always collapse after reaching a certain stage. Terrified, the construction workers believed that there was a demon or obstructive thought form in a nearby river making trouble. The legend says that: "The great religious master Padmasambhava performed this dance in order to prepare the ground for the Samye Monastery and to pacify the malice of the lha [local mountain god spirits] and srin malevolent spirits in order to create the most perfect conditions.’ He went on to say that after Padmasambhava consecrated the ground he erected a thread-cross - a web colored thread woven around two sticks - to catch evil. Then the purifying energy of his dance forced the malevolent spirits into a skull mounted on top of a pyramid of dough. His tantric dance cleared away all the obstacles, enabling the monastery to be built in 767. The dance was memorialized by the construction of Vajrakilaya stupas - monuments honoring the ritual kilya (purba) daggers - at the cardinal points of the monastery, where they would prevent demonic forces from entering the sacred grounds.
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