Key Monastery

Kye Monastery

Kye Gompa
Key Monastery
Location within India
Coordinates 32°17′51.84″N 78°00′43.17″E / 32.2977333°N 78.0119917°E / 32.2977333; 78.0119917
Monastery information
Location Spiti Valley, Himachel Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti district, India
Founded by Dromtön
Founded 11th century
Date renovated 1840s after a fire. 1980s after 1975 Kinnaur earthquake
Type Tibetan Buddhist
Sect Gelug
Kye village

Kye Gompa (also spelled Ki, Key or Kee - pronounced like English key) is a Tibetan Buddhist monastery located on top of a hill at an altitude of 4,166 metres (13,668 ft) above sea level, close to the Spiti River, in the Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti district, India.[1]

It is the biggest monastery of Spiti Valley and a religious training centre for Lamas. It reportedly had 100 monks in 1855.[2][3]

History

Kye Gompa with Spiti River flowing behind.
Woman having head shaved before becoming a nun. Kye, Spiti. 2004.
Kee monastery in Winter
Kye Monastery
Kachen Dugyal Memorial Old Aged - Handicapped Society, Spiti Monastery, 2004. Apparently, extensive new facilities have been built since this photo was taken

Kye Gompa is said to have been founded by Dromtön (Brom-ston, 1008-1064 CE), a pupil of the famous teacher, Atisha, in the 11th century. This may however, refer to a now destroyed Kadampa monastery at the nearby village of Rangrik, which was probably destroyed in the 14th century when the Sakya sect rose to power with Mongol assistance.[4][5]

Kye was attacked again by the Mongols during the 17th century, during the reign of the Fifth Dalai Lama, and became a Gelugpa establishment. In 1820 it was sacked again during the wars between Ladakh and Kulu. In 1841 it was severely damaged by the Dogra army under Ghulam Khan and Rahim Khan. Later that same year suffered more damage from a Sikh army. In the 1840s it was ravaged by fire and, in 1975, a violent earthquake caused further damage which was repaired with the help of the Archaeological Survey of India and the State Public Works Department.[6]

The walls of the monastery are covered with paintings and murals, an example of the 14th century monastic architecture, which developed as the result of Chinese influence.

Kye monastery has a collection of ancient murals and books, including Buddha images.[7]

There are three floors, the first one is mainly underground and used for storage. One room, called the Tangyur is richly painted with murals. The ground floor has the beautifully decorated Assembly Hall and cells for many monks.[6]

Kye Gompa now belongs to the Gelugpa sect, along with Tabo Monastery and Drangtse Monastery, one of three in Spiti.

"The monastery of Kee, for instance, accommodates nearly 250 monks, who reside within the sacred walls in winter, and stay during the summer with their parents or brothers, working in the fields, or employed in carrying travellers' goods. These monasteries have their regular heads, or abbots, and the higher ecclesiastical titles can only be obtained by the candidates proceeding in person to either Shigatzee (Shigatse) or Lhassa (Lhasa)."[8]

A celebration of its millennium was conducted in 2000 in the presence of the Dalai Lama.[7]

See also

http://livepano.ru/flash/pano/ki_road_shdwbx.html From road http://livepano.ru/flash/pano/ki_roof_shdwbx.html From roof

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Sarina Singh, et al. (2007), p. 343.
  2. ↑ Handa (1987), p. 131.
  3. ↑ HimachalWorld.com - Monasteries in Himachal Pradesh
  4. ↑ Francke (1914), pp. 45-47
  5. ↑ Handa (1987), pp. 97, 99.
  6. 1 2 Handa (1987), pp. 100-101.
  7. 1 2 SurfIndia.com - Kye monastery
  8. ↑ Harcourt (1871), p. 256.

References

External links

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Coordinates: 32°17′51.84″N 78°00′43.17″E / 32.2977333°N 78.0119917°E / 32.2977333; 78.0119917

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