Matho Monastery
is placed 26km from south east of Leh. It mainly belongs to Saskya order.Matho Gompa Ladakh was founded by Lama Tugpa Dorjay in 16th century.The village of Matho is located at the mouth of a deep gorge running out of the Zanskar Range and across the Indus. Matho Gompa ladak is just behind the Thikse Monastery. Matho Gompa is the only representative of the Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism in Ladakh.Matho Gompa
Ladakh is the only example of Sakyapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism as it does not lie on highway from Leh,so there are less visitors comes to visit this monastery.It is known to outsiders for its annual Oracle Matho Nagrang Festival that is celebrated on 14th and 15th day of first month of the Tibetan calandar.Beside this there are two oracles which are known as Rongtsan are said to inhabit for a few hours the body of two monks.The main purpose of oracles is to predict fortune of local village communities for the coming year.These monks are considered as the oracle vehicles for the next four years and one every year.An interesting thing in the selection procedure is done by lottery.Every monks in matho gompa have to write their own name inside a paper and all papers are collected inside the bowl and one name is drawn from it. The first monks have to mediate for a period of nine months before start of the festival. The three next years the meditation will last 3 months. In order to establish monastic community, the king offered religious estate in neighboring villages. Nag-Rang festival is celebrated in Matho Gonpa during 14th and 15th of Tibetan calendar.Matho is also considered as the home for a collection of thangkas date back to the 14th century.
The history of Matho monastery Ladakh is that it was founded in 1410 century by Lama Dugpa Dorje.It is famous for its 600 years old thangkas and Matho Nag rang Festival. It has been observed that numbers of monks are increasing in these years. About the structure of Matho monastery is that many buildings of Matho monastery Ladakh are decaying but there is an assembly hall that was made in year of 2005 having colourful paintings and a Sayamuni Buddha.There are images of Sakya Pandita and other Sakya lamas.Museum containing Number of old thangkas that are brought from Tibet in 15th century.Masks and robes which are dressed by lamas in festival can be seen here.of Matho monastery ladakh takes place during Buddhist new year.
Annual festival of Matho Gompa ladakh is celebrated on 14th and 15th day of first month of the Tibetan calandar.Beside this there are two oracles which are known as Rongtsan are said to inhabit for a few hours the body of two monks. These monks are considered as the oracle vehicles for the next four years and one every year. These monks purify themselves doing fasting and meditation in order to have suitable receptacles for receiving the oracles spirits.
When these monks are given decision in order to perform,witout any hesitation these monks perform their work by cutting their body by knives and walking on to the top storey without no fear and by closing their eyes.So they don't think about of falling from the top storey. When possessed they are said to be able to perform many astounding feats such as cutting themselves with knives and walking around the ramparts of the top storey blindfolded with no fear of falling down the rock face below.