Shey Monastery
Ladakh is located 15 km to the south of Leh.It was founded in 17th century by the King Deldon Namgyal. A large number of monasteries, stupas and rock carvings can be seen on this road.One can easily reached Shey by trekking 4 km from Thickey Monastery and the path is recognized for having Ladakh's biggest chorten fields with hundreds of whitewashed shrines of varying sizes scattered across the desert landscape.Shey Gompa
ladakh nearest airport is at Leh.The essential thing is that no persons can enter in this monastery without having special permission.Lama lives in this monastery and the inner workrooms are usually closed.There is a hotel for visitors which are surrounded by gardens opposite to the Shey palace.The statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in the Shey gompa ladakh is 12 metres imagewhich wrap three floors of this monastery. On each side of the wall of Buddha contains Arhats eight on each wall. The walls on both the sides of Buddha display the 16, and the wall behind the statue has the images of the two chief disciples of the Buddha's which are Maudgalyayana and Sariputra . Buddha statue is painted with one image or the other. The massive Buddha as seen in the monastery is on three levels; the lowest level shows his huge feet and soles pointing upwards and a mural of Shambunath, the middle floor shows murals of the Buddha in different postures and the upper floor is darkened by the soot of the butter lamps that burn eternally at the altar.
The statue of the Buddha was distributed into parts at Zanstin in Leh. The copper were collected from Lingshet mines and Zanskar in order to make the statue. Plates were made by hammering on a rock.Firstly it was built in parts, after than it was transported to the palace for installation. About 5kg of gold were used for building this monastery.On the top of the floor of Shey monastery Leh, there are numerous beautiful wall paintings that are displayed. On the the lower floor the monastery contains a library with a large number of precisely preserved manuscripts.It is adorned with murals of Buddha figures in various mudras. There is shrine which is not so big about 400m from the Gompa palace which is developed by Sengge Namgyal.This shrine contains statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in sitting position. It is said that this statue and the other statue were crafted by a Nepalese sculptor whose name was Sanga Zargar Wanduk.Sengge's mother has brought him.Gyal Khatun has done tremendous work because he built the main statue. During the development of the monastery Nakbiri , Gamani Jal Shring and Paldana Shering Gyaso.
Shrine also depicts murals, that represent the 16 Arhats, original disciples of the Buddha, together with some of the renowned teachers like Padmasambhava, Atisa and Tson-Ka-Pa. Nearby shrine there are two small Tantric shrines that exist. Close to this shrine, carvings are seen on rock spurs on the road to the palace. These rock carvings are of the five Dhyani Buddhas; one of them is very large and close to the palace while the other four are located close to a chorten. Also seen are a large number of chortens to the east of the palace. On the boundary of valley, there is official residence of the Lama of the monastery from where there are beautiful views of the Indus valley. There are number of butter lit lamps which are placed in the shrine, that continue burning throughout the year. It is a symbolic significance of the spirituality and purity of the temple.
There are two festivals which are organized every year in which first festival is held at Shey Monastery Leh on 26th and 27th day of the first month according to the Tibetan calendar.This festival is called Shey Doo Lhoo which mark the beginning of the sowing season. Another festival is called Shey Rupla which marks the harvesting season.Rhupla dance are to be performed by two peoples wearing tiger constumes.It can be seen that a large basin of wax with a flame, which shows divinity & purity and placed in face of the Buddha statue. It is replaced after one year as the flame burns continuously throughout the year. Annual Fesitival is celebrated in the First 30th Month of Tibetan Calander.Some exquisite murals adorn the second story of the Shey Monastery Ladakh.