New Delhi: The Indian Army joined the local villagers to celebrate Buddha Purnima at the Taktsang Gompa monastery in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday. The Army assisted in the preparations and also took part in the celebrations with the local people.
The Taktsang Gompa is one of the three locations where Guru Padmasambhava, the revered deity of the area, meditated with his spiritual consort Monmo Tashi Khewdey in the 8th century AD. According to local belief, Guru Padmasambhava was in the form of a Tigress, and hence the name Tak-Tsang or ‘Tiger’s Den.'
The Taktsang Gompa, perched in the wilderness of mountains at a height of over 12,500 feet, and close to the Sangetsar Lake, is thronged by thousands of tourists from across the country and the world.
It is believed that Padmasambhava or ‘Lopon Pema Jungne’ (Lotus Born Guru), a teacher from ancient Nalanda University, meditated here before moving to Tibet. Guru Padmasambhava started the new form of spiritual Buddhism, which eventually is known as ‘Nyingma’ and its followers are known as ‘Nyingmapas’.
Akin to the Hindus belief that Lord Hanuman is immortal, Buddhists believe that Guru Padmasambhava is still alive in Ihop Sinpok Yul in his Copper Palace.
The design of Taktsang Gompa is called ‘Zangdok Palri’, which means the ‘Copper Coloured Palace’.
The Taktsang Gompa is 40 kilometers from the Tawang Town, that is around a two-hour drive.
While driving to Taktsang Gompa from Tawang Town, one has to pass through the Bumla Pass, a border pass between Tsona County in Tibet and India's Tawang district in Arunachal Pradesh.
The Sangetsar Lake near the Taktsang Gompa is also popular as the Madhuri Lake. The lake rose to fame when popular actress Madhuri Dixit shot a song for the Bollywood movie ‘Koyla’ in 1996.
It is to be noted that the celebrations of Buddha Purnima were marked with religious and festive fervour, and respect for the environment. It also reaffirmed the civil-military bonhomie in the area.