9. Sept 2014

ARCHITECTURE
which is called Khachoe Ghakyil Ling
Nunnery is a little down on the way to
Baudha.
For the most part, Tibetan monasteries
resemble one another in shape
and decorations: Grand in style and
decorated with Buddhist symbols and
thankas or wall paintings. The main
monastery of Kopan faces east, which
is considered the best direction to face
for any monastery. It is a four storey
building with 75 x 95 feet and with
the maximum height of 48 feet. The
façade is featured with separate four
windows and a small balcony extended
outward. Though temporary, there is
a white curtain just below the balcony
that presents three srivatsas, one of the
auspicious symbols in Buddhism as well
as in Hinduism. There are two Kalchakra
symbols just above each of the upper
windows.
On the top in the middle, there is
the wheel of life flanked by two
deer, a customary feature of any of
Buddhist temple. Similarly there are
four cylindrical dhwajas to symbolize
Buddha’s victory over maras and 5
pinnacles on the top.
Few steps, flanked by Simha and
Simhini, lead you to the main entrance.
Before you enter the hall you can see
at symbolic frescoes painted in vivid
colours. Flanking the entrance are four
Dharma Kings of Tibet, also considered
the protectors of Tibet. The Wheel of
Life, depicting the cycle of death and
rebirth is on your left.
One of the most striking features that
separate the main hall of any monastery
from the material world outside is the
concentration of the energy that is
maintained with Vastu or architectural
principles. As a rule, the ground plan
conforms to a mándala, a visible
representation of the sum total of
natural and spiritual forces. But liberty is
taken as far as it fulfills the functional or
spiritual purpose.
As you enter any of the well structured
monasteries, you feel completely
light as if you have deposited loads of
sufferings in the material world outside.
You feel light as you enter the main
monastery and you feel completely
cleansed with the vibration you get
inside. The effect of lightness in the
main hall is enhanced by the brightly
colored decorative elements, effective
combination of natural and artificial
lights and the graceful lines of the finely
carved columns supporting the beams.
The centre of the hall or temple, in
theory, is reserved for the principal deity.
The principle deity which the monastery
is dedicated to is Lama Tsong Khapa,
the founder of the Gelug tradition.
Giving sufficient space in the front to
accommodate more than 800 monks
while in special functions in the hall, the
statue of Tsong Khapa is placed against
the wall opposite the main entrance.
On either side of him are the statues of
his two main disciples. To the far left is
Atisha, who brought Buddhism to Tibet.
On the right side altar the center piece
is the relic stupa of Lama Thubten Yeshe,
one of the two founders of Kopan
Monastery. The altar on the left displays
the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha,
with Maitreya Buddha on his left and
Manjushri on his right.
Architecture creates magic with space.
A perfect sense of harmony of space
and architecture transforms the place
to the extent that it seems not of this
world but of the divine spheres. This
SEPTEMBER 2014 / 29