Tashi Choling Monastery (Pabyuk Gonpa)

I am blessed to have got the chance to visit Tashi Choling Monastery in Pabyuk East Sikkim, it is said this monastery was founded by the Lama Ralchhen Kalzang Chhophel in the year 1875. This Gonpa was situated at such a wonderful place covered by beautiful green environment.  It belongs to the tradition of Drukpa Kagyupa, which is the sub Sect of Kagyupa.

      

Also said originally the gonpa was a small mud hermitage with thatch roof which  was destroyed by a fire.  The present structure was built at the same site and is a wooden structure with stone walls. The building has an inter-locking system of wooden beams where no nails are required to hold them. These wooden posts and beams can be seen in the third floor present days. The monastery holds some interesting artifacts such as a bell trance of the Gonpa. It is said to have been brought from Tibet in the olden days by a trader who wanted to sell it to the Gonpa for five Rupees. As the lamas could not afford it they requested for a discount to which the trader refused.  While the trader was on his way back without selling the bell the bell gradually started getting heavier and heavier until it became so heavy that he could not carry it any further. The trader, upon realizing that the bell was actually meant for this Gonpa, decided to donate it to the Gonpa at which point of time, all of a sudden, the bell became light again. He brought the bell back and hung it at the main entrance, apologized to the lamas and departed.

     This bell still hangs at the same spot. Another interesting thing to see is the Statue of Buddha at the main Altar, who once displayed its miraculous power. One morning, a monk on his puja duty saw the statue sweating profusely. Alarmed by this incident the High Lamas were consulted. The High Lamas were amazed to notice that a small pox epidemic that was raging in the surrounding areas stopped spreading from this Gonpa upwards. Incredibly no one from this Gonpa and areas above the Gonpa were inflicted with the disease. The Statue is said to have absorbed the disease thus safeguarding the people of the surrounding areas from the disease.