A Dzom Monastery, also known as “A Dzom Chogar,” has the full Tibetan name “A Dzom Aogsal Thechogling,” which means “A Dzom Island of Radiant Great Accomplishment.”
The monastery was first built in 1645 AD and belongs to the Nyingma school of Tibetan Buddhism.
A Dzom Monastery is located at an altitude of 4,020 meters, nestled on the hillside of Drashi Dungkar Gang at an altitude of 4,500 meters, in A Dzom Village, Maqiong Township, Baiyu County. It is situated along the upper reaches of the Changqu River, a tributary of the Jinsha River, and is 136 kilometers from Baiyu County’s town.
Brief History
A Dzom Monastery was initially called “Tsekongma,” meaning “Red Roofed Hall,” and was located in present-day Litang County. The 3rd Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, bestowed land and religious items, and a monk named Tashi Ben began its construction around 1580 AD.
Several years later, the reincarnated lama from Katok Monastery, Penlu, resided there, and the monastery became a branch of Katok Monastery.
Later, Penlu moved to Drung Yi Gonpa, located near the present A Dzom Monastery in Maqiong Township, Baiyu County, leading to the monastery’s relocation.
After Penlu passed away, Ba Sanggya Drashi succeeded as the abbot, and around 1742 AD, he rebuilt Aogsal Thechogling, which is now A Dzom Monastery.
Ba Sanggya Drashi had five brothers, all of whom had “Tashi” (meaning “Auspicious”) in their names, and they were all reincarnated lamas. A servant named Khage (meaning “Good Mouth”) exclaimed in amazement, “Atsam! Atsam! Truly ‘A Dzom Bu’ (meaning ‘Perfect’).” From then on, people began calling the monastery “A Dzom.” This is the origin of the name A Dzom Monastery.
The reincarnated lama of Ba Sanggya Drashi, Rigzin Chenpo, was a great “terton” (treasure revealer). He built Kegu Yamathing Monastery in the deep mountains along the lower reaches of the Changqu River and was a renowned teacher of the Dharma at that time.
Rigzin Chenpo’s reincarnation, Rigzin Trodue Barwa Dorje, became the first A Dzom Drubpa Lama.
Around 1855 AD, the first A Dzom Drubpa Lama received the teachings of the “Great Completion Heart Essence,” and the monastery became a center for the propagation and practice of this teaching, emphasizing pure, undistracted focus on realization and liberation, without attachment to wealth or superficial pursuits.
Later, Rigzin Trodue Barwa Dorje built Phuntsog Gatsal (meaning “Garden of Complete Bliss”) in a valley opposite the winter retreat mountain.
During the time of his son, Gyalse Lama Jikme Dorje, the A Dzom Monastery grew to its current scale, with a large assembly hall, printing house, debating hall, and monastic college.
Like other monasteries, A Dzom Monastery was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s, and many of its valuable woodblock prints were lost.
Beginning in the 1980s, the 2nd A Dzom Drubpa Lama raised funds from various sources to restore the monastery. After nearly two decades of effort, the monastic college was rebuilt, many scriptures and statues were added, and some woodblocks were reprinted, bringing new vitality to A Dzom Monastery.
Architectural
The overall layout of the monastery is in the shape of a “conch shell,” covering an area of about 1.5 square kilometers, with a total building area of approximately 3,420 square meters.
The main structures include the main hall, scripture hall, reliquary stupas, and a relic room.
Main Hall
The main hall is a Tibetan-style building made of timber and earth, constructed by both Han and Tibetan craftsmen.
It consists of two levels, standing 17.4 meters high, 30.2 meters long, and 22 meters wide. The structure features intricate, layered brackets, showcasing a majestic and ancient architectural style with unique charm.
The first floor serves as the main hall, housing a 2.4-meter-tall statue of Guru Padmasambhava. The walls are adorned with large murals, and this space is used for the master to teach and for monks to chant. Six large carved wooden pillars stand around the hall, decorated with intricate patterns of flowers and the eight auspicious symbols.
A particularly striking feature is the 5-meter-tall and 3-meter-wide Dharma seat of Gyalse Lama, adorned with colorful ribbons. The pillars are carved with reliefs of four elephants bearing treasures, eight lions offering lotus seats, and four pairs of dragons and phoenixes dancing in welcome.
The second floor is a smaller scripture hall, where the reliquary stupas of the first Gyalse Lama and the second Drubpa Lama, along with many relics blessed by earlier lamas, are enshrined.
To the right of the main hall is the “Great Completion Heart Essence” scripture hall.
Sutra Hall
Adjacent to the left of the main hall is another newly constructed scripture hall, which is built on the foundation of the original hall from when A Dzom Monastery was first established.
The current hall is about 140 square meters, containing over 900 scriptures, 2,000 woodblocks, and 98 statues of various sizes made of clay.
Above this hall, slightly to the rear, is the Ladrang (residence) of Gyalse Lama. The first Gyalse Lama and the second Drubpa Lama frequently taught here, and in 2002, the newly appointed lama, Gyangga Rinpoche, gave his first teachings on “Yeshe Lama” in this small courtyard.
Next to this Ladrang is the area where the monastery stores and prints scriptures. It houses a large collection of carved wooden printing blocks, including the “Seven Treasuries of Longchenpa.”
Reliquary Stupa Hall
To the left rear of the main hall is the reliquary stupa hall, which was initiated by the first Gyalse Lama.
Inside the hall are three exquisitely crafted relic stupas, over two meters high, made by famous Kham-area painters and artisans.
The central stupa enshrines the relics of the first Drubpa Lama, Rigzin Trodue Barwa Dorje, and is embedded with a statue of the deity “Heruka,” showcasing a vivid and primitive artistic style, making it a rare treasure.
To the left is the stupa of Gyalse Lama, which contains gold coins gifted by the King of Bhutan, along with jewels and Buddha statues donated by monks from India and Nepal. The stupa has five tiers adorned with 146 gems, including jade, pearls, agate, coral, and nine-eyed beads, creating a dazzling and colorful display of beauty.
To the right is the stupa of Drubpa Lama’s chief disciple, the famous Qinghai-Tibet artist Bama Lodro, whose mummified body was preserved and restored after death. His likeness remains identical to how he appeared in life. Two large gems, the size of eggs—one purple-red and the other emerald green—hang on his headdress, shining brilliantly.
Relic Room
To the right rear of the main hall is the relic room, about 24 square meters in size.
The room houses over 240 gilded bronze Buddha statues, the most notable being a carved sandalwood statue of the dakini protector owned by the 7th-century Indian master Langrapa, and a gilded statue of the Buddha Mother gifted by the Tibetan lama Socha, inlaid with 53 gemstones.
There is also a crystal reliquary stupa, a rare treasure brought from India.
Additionally, the room contains the “Seven Collections of the Heart Essence,” the world’s only surviving Tibetan texts for studying the Heart Essence teachings of Buddhism.
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