Celebration of Tsongkhapa Day in Tibet

[icy]

A resident lights butter lamps nearby the Jokhang Temple on Friday night in Lhasa, capital of Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region. (Photo by Palden Nyima/chinadaily.com.cn)

BEIJING, Dec. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Butter lamps twinkled like stars, and the scent of burning juniper branches filled the evening air in Lhasa Friday as the annual Gadan Ngachod - Butter Lamp Festival - kicked off in the plateau city.

Like most of their fellow Tibetans in Lhasa, Karma Sonam and his family closed their restaurant early this day to get ready to pay tribute to the butter lamps around the ancient Barkhor Bazaar later that evening.

“My family came to the Barkhor Bazaar to worship the displayed butter lamps. I want to commemorate the great miracles of the second Buddha Je Tsongkhapa,” he said.

Among the most popular occasions in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, the one-day festival is always held on the 25th of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar.

According to Lukyab Tsering, a researcher at the China Tibetology Researcher Center, the festival dates back to the 15th century, when residents would light butter lamps in honor of nirvana or the enlightenment day of the Gelukpa school founder of Tibetan Buddhism - Je Tsongkhapa.

“Je Tsongkhapa is believed by Tibetan Buddhists to be the second Buddha,” he said.

The religious festival has become a particular favorite of monasteries of the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.

Key Gelukpa monasteries, such as Gadan, Sera, Drepung and Tashilunpo in the Tibet autonomous region, Kumbum monastery in Qinghai province and Labrang monastery in Gansu province all celebrated this festival on the same day.

The Jokhang Temple in Lhasa is a key pilgrimage center, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered in prayer to commemorate Je Tsongkhapa.

“Activities during the festival include religious gatherings, blowing holly horns, lighting butter lamps, burning juniper branches and circumnambulating the temples or monasteries,” said Damchos Yontan, 40, a monk from the Kumbum Monastery.

Tibetans believe that starting from this day, everyone becomes one year older, according to residents in Lhasa.

Butter sales were brisk with the arrival of the festival in Lhasa, and butter businesswoman Dekyi Drolma was an example.

“My business boomed,” she said, adding that she is glad her butter shop is located near the Potala Palace, where many pilgrims pass through.

(Source: Chinadaily.com.cn)

[metta girl]

This is a very special day also known as the Butterlamp Festival.. Everyone should offer lots of candles or butterlamps to dedicate to their family and friends.It is believed that every good deed one does on this auspicious day  multiplies by a million fold. I sincerely wish that all sentient beings  be happy and liberated from sufferings and  achieve enlightenment.

[maricisun]

Celebrating Tsongkhapa Day is a worldwide affair. It is also a grand day on that day as it is also a celebration of the Enlightened being Je Tsongkhapa who is also the 2nd Buddha.
Offerings of candles is to gain merits and also to cut of our ignorant and to gain Wisdom as well.

[kris]

I had the fortune to see with my own eyes how Gaden monastery celebrate Lama Tsongkhapa Day a few years ago. It is indeed a huge celebration. During the night time, it is like a huge carnival and many monks are in the monastery, holding candles, singing mitsegma (Lama Tsongkhapa's mantra), doing circumabulation, making candle offerings, prayer halls are all open for everyone to make offerings. I also spotted a few icecream sellers

I wish one day Lama Tsongkhapa Day will be celebrated in BIG scale in the entire whole..

[Jessie Fong]

Statue of Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelugpa school, on the altar in his temple (his birthplace) in Kumbum Monastery, near Xining, Amdo), Tibet.


Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), is also known by his ordained name Lobsang Drakpa or simply as Je Rinpoche.  His name also means "The Man from the Onion Valley".

It is said that he performed millions of prostrations, mandala offerings and other purification practices.
Buddha Shakyamuni also spoke of his coming:

After I pass away
And my pure doctrine is absent,
You will appear as an ordinary being,
Performing the deeds of a Buddha
And establishing the Joyful Land, the great Protector,
In the Land of the Snows.

[Tenzin Malgyur]

Tsongkhapa Day is such a grand occasion for many Buddhist all over the world. From East Tibet where Tsongkhapa was born, his teachings have flourished and spread to all corners of the world. It is no surprise that such a grand celebration is held every year to remember Tsongkhapa's teachings and kindness to all beings.
It is stated in the article, "The religious festival has become a particular favorite of monasteries of the Gelukpa school of Tibetan Buddhism." This is due to the fact that Tsongkhapa is the founder of the Gelugpa school of Buddhism. Did you also know that Dorje Shugden arosed to protect Lama Tsongkhapa's teachings?

[RedLantern]

Just as many people often use lots of lights during Christmas and at marriages,we too should use lots of lights on Lama Tsongkapa day on special days of Buddha and other auspicious days especially if we are not able to offer them everyday.
We should create the causes of Enlightenment by offering lights to Lama Tsongkapa,the merit field and so forth.The Tibetans commonly celebrate Lama Tsongkapa day by putting out many light offerings.It is believed that doing meritorious activities in this day increases in magnitude.

[rossoneri]

Wish I day I can be there myself on that very Day to celebrate the day of his enlightenment. Being consider by many as the second Buddha, in Tibetan Buddhism. He was the lama who taught us the middle way because being a Buddha himself he foresee in the generations to come, we will not bE able to understand the teachings of Nagajrna. If not because of his compassion, there will not be any more proper schools of Buddhism now. Not because of the teachings of Nagajurna was bad but it is our degenerated mind which is drifting further and further away for the teachings of Nagajurna which is very hard for us to understand now. So without Tsongkhapa we won't be here typing and sharing this.

[icy]

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have gathered in front of a temple chanting scriptures. And with thousands of butter lamps lit up, the pilgrims prayed for health, happiness and prosperity.

The entire monastery has been bathed in festivity, from the rich smell of butter to the flickering lights. This traditional festival is held on the 25th day of the 10th month of the Tibetan calendar.

[Freyr Aesiragnorak]

This is a fantastic day to celebrate the enlightenment of the Second Buddha and the founder of the Gelug lineage. He did so many great deeds during his life, no more so than the restoration of monastic discipline, correcting prevalent ideas about the connection between sutra and tantra and lest we forget - the penmanship of Lam Rim Chenmo. No wonder that this day is celebrated in such an auspicious manner.

[diablo1974]

More photos ... Rejoice on this Holy day!!

[eyesoftara]

Looks like China is really living up to its word of not banning religious practice; so as long the people recognize Tibet as part of China. I rejoice that people in Tibet, and China itself celebrate Tsongkhapa day in such a glorious way. Looks like Christmas, Buddhism version.  . Slowly but surely, Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism is taking a foothold in China. This will great benefit the people and countless beings in China when China is becoming the most powerful nation on Earth.

[Tenzin K]

Lama Tsongkhapa’s Annual celebration of his enlightenment falls on the 25th instance of the 10th lunar month of the Tibetan calendar. Therefore the day is also referred to as “Nga choed” in Tibetan which means the “Offering Practices of the 5th”, the “5th” deriving from “25th”.

From the spiritual practice point of view, Tsongkhapa Day is extremely significant. Since Guru Yoga practice is the heart and soul of path towards enlightenment, the celebration acts as a reminder for all of us to engage in Guru devotion and seek the blessings of all the direct and lineage masters. On this day devotees (both lay people and monks) make expensive offerings and engage in Guru puja practices. The fundmental reason is that there are no holier objects of worship and offering than the Guru/Gurus when it comes to accumulation of merit! In the great monasteries of Sera, Gaden, and Drepung, the monks make extensive offerings of lamps and then engage in Guru Pjua Tsog practice.

On the 24th instance of the 10th Tibetan Lunar month, the day just before the Lama Tsongkhapa Day, another important celebration takes place: the celebration of the parinirvana of Jamchen Choeje, one of Tsongkhapa’s foremost disciples and the founder of Sera Monastery. The Day is usually known among the Tibetans as “Dzi choed” or the “offering practices of the 4th” as it is celebrated on the “24th” instance of the month. When Tsongkhapa was invited to China by the Chinese emperor, he sent his disciple Jamchen Choeje as his representative.

In Tibet, both of these Days are celebrated with great joy, devotion and offerings. In India, however, the Parinirvana of Jamchen Choeje tends to be less and less emphasized.

[cookie]

The coming of Lama Tsongkhapa in the 14th century was predicted and very timely as Buddhism especially in Tibet was degenerating very badly. HIS teachings and practices are very suited to the new generation of people who have very little or simply no priority placed on spiritual practices. His coming cleared up many degenerated and poor practices . Lama Tsongkhapa is an emanation of 3 great Buddhas of Manjushri, Avalokiteshvara and Vajrapani. It is a simple but powerful practice. Hence, the celebration of Lama Tsongkhapa should be big and great given all the plus points HE has contributed to all sentient beings. It will get greater in due time too !

[OMB]

Lama Tsongkhapa Day is not only celebrated in Tibet but throughout the Buddhist world to remember the immense kindness of this great Master.  By faithfully relying upon Je Tsongkhapa, our compassion, wisdom, and spiritual power increase naturally because Je Tsongkhapa is the emanation of Avalokiteshvara, Vajrapani and Manjushri.