Himalayan Journals — Complete: Or, Notes of a Naturalist in Bengal, the Sikkim and Nepal Himalayas, the Khasia Mountains, etc.Hooker, Joseph Dalton
History
Himalayan Journals — Complete: Or, Notes of a Naturalist in Bengal, the Sikkim and Nepal Himalayas, the Khasia Mountains, etc.
Hooker, Joseph Dalton
Himalaya Mountains -- Description and travel; Natural history -- Himalaya Mountains
[119] The following account of the early war between the red and the
yellow-mitred Lamas was given me by Tchebu Lama:—For twenty-five
generations the red-cape (Dookpa or Ningma) prevailed in Tibet, when
they split into two sects, who contended for supreme power; the Lama
of Phado, who headed the dissenters, and adopted a yellow mitre, being
favoured by the Emperor of China, to whom reference was made. A
persecution of the red Lamas followed, who were caught by the
yellow-caps, and their mitres plunged into dyeing vats kept always
ready at the Lamaseries. The Dookpa, however, still held Teshoo
Loombo, and applied to the Sokpo (North Tibet) Lamas for aid, who
bringing horses and camels, easily prevailed over the Gelookpa or
yellow sect, but afterwards treacherously went over to them, and
joined them in an attack on Teshoo Loombo, which was plundered and
occupied by the Gelookpas. The Dookpa thereafter took refuge in Sikkim
and Bhotan, wbence the Bhotan Rajah became their spiritual chief under
the name of Dhurma Rajah, and is now the representative of that creed.
Goorucknath is still the Dookpa’s favourite spiritual deity of the
older creed, which is, however, no longer in the ascendant. The Dalai
Lama of Teshoo Loombo is a Gelookpa, as is the Rimbochay Lama, and the
Potala Lama of Lhassa, according to Tchebu Lama, but Turner (“Travels
in Tibet,” p. 315) says the contrary; the Gelookpa consider Sakya
Thoba (or Tsongkaba) alias Mahamouni, as their great avatar.
[120] Bhotan is generally known as the Dhurma country. See note, page
136.
The internal organisation of the different monastic establishments is
very simple. The head or Teshoo Lama[121] rules supreme; then come the
monks and various orders of priests, and then those who are candidates
for orders, and dependents, both lay-brothers and slaves: there are a
few nunneries in Sikkim, and the nuns are all relatives or connections
of the Rajah, his sister is amongst them. During the greater part of
the year, all lead a more or less idle life; the dependents being the
most occupied in carrying wood and water, cultivating the land, etc.
[121] I have been informed by letters from Dr. Campbell that the
Pemiongchi Lama is about to remove the religious capital of Sikkim to
Dorjiling, and build there a grand temple and monastery; this will be
attractive to visitors, and afford the means of extending our
knowledge of East Tibet.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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