Do Drul Chorten

 

Do Drul Chorten is a stupa in Gangtok in the Indian state of Sikkim. The stupa was built by Trulshik Rinpoche, head of the Nyingma order of Tibetan Buddhism in 1945.

The deity enshrined on top of the chorten stupa is known as Dorjee Phurpa or Vajra Kilaya. This chorten is regarded as one of the most important chortens of Sikkim. The Chorten Stupa is marked by a golden top dome. This golden top can be seen from various places in Gangtok.  Inside this stupa, there are complete mandala sets of Dorjee Phurba (Bajra Kilaya), a set of Kangyur relics (Holy Books), complete ‘Zung'(mantras) and other religious objects.

The stupa is surrounded by 108 prayer wheels all of which have mantras inscribed on them in Tibetan. These prayer wheels are turned by the devout Buddhist while chanting “Hail to the jewel in the Lotus”, to invoke the Buddhisattva. The Chorten is surrounded by Chorten Lakhang, where there are two huge statues of Guru Rimpoche (Guru Padmasambhava).

It is believed that this entire place was once haunted by evil spirits and many people who wandered around this place became victims and died. Later a very respected and celebrated lama of Tibet Trulshig Rinpoche who followed Nyingma Order of Buddhism came to this place for hermitage. He built this stupa in 1946 to drive away the spirits.

There are several other small stupas around the main one. One of them is Jhang Chup Chorten which was built in memory of Trulshig Rinpoche after his death.

Following demise of Trulshig Rinpoche, another celebrated lama Dodhrubchen Rinpoche came here and established his dharma preaching center in the same premises. The building can accommodate about 700 monks.

Source:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do-drul_Chorten

http://www.sikkimstdc.com/GeneralPages/Details/Do-Drul-Chorten/75/Details.aspx

https://www.darjeeling-tourism.com/darj_00010c.htm

http://www.rajeevshankar.com/2009/04/

 

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