Stakna Monastery
Ladakh's landscape offers spectacular sites for Gompas. Located on hilltops or near the River Indus, in the valleys and the mountain tops you can at times find maroon clad monks making their way towards the monasteries. Located about 25 kms from the Leh town, on a hilltop resembling the nose of the tiger, Stakna Monastery is situated. Stakna literally means 'tiger's nose'. Stakna Monastery was founded by Chosje Jamyang Palkar.
Stakna Monastery belongs to the Dugpa order and about 30 monks stay in the monastery. The central image of the gompa is that of the sacred Arya Avalokitesvara. The officials at the monastery are successive reincarnations of the Stakna Tulku who preserve the teachings of the Dugpa order. Other monasteries namely Mud, Kharu, Bardan and Sani in Zanskar are attached to Stakna Monastery.
The main assembly hall, the Dukhang has a seven feet high, chorten made of silver. A statue of Buddha as well as several Buddhist texts is found here. The left wall is adorned with three paintings of Tsephakmad (a Buddhist deity), Sakyamni (the Historical Buddha) and Amchi (the Medical Buddha).
| Jammu Kashmir Tour |
The wall opposite to the entrance of the Assembly Hall is painted with three images, those of a Bodhisattva, Padma Sambhava and Tshong-san-gompo. Statues of Sakyamuni (Past Buddha), the Present Buddha and Maitreya (Future Buddha) are also found in the hall. Like other gompas, Stakna also has a throne for the head lama of the monastery.
Stakna Monastery offers you a glimpse of the importance of Buddhism in Ladakh. Indianholiday offers you the facility to book tours to Stakana Monastery well ahead in advance.
