Mundgod, Karnataka, India - Today, His Holiness the Dalai Lama attended the Ganden Ngamchö ceremony marking the parinirvana of Jé Tsongkhapa at Drepung Monastery at the request of the entire Gelug tradition. On this auspicious occasion, the Gelugpa Buddhist Cultural Society presented His Holiness with a commemorative award in honour of the 51st anniversary of his being formally awarded the degree of Geshé Lharampa.
Once His Holiness was seated on the throne, the Ganden Tripa offered him a ceremonial khata — silk scarf. The chant master recited Tsongkhapa’s ‘In Praise of Dependent Origination,’ following which tea and fruit were served. Next, the Tsari Tsog Offering — the Ganachakra Offering according to the Sutra tradition — was made, after which the Ganden Tripa, Jangtsé Chöjé, and Sharpa Chöjé offered the Thirty-Seven Heaped Mandala Offering. Tea and ceremonial sweet rice were then distributed.
Geshé Jangchub Sangyé, Abbot of Ganden Shartsé Monastery, read out a written explanation of the purpose of the commemorative award being given to His Holiness on behalf of all members of the Gelugpa tradition. He mentioned that as His Holiness celebrates his 90th year millions of devotees around the world are observing this auspicious milestone. Accordingly, the Gelugpa Buddhist Cultural Society was requested to organize a special event.
In this Year of Compassion, which includes the 66th anniversary of the holding of his Lharampa Geshé examination in Lhasa in 1959, the 51st anniversary of the formal presentation of his Lharampa Geshé degree in 1974, and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Central Board Examination of Gelugpa Universities in India in 1975, His Holiness presided over this grand celebration of the Ganden Ngamchö. On this occasion, a newly crafted Lharampa Geshé Award, made of gold and silver on behalf of the Lhadhan Chötrul Monlam Chenmo Trust and the Gelugpa Buddhist Cultural Society, was respectfully presented to His Holiness in gratitude and reverence by the Ganden Tripa, Jangtsé Chöjé, and Sharpa Chöjé.
This was followed by the recitation of a Praise to Jé Tsongkhapa, ‘On the Peak of the Eastern Snow Mountain’ composed by the First Dalai Lama, Gendun Drupa, and 'The Song of Immortality - The Extensive Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama' composed by his two tutors. Next came ‘The Prayer for the Flourishing of Tsongkhapa’s Tradition’, ‘The Prayer of the Words of Truth’ and ‘The Aspiration for the Stages of the Path’ by Jé Tsongkhapa.
As the ceremony came to a conclusion, the Mig-tse-ma prayer was sung and the Ganden Tripa, Jangtsé Chöjé, Sharpa Chöjé, and the abbots of Drepung Gomang and Drepung Loseling Monasteries, with incense and khatas in their hands, led a procession respectfully escorting His Holiness to his private quarters.
Among the Lamas who took part in this ceremony were the Ganden Tripa, Lobsang Dorjé; the Jangtsé Chöjé, Sharpa Chöjé; the Drepung Tripa and two former Drepung Tripas; the Abbots of Drepung Gomang and Drepung Loseling; Kundeling Rinpoché; Changkya Rinpoché; Ling Rinpoché; and the Abbots of Sera Je, Ganden Shartse and Jangtse, Gyumé, Tashi Lhunpo, Ségyud, Namgyal, and Ratö monasteries, along with many other serving and retired Abbots. They were joined by more than 10,000 monks, local community leaders, Tibetans from five settlements in South India, as well as devotees from the Himalayan regions and Bhutan.
