Mundgod, Karnataka, India - This morning, as His Holiness the Dalai Lama drove sedately from Drepung Gomang Monastery to Drepung Lachi he smiled and waved at the hundreds of people who lined the road to greet him. Horns played to indicate his arrival, while in the Drepung Lachi Assembly Hall monks chanted the ‘Mik-tse-ma’ praise to Jé Tsongkhapa. Donning his Pandit’s hat, he walked up the middle of the hall, smiling and waving at the monks seated on either side. The Ganden Tripa, Spiritual Head of the Geluk tradition, stepped forward to welcome him. He took his seat on the throne.
As a ‘Praise to Jamyang Chöjé, Tashi Palden’, the founder of Drepung Monastery and so its first Throneholder, was chanted, the current Drepung Tripa (Drepung Throneholder), Togden Rinpoché, offered His Holiness a mandala and representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha.
Next, a poetic prayer by Tsongkhapa’s second principal disciple, Khedrup-jé, known as ‘Voice of Brahma’ (Palden Yönten), was recited. The work was composed at the request of Gyaltsab-jé’s learned disciples when he ascended to the Ganden Throne on the passing away of Jé Tsongkhapa. The Drepung Tripa then presented a statue of Jamyang Chöjé to His Holiness as a mark of gratitude from the entire Drepung monastic community. Ratö Monastery offered a Dharma Wheel, which was presented by the Abbot of Ratö and two former Abbots in recognition of His Holiness’s 90 years bringing benefit to the world through his altruistic activities.
Tea and ceremonial sweet rice were served.
Togden Rinpoché, the Drepung Tripa, read out an explanation of Drepung Monastery’s decision to declare His Holiness the Drepung Throneholder. He recalled that when founding Ganden Monastery, Jé Tsongkhapa unearthed a white conch. Sometime later he gave this conch to his disciple Jamyang Chöjé, Tashi Palden, asking him to found a monastery. Since then, Jamyang Chöjé’s throne has been occupied by a series of Drepung Abbots.
In 1959, His Holiness the Dalai Lama came into exile in India where he re-established the Tibetan monastic centres of learning and rekindled the teaching of the Buddha. His Holiness the Dalai Lama has stated that at the time Drepung Monastery was founded he was Jamyang Chöjé.
“We have made requests to His Holiness,” Togden Rinpoché continued, “to allow us to install him on the Golden Throne of Jamyang Chöjé. We thank His Holiness for accepting our request. We pray for his long life and that he hold us in his care for life after life until we become enlightened.”
Prayers for His Holiness’s long life commenced with an Invocation of the Sixteen Arhats or Elders, beings who the Buddha instructed to protect his teaching. The Drepung Tripa made a preliminary mandala offering following which the Ganden Tripa, Sharpa Chöjé, Bönpo Menri Trizin, the Abbots of Gomang and Loseling Monasteries, former Drepung Tripas, former Abbots of Loseling and Gomang, and some patrons approached His Holiness for his blessings.
Next, a ritual was conducted to bathe the enlightened ones, to dry them and provide them with clothes combined with a request that the Dharma may flourish and that those who uphold it may live long.
The Nechung Oracle entered the hall at a run, a sword in his right hand and a bow in his left. He offered His Holiness a mandala and the three representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha and addressed him affectionately. He then paid his respects to the images of the enlightened ones and spiritual masters at the back of the hall. He offered a silk scarf to the Drepung Tripa before taking a seat facing His Holiness.
He invited senior Lamas to join in prayers for His Holiness’s long life by offering vajras linked by multicoloured cords to His Holiness, to them, and to himself. Tsog was offered, of which His Holiness took and ate a token portion.
There were prayers for the flourishing of the Dharms, Jé Tsongkhapa’s tradition in particular. Next came a recitation of ‘Melody of the Nectar of Immortality’, a prayer for His Holiness’s long life by Jamyang Khyentsé Chökyi Lodro. Meanwhile, a procession of monks, nuns and patrons bearing offerings filed through the hall.
The Drepung Tripa read out a tribute to His Holiness and a formal request that he live long. There was an offering of a mandala, as well as representations of the body, speech and mind of the Buddha, a Long-Life vase, from which His Holiness took a drop of nectar, and a heap of Long-Life pills, one of which he ate. Next, trays bearing representations of the eight auspicious symbols, the seven royal emblems and the eight auspicious substances were offered to him.
'The Song of Immortality — The Extensive Prayer for the Long Life of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’ by his Two Tutors was recited. Patrons approached His Holiness for his blessing. The Sixteen Arhats were invoked once more.
As the ceremony came to an end a thanksgiving mandala was offered by the Abbot of Ratö Monastery and two former Abbots of Ratö in gratitude for His Holiness having accepted the request of the assembly that he live long for the benefit of the teachings and sentient beings.
Concluding prayers included a ‘Prayer to Amitayus’, the Seven Limbs from the ‘Samantabhadra Prayer’, the ‘King of Prayers’, the ‘Prayer of the Words of Truth, as well as many verses of auspiciousness.
After saluting the eminent Lamas seated around and before the throne His Holiness left the hall. Beyond the door he made a point of coming to the edge of the veranda and greeting the several thousand monks seated in the courtyard. From there he returned to the residence at Drepung Gomang where he’s staying.
