Explore famous temples in Arunachal Pradesh

Arunachal Pradesh is a state of India located in the country’s northeastern region. The word ‘Arunachal Pradesh’ means “land of the rising sun”. China lies to its north by China, while Assam and Nagaland are to its south. Bhutan and Myanmar border Arunachal Pradesh on the west and east, respectively. 

The capital of the state is Itanagar. The state has some famous temples which attract thousands of Hindu devotees and tourists each year. 

The state also houses some famous monasteries and nunneries. The largest monastery in India, the Tawang monastery, is located here.

Monasteries

Let us look at the famous monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh.

Tawang Monastery

This monastery is the second largest in the world. It is named so because it was built near the town of Tawang, located in northwestern Arunachal Pradesh. This monastery belongs to the Mahayana sect of Buddhism.

The monastery was built in 1680-81 by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso. It was built according to the wishes of Lama Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso, the 5th Dalai lama. Tibetans call the monastery Galden Namgey Lhatse.

It has a height of three stories and has a compound wall that is 925 feet long. The monastery houses valuable scriptures such as Kangyur and Tengyur. It also has a golden 9.3 metres high statue of Lord Buddha.

GRL Gompa Monastery

GRL monastery is an acronym for Gontse Gaden Rabgye Lling monastery. This monastery is home to monks and Buddhist lamas. It is situated in Bomdila at 8500 feet above sea level. This monastery is an important centre of the Lamaistic faith.

It was built in 1965-66 by Tsona Gontse Riponche. The Gompa has three parts: upper, lower and middle. The main monastery is in the upper Gompa. The main monastery comprises a prayer hall, a school for the children of monks, and a Buddha temple.

Urgelling Monastery

The Urgelling Monastery in Arunachal Pradesh is situated 5km south of Tawang. It is also the birthplace of the sixth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Gyamtso. The Himalayas and the Tawang-Chu valley surround the monastery. 

Urgen Sangpo built the monastery around 1489. It is home to Buddhist lamas and monks.

Gorsam Chorten

This site is a stupa located in Gorsam, near Zemithang. It is the largest stupa in the area, about 100km north of Tawang. 

It was built in the early eighteenth century by Lama Pradhar, a Monpa monk. The structure comprises a hemispherical dome placed upon three-terraced plinths.

Taktsang Gompa

This monastery is 50 km away from Tawang. It stands at an altitude of about 12500-13000ft above sea level. It is one of the holiest shrines of the Buddhists in Arunachal Pradesh. The place is important because Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated here. 

Guru Padmasambhava was a missionary who spread Buddhism in Tibet. According to the legends, he was a miracle-maker and an incarnation of Amitabha Buddha and Gautama Buddha.

Rigyaling Gompa

This monastery is about 1 km from Tawang. Former Rigya Rinpoche built this monastery, after whose death the secretary, Changsey, became the incharge of the Gompa. 

Temples

There are two famous temples in this state.

Parasuram Kund temple

The Parasuram Kund temple is a Hindu pilgrimage site. It is situated in the lower region of the Lohit River, in the Lohit district. Lord Parasuram washed off his sins in these waters, and hence, the temple is named so. Legends say that Lord Krishna married Rukmini here and Maharishi Vyasa meditated here.

The site is visited by thousands of devotees each year, including people from the neighbouring country of Nepal. On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, over 70,000 devotees take a dip in the holy water, as a dip in this water washes off sins.

Akashganaga or Malinithan temple

This temple is located in the West Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Durga and is a pilgrim spot for Hindu devotees. The temple exhibits Odisha-style architecture.

According to the legends, when Sati, the wife of Shiva, died, the lord wandered with her dead body. Lord Vishnu then cut her lifeless body into pieces with his ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ to bring Lord Shiva out of his attachment to the dead body. One piece of the body is said to have fallen on a spot, now known as Akashi Ganga.

Nunneries

There are also nunneries in Arunachal Pradesh.

Brama Bung Chung Ani Gompa

This Gompa is situated in the Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh. It is a house for Buddhist nuns. This is the oldest nunnery in the Tawang district. It is situated on the mountain, 9 km away from the main town. 

It was built in 1595 CE by Karchen Yeshi Gelek, a lama, from the Tsang province of Tibet. 

Gyangong Ani Gompa

This Gompa is situated 5km away from Tawang, towards the north. Mera Lam Lodre Gyamtso built it. This Gompa falls under the administration of the Tawang Monastery, which also supplies it with provisions.

Singsur Ani Gompa

This Gompa is situated 28km away from Tawang, towards the west. There is a new Singsur Ani Goma and an old Singsur Ani Gompa. The new Gompa was built in 1960 by the previous Rev Gonpatse Rinpoche.

Conclusion

Arunachal Pradesh is an Indian state that lies in the northeast. It is home to several Hindu temples, monasteries, and nunneries. This article discusses some famous temples, nunneries, and monasteries in Arunachal Pradesh.