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It is to these deities that prayers are
offered, in fact it is believed by some that these all-powerful
gods never fail to grant the wishes of their devotees, at the same
time negligence shown towards them can arouse their wrath.
Legend has it that Khangchendzonga, Yabdean and
Mahakaal were spirits tamed by Guru Padmasambhava, and thence
their benign vigilance over the surroundings.
The monastery itself is about a hundred and
sixty years old, built on a site blessed by the Lama Druptab Karpo.
It is believed that this tantric adept, famous for his powers of
flying, had flown from Maenam hill in south Sikkim to the hill top
near Gangtok - where the monastery was later built somewhere
around 1840, during the reign of the Chogyal Sidkeong Tulku.
The monastery belongs to the Nyingmapa order of
the Vajrayana school of Buddhism. Enchey holds its annual
celebration during the 18th to 19th day of the 12th month of the
Tibetan calendar-a month corresponding with the month of January.
It is during this time that the annual monk dance, Thamar Chaam,
is performed here. A lesser known, but much grander Singhe Chaam
is performed once every three years at the monastery.
The monastery is also important in the
observance of the festival of Pang Lhabsol, as this festival marks
the swearing of blood-brotherhood between the Bhutias and Lepchas
which had Khangchendzonga as a witness.
The three Gods worshiped here are Buddha, Loki Sharia, and Guru
Padmasambhava.
- by
Parveen Kaur
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