GANGTOK, July 31: Monks and devotees including students from different schools in and around Gangtok took out a huge procession in the streets of Gangtok early this morning amid the chanting of ‘Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hung Rhi’ marking the birth anniversary of the patron saint of Sikkim.The devotees also carried a newly sculpted life size statue of Guru Padmasambhava from Chorten Gonpa in a solemn procession.During a brief halt at the White Memorial Hall premise here, the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling along with other dignitaries offered khadas and prayers on the statue of Guru Rinpoche.Organised by Guru Trungkar Tsechu Committee and Sikkim Buddhist Duechen Organization, the procession started at 9 am from Chorten Gonpa, Deorali and took a round of the National Highway before departing to the monastery.Guru Padmasambhava is adored in Sikkim as the patron saint and is referred as Guru Rinpoche, the precious one.
He is the founder of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet and the source of the Terma tradition of the Nyingmapa. He is also regarded as the second Buddha as rays of letter ‘hrhi’ descended from the heart of Buddha Amitabha into the north-western land of Oddiyana and onto the Dhanakosha Lake from which Guru Rinpoche was born in a lotus flower. Guru Rinpoche turned the wheel of sacred Vajrayana teachings. The Dakinis called out to him from their hearts forming the Vajra Guru Mantra – Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hung (I invoke you, the Vajra Guru Padmasambhava, by your blessings may you grant us ordinary and supreme spiritual fulfilment).Followers believe that he is still in the same body in Zangdogpalri, a manifested pure land in the center of the Camara sub-continent, and that he can be seen by realized people.The Guru Rinpoche Trungkar Tsechu was also celebrated at Mangan by the monks of Ringhem monastery and local devotees. Devotees lugged sacred Buddhist texts on their shoulders and made a parikrama from Ringhem to Mangan bazaar via Pentok.
GANGTOK, July 31: Monks and devotees including students from different schools in and around Gangtok took out a huge procession in the streets of Gangtok early this morning amid the chanting of ‘Om Ah Hung Vajra Guru Padma Siddhi Hung Rhi’ marking the birth anniversary of the patron saint of Sikkim.The devotees also carried a newly sculpted life size statue of Guru Padmasambhava from Chorten Gonpa in a solemn procession.During a brief halt at the White Memorial Hall premise here, the Chief Minister Pawan Chamling along with other dignitaries offered khadas and prayers on the statue of Guru Rinpoche.Organised by Guru Trungkar Tsechu Committee and Sikkim Buddhist Duechen Organization, the procession started at 9 am from Chorten Gonpa, Deorali and took a round of the National Highway before departing to the monastery.Guru Padmasambhava is adored in Sikkim as the patron saint and is referred as Guru Rinpoche, the precious one. 