Ride to Thiksay Monastery

Ride to Thiksay Monastery

A public transport ride to Thiksay monastery came with a halt at Choglamsar. From Choglamsar it was another 30 minutes before one could reach Thiksay. The signboard " Welcome to Thiksay Gompa Thiksay" greets you. There are 492 steps to ascend (+/- 15 steps). And the descend involves 502 steps at least.

Inside Thiksay Monastery it was Prayer Time around 3 in the afternoon, with monks from as little as 10 to those over 60 all dedicated to the prayer rituals. As one proceeds inside from left are

- Sangye Serzangtimet
Medicine Buddha,  renowned glorious king of excellent signs.
- Sangye Rinchen Dana
Medicine Buddha. king of melodious sound brilliant radiant skill. Adorned with jewels.

- Sangye Tsanleg Yongtapal
Medicine Buddha. Stainless excellent gold great jewel who accomplishes all vows. 

- Sharipu
- Shakyamuni Buddha

- Mongalpu
  Sangye Nya Nyan Mat Chokpal La Na Mo 
  Medicine Buddha Supreme Glory. Free from sorrow

- Sangye Nyon Khen Galpo 
   Medicine Buddha Delightful King of clear knowing

- Sangye Chostak Gatso
- Sangye Manpe Galpo

On right side of entrance to gold coated Lord Buddha are
- Guhyasamaja: Belonging to Vajra family of highest Yoga Tantra. Develops qualities which transmute anger.

- Cakrasamvara : Belongs to the mother tantra of the highest yoga. Subdues the power of ego through          transmutation of passion.
- Vajrabhaivava: the most wrathful form of Manjusri. His anger is so great that it may consume even            himself. He is the nature of emptiness expressed in the form of extreme rage.

After the prayer hall as you descend 2-3 steps to enter there is the statue of gold coated Lord Buddha flanked by three idols on left and one idol on right. Idol of Shakyamuni Buddha .
On left Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) Tsong Khapa Founder of Gelugpa order of Tibetan Buddhism
On right Manjusri Wisdom Buddha




Entrance to the Prayer Hall has four cardinal directions lokpalas 
On entrance to the prayer hall is written the guardians of the four cardinal directions lokpalas

The four cardinal kings reside in the four places in the four directions of Mount Meru.
Yulkhor Sung, who is white in colour & resides in the East, plays a guitar because he rules over the realm that lies on melodious music.
Phah-Skespo is blue in colour &  resides in the South with a drawn sound that shows him as defender of faith.
Chanme-Zang,  red in colour resides in the West, carrying a stupa in his right hand and holding a snake in his left hand.
Nathos-Ses who is yellow im colour resides in the North with a mongoose in his left hand which keeps pouring gems out of his mouth and has a victory banner in his right hand causing showers of wealth to fall merely by shaking it.
It is said that the kings generated their altruistic minds & performed religous services for the Buddha determined to reside in the four directions of Mount Meru for the sake of protecting and preserving the Buddhadharma by taking the form of heavenly protectors.

After coming out of entrance there is
- way to Lamokhang and  old library
- way to Gonkhang


As one descends few steps to ascend again there is a gold coated Maitri Buddha in another room. It is of the same size as that of Shey Palace with offerings of cash, incense sticks, fruits and biscuits in abundance.

There is Thiksay cultural and welfare society (entrance fees).
The visit to Thiksay Monastery coincided with a prayer time and time spent here could well disclose that it is one among three big monastries in the region. 
As one steps out and moves to the road on a board is mentioned water supply scheme Thiksay & Ranbirpur (lift scheme) suggesting the water options the area has to content with.