Kye Monastery
Location
Kye Monastery is situated 12 kms from Kaza, in Spiti valley of Himachal
Pradesh.
The Buddhist Pilgrimage
Kye (Ki) Monastery in Spiti valley is another magnificient monument in
Himachal Pradesh. The structure is so huge, that it looks more like a
fort, than a monastery. The construction of this monastery does not look
very orderly, rather it seems that in successive time, many temples have
been added on top of the existing one. It has been a major centre of
Buddhist learning and pilgimage. Kye houses beautiful scriptures and
paintings of Budha and other gods and goddesses. The monastery is also a
centre for religious teachings to Lamas (the Tibetan Monks). One can
find Lamas practice, dance, sing and play on pipes and horns. It has a
cloocetion of ancient murals and books of high aesthetic value. This
monastery is a perfect example of the monastic architecture. Kye
monastery was attacked by the Mongols during 17th century, and suffered
3 more attacks in 19th century. The successive trails of destruction and
patch-up jobs have resulted in a haphazard growth of box-like
structures, and thus complex now resembles a defensive fort.
The Millenium Celebration
The 1000 years old Kye monastery is another millenium years old
monastery, after Tabo monastery. Kye monastery dates back to 1000 AD,
and a celebration of its millenium years was conducted in 2000. The
celebrations witnesses 'His Holiness Dalai Lama', alongwith more than
15,000 Buddhist devotees from all parts of the globe. Buddhist regards
1000 years as Kalachakra or the 'Wheel of Time'. Kalchakra is a
religious celebration performed by the Dalai Lama every year. It is
considered the most revered and secret spiritual practice of trans
Himalayan Buddhism for the Moksha (salvation) of all mankind. On a
monastery's millennium year, the Kalachakra ceremony was considered all
the more auspicious.
Interior Design
The design of Monastery is not symmetrical one. Continous attacks and
rebuilding lead to an uneven design pattern. The monastery looks like a
fort, where temples are built on top of one another. The walls of
monastery are covered by paintings and Murals. This monastery is an
outstanding example of the monastic architecture, which developed during
the 14th century in the wake of the Chinese influence. The monastery
enshrines Buddha images and idols, in the position of Dhyana.
Reaching Kye Monastery
Kye Monastery is 12 kms from Kaza town, in Spiti Valley. One has to
travel 210 kms from Manali to Kaza, from where a dirt track road on
north leads to Kye Monastery.
