Wednesday, October 9, 2024
This morning we visited the Jokhang Temple, the most revered temple in Tibet.
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Typical buildings in Lhasa with balconies,
and topped with the flag of
the People's Republic of China |
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| Lamp post in Bharkor Square |
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We had to go through security screening to
enter Bharkor Square, with its police presence (KSS) |
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Tibetan woman probably from the colder
north because of the fur lining, and
she has only one arm in the sleeve of
her robe due to the warmer weather here |
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Two prayer poles and one seen of two incense burners
stand in front of the central entrance of Jokhang Temple
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Directly in front of the temple, pilgrims have tea,
or engage in prostrations |
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The older man can only get to his knees then stand up;
the younger man has pads under his hands so they can
slide as he stretches flat in prone; the goal is 108 times |
Jokhang Temple (founded ~639-647) was built to house the image of Mikyöba/Akshobhya (aka Jowo Mikyö Dorje), the dowry of the Nepali wife, Bhrikuti, of king Songtsen Gampo. The king also built Ramoche Temple to house the image of Jowo Sakyamuni from his Chinese wife, Wencheng, but the image was moved to Jokhang Temple after his death, while the image of Jowo Mikyö Dorje was moved to the Ramoche Temple.
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One of Four Guardian or Heavenly Kings:
Dhṛtarāṣṭra is king of the east and god
of music, with the symbolic weapon
of a pipa/stringed instrument |
The other Guardian Kings are: Vaiśravaṇa is king of the north and god of rain (weapon is an umbrella or pagoda), Virūḍhaka is king of the south and god of the wind (weapon is a sword), and Virūpākṣa is king of the west and he sees all (weapon is a snake or red cord symbolic of a dragon).
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A view up to the quarters of the Dalai Lama, where he can
observe festival events, dances, etc |
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The open courtyard served as the main assembly hall,
with murals and... |
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| ... the throne of the Dalai Lama |
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| Offerings of fruit |
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| Mural of Shakyamuni Buddha |
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Prayer wheels, each containing
a different Buddhist scripture |
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| Ceiling paintings (KSS) |
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| Jokhang Temple mural (KSS) |
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Vajra knot (symbol of protection, wisdom,
and unity) made of scarves |
No photography allowed inside the temple that had many chapels full of many statues, yak butter lamps, and offerings. We did see the sacred image of Jowo Sakyamuni at age 12.
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| Detail of woodwork on the third level of Jokhang Temple |
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The quarters of the Dalai Lama seen
from the second level |
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| Extra large cauldron from when the monks fed the pilgrims |
After lunch at a nearby restaurant, we were given 30 minutes of free time.
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| Woman in traditional dress |
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| Even the youngsters are wearing traditional dress |
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Prayer pole with scarves: who climbs
to the top to tie them? |
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Stele on the back of a turtle with terms
of the Sino-Tibetan treaty of 822 CE
setting the borders and mutual respect |
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Remains of an ancient willow tree said to be planted by
the Chinese wife, Wencheng, of King Songtsen Gampo,
and a stele erected in 1793 for victims of a smallpox epidemic |
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Buildings along the Bharkor Kora, the
pilgrimage route around Jokhang Temple,
with plenty of shopping opportunities;
pilgrimages always travel clockwise |
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| Giant incense burner and Mani Lhakhang/Chapel |
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The huge prayer wheel inside the chapel;
likewise, prayer wheels are turned clockwise |
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| Nangtse Shar/former city jail |
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| Tamiko turns the prayer wheels outside the chapel (KSS) |
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| Posing for photos in traditional dress (KSS) |
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| A prayer wheel and yak butter lamp |
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| More posing for photos |
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Oh my gosh, [old] people are doing prostrations
along the pilgrimage route |
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| Yellow Hat monks |
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