Taktsang Lhamo Setri Monastery

Taktsang Lhamo or “Langmusi” as it is now known in Chinese is a small village located at the border of Gansu and Sichuan in the Amdo region of Tibet. With only 4,000 residents, the town is located in a beautiful peaceful valley surrounded by alpine forests and mountains.

Setri Monastery and the surrounding town of Taktsang Lhamo

Taktsang Lhamo Setri Monastery, also known as the Golden Throne, is the smaller of the two monasteries in the area. It is located high in the mountains on the Gansu side of the village and is home to around 350 monks. Founded by the 53^rd Gaden Setri Gyaltsen Sengge of Gaden Monastery in 1748, the monastery is from the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Buddhism and is one of the earliest monasteries to enshrine Dorje Shugden as their Dharma Protector.

Taktsang Lhamo Setri Monastery

Dorje Shugden riding on a horse

Within Setri Monastery’s main prayer hall is a huge statue of Dorje Shugden riding a black horse, a form commonly depicted as one of Sakya’s Gyalpo Sum. The statue was commissioned by the 2^nd Gyalthang Rinpoche, the traditional throneholder of Setri Monastery. Today, the presence of this blessed statue represents 200 years of historical significance for the establishment and acceptance of Dorje Shugden’s practice in great monasteries such as Setri.

Over the decades, from the time the monastery was built in the 18^th Century, five different colleges were established within the monastery, focusing on debate, Tantra, the specific study of Kalachakra Tantra, Tibetan medicine and Sutra woodblock printing. As the monastery’s works to spread the Buddhadharma grew, so did its reputation and eventually it became home to 1,000 monks at its peak.

The famed golden roofs of Taktsang Lhamo Setri Monastery

During the Cultural Revolution, like most monasteries, Setri Monastery too suffered major damage and most of its original structure which held great historical significance such as the prayer hall and stupas were destroyed. The monastery was later reconstructed in 1980.

The monastery is a favourite with pilgrims

Today, Taktsang Lhamo is a popular place for pilgrims. During the Tibetan New Year (Losar) and other important festivals throughout the year, many pilgrims can be found making their way to the town. Often, the physically-able pilgrims make three full length prostrations on the ground with every three steps taken, while journeying to all the monasteries in the area. This journey can take them several weeks or even months to complete. It is truly a joy to see these monasteries continue to gain support.

Another view of Taktsang Lhamo Setri Monastery