Sikkim architecture

8/20/2019 Sikkim architecture

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SIKKIM


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MONASTERIES

There are almost nearly two hundred monasteries or Gompas belonging to

either the Nyingmapa Sect or the Kargyupa Sect.

Rumtek monastery was started in the 11th century. It is the main

monastery of the Kargyupa Sect.

The Labrang monastery situated in north Sikkim is a much older

structure. It is endowed with a unique architectural style and is one of thepremier monasteries of Sikkim.

The Pemayangtse monastery of Sikkim is the second oldest and the most

important of all monastery. The monastery is a home to numerous

religious idols and other objects of worship, most of which are expensive

because of their antique value. A closed corridor and smaller shrines

surround the main shrine.


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TIBETAN ARCHITECTURE

Tibetan architecture is one of the most simple, colourful andsplendid form of art.

Its simplicity brings out the temperament and character of the livesand people of the place.

Tibetan Buddhist architecture, in the cultural regions of theTibetan people, has been highly influenced by China and India.

For example, the Buddhist prayer wheel, along with two dragons,can be seen on nearly every temple in Sikkim.

Many of the houses and monasteries are typically built on elevated,sunny sites facing the south.

Rocks, wood, cement and earth are the primary building materials.

Flat roofs are built to conserve heat and multiple windows areconstructed to let in the sunlight.

Due to frequent earthquakes, walls are usually sloped inward at 10degrees.


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The symbolic importance of the timber frame structure is reinforced by the use of numerology,

which is prevalent in Tibetan Buddhist teachings, in the design of the structure. Particularlysignificant is the number three, which represents the three levels of existence, according to

Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, as well as the triad of the Buddhist religious order:

the teacher (the Buddha), the teachings (the Dharma) and the religious community (the Sangha).

This proportional hierarchy appears in the construction of the columnsand capitals which support the

heavy timber floor beams and in the three levels of the temple. The column and capital are made up of

three wooden members, with the column supporting a capital made up of two pieces, of which the first

piece, called the shu-chung, supports the second and top piece, called the shu-chen.

In both the Tibetan temple and dwelling, these framing members are also richly decorated with

carved and painted motifs, giving them a special status within the iconography of Tibetan architecture.

TIBETAN ARCHITECTURE


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THE RICH COLOURS OF THE MUSEUMTIBETOLOGY

THE PRAYER TURBINES CALLEDMANÉ


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HAND-CARVED PILLAR OF TIBETOLOGY

RABDENTSE RUINS OF THE 17TH CENTURY


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TIBETAN FURNITURE

Furniture from Tibet has always been

quite rare. Except for the wealthy,

Tibetans used very little furniture in

their homes, and the population of Tibet

has always been so small that not much

was ever made.

Most of it was probably always found in

the monasteries, and of course most ofthese monasteries were destroyed by the

Chinese during the “Cultural Revolution”

along with huge amounts of furniture.

Made primarily from pine and other

Himalayan soft woods, it is noted morefor its sometimes lavishly painted surface

and/or carved decoration than for its

joinery.TRADITIONAL TIBETANFURNITURE


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TIBETAN MOTIFS & SYMBOLS

The eight Buddhist auspicious

symbols consist of – a parasol, pairof golden fish, the great treasure

vase, a lotus, the right turning

conch, the endless knot, the banner

of victory and the wheel of dharma.

The symbols differed betweendifferent groups, for example the

Jains and Newar Buddhists.

In Buddhism these symbols of good

fortune represent the offerings that

were made by the gods toShakyamuni Buddha immediately

after he attained enlightenment.

8 SYMBOLS OF GOODFORTUNE


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SRI-

YANTRA The Sri Chakra or Shri Yantra is formed by nineinterlocking triangles that surround and radiate out from

the bindu point, the junction point between the physical

universe and its unmanifest source.

It represents Sri Lakshmi, the goddess of abundance on

all levels, in abstract geometric form. It also represents

Tripura Sundari, “the beauty of the three worlds.” Four

of the triangles points upwards, representing Shiva or

the Masculine. Five of these triangles point downwards,

representing Shakti or the Feminine.

Thus the Sri Yantra also represents the union ofMasculine and Feminine Divine.

Together the nine triangles are interlaced in such a way

as to form 43 smaller triangles in a web symbolic of the

entire cosmos or a womb symbolic of creation.

This is surrounded by a lotus of eight petals, a lotus of

sixteen petals, and an earth square resembling a templewith four doors.

Sri-Yantra


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WOOD ART IN SIKKIM

MONASTERIES – WINDOWS,

DOORS AND PILLARS The design of the Buddhist

Monasteries in Sikkim is heavily

influenced by Tibetan designs and

bears a close similarity to the

visuals seen on the other side of the

Himalayas.

But the use of softer colors, floral

motifs and curvilinear patterns

give the Sikkimese monasteries a

unique character that is probably

prettier.


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RUMTEK MONASTERY,

SIKKIM Rumtek Monastery is situated in eastern part of

Sikkim. It is 24 kilometers away from state

capital,Gangtok. Rumtek is located at an altitude

of about 5800 feet (1547 metres). The place around

the monastery has many holy objects. One of the

beautiful objects is the Golden Stupa, which

contains the precious relics of 16th Karmapa. This

monastery, also popularly known as TheDharmachakra Centre, is the largest monastery in

Sikkim, also the home for monk community.

The Dharma Chakra Centre comprises a

beautifully structured main shrine temple and

monastery with monks' quarters, a three-year

retreat centre, a monastic college, where the relicsof the Sixteenth Karmapa are enshrined, nunnery,

stupas, a protector's shrine, institutions for the lay

community and other establishments.

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CONSTRUCTION OF RUMTEK

MONASTERY The construction for the new Rumtek Monasteryand other essential facilities started in the year

1962. It took four years for the completion of

construction process. The major part of the

construction was funded by the royal family of

Sikkim and theGovernment of India, Pandit

Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister then.

The monastery was completed in the year 1966.

The key structure of the monastery is sternlyaccording to the conventional architectural

designs of the Tibetan monasteries. The entire

monastery is gorgeously wrapped with wall

paintings, murals and frescoes of traditional

Tibetan style paintings. This monastery was the

first monastery built in India in the conventional

style, and became an example for several othermonasteries built later throughout the country.

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ARTISTIC SIGNIFICANCE OF RUMTEK

MONASTERY

The architecture of Rumtek is unique and fabulous. Themonastery contains a marvelous main temple, a monastic

college where the relics of the Sixteenth Karmapa are

preserved, a golden stupa and a magnificent Buddha

statue. One will be able to see the harmony of the lives of

monks, experience the heritage of Buddhism and get a

chance to know more about the ancient history of

Buddhism.


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ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

The entire complex of the Rumtek Monastery encloses a

beautifully structured shrine temple and a monastery for themonks. There are also monks’ quarters where the Karmapa

resides and where most of the important relics are enshrined.

The main structure of the Rumtek Monastery is strictly as per the

traditional architectural designs of the Tibetan monasteries.

The entire structure is magnificently covered with beautifulmurals, frescoes, carved and painted woodwork, and traditional

Tibetan style paintings.

The rooftop of the Rumtek Monastery is comprised of four storied

golden sculpture, known as ‘ghanzira’.

Within the monastery are the paintings of the Kagyu lineage, the

eight great Bodhisattvas, the sixteen Arhats, and the Genduk

Chogngi, amongst others


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PAL ZURMANG KAGYUD

MONASTERY, LINGDUM (RANKA

MONASTERY) This monastery issituated on the Rumtek -

Ranka - Gangtok road at

Lingdum; about 45

minutes drive from

Gangtok. The complex is a

fine example of Tibetan

monastic architecture.


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FEATURES


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CARVED AND PAINTED COLORFUL ENTRANCE BUDDHIST

MONASTERY, SIKKIM


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EXTERIOR OF BUDDHIST MONASTERY, SIKKIM


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LARGE COLORFUL PRAYER WHEEL IN BUDDHIST

MONASTERY.


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HAND CRAFTED AND PAINTED WINDOWS IN BUDDHIST

MONASTERY


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LEPCHA TRADITIONAL HOUSE


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BHUTIA TRADITIONAL HOUSE


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NEPALI TRADITIONAL HOUSE


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MODERN TIBETAN TRADITIONAL

HOUSE


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Sikkim architecture

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