Stakna Monastery or Stakna Gompa is a Buddhist monastery of the Drugpa sect in Leh district, Ladakh, northern India, 21 or 25 kilometres from Leh on the right bank of the Indus River.
About Stakna Monastery :
Ladakh’s landscape offers spectacular sites for Gompas. Located on hilltops or near the River Indus, in the valleys and the mountain tops you can at times find maroon clad monks making their way towards the monasteries. Located about 25 kms from the Leh town, on a hilltop resembling the nose of the tiger, Stakna Monastery is situated. Stakna literally means ‘tiger’s nose’. Stakna Monasterywas founded by Chosje Jamyang Palkar.
Stakna Monastery belongs to the Dugpa order and about 30 monks stay in the monastery. The central image of the gompa is that of the sacred Arya Avalokitesvara. The officials at the monastery are successive reincarnations of the Stakna Tulku who preserve the teachings of the Dugpa order. Other monasteries namely Mud, Kharu, Bardan and Sani in Zanskar are attached toStakna Monastery.
Location :
Visit the beautiful monastery of Ladakh, Stakna monastery. It is located approximately 45 km from the town of Leh. The monastery is amazingly perched on a hill shaped ‘Stakna’, which means ‘Tiger Nose’.
Foundation :
Situated on the banks of mighty Indus river, Stakna offers breath taking views of snow clad peaks. The monastery was founded in 1580 AD by Chosje Jamyang Palkar, who was the great scholar saint of Bhutan.
Highlights of Stakna Monastery :
The Stakna Gompa belongs to the Dugpa order of Buddhism and houses about 30 monks. The Successive reincarnations of the Stakna Tulku serve as the incumbents of Stakna monastery. They propagate the teachings of Dugpa order. On entering the central courtyard, next is the Dukhang or assembly hall. Silver gilted Chorten measuring seven feet high is built inside the Dukhang in 1950 by Head Lama. Visitors can also set a sightseeing tour to nearby monasteries like Mud and Kharu, Stakrimo, Sani and Bardan.
Treasures of Stakna Monastery :
The Chortens built inside the assembly hall treasures a statue Lord Buddha and numerous. Left wall of the Dukhang are decorated with exquisite paintings of Sakyamuni, Tsephakmad and Amchi. The wall opposite to assembly hall is adorned with paintings of Bodhisattva,Tshong-san-gompa and Padma Sambhava. Statues of Sakyamuni, present Buddha and Maitreya are placed on the right side of the hall.
Stakna Gompa LadakhStakna Gompa of Ladakh is situated on the right bank of the Indus River, at a distance of approximately 25 km from the town of Leh. The name, ‘Stakna’ literally means ‘tiger’s nose’. The monastery was so named because it was built on a hill, which is shaped just like a tiger’s nose. Stakna Monastery of Leh Ladakh owes its inception to Chosje Jamyang Palkar, the great scholar saint of Bhutan. It formed a part of the many religious estates offered by the Dharmaraja Jamyang Namgial to the saint, around 1580 AD.
The wall opposite to the Dukhang entrance is also painted with three images, those of a Bodhisattva, Padma Sambhava (8th century Indian Buddhist scholar and translator of Buddhist texts into Tibetan) and Tshong-san-gompo (an early king of Tibet). To the right of the hall are the statues of Sakyamuni (Past Buddha), the Present Buddha and Maitreya (Future Buddha). And, the throne of the head lama of Stakna lies on the left side of the Dukhang
