On 17th December, new abbot appointed by His Holiness the Great 14th Dalai Lama, the 81st Abbot of Drepung Gomang Monastery, His Eminence Geshe Jigme Gyatso took charge of the Abbotship of Drepung Gomang Monastery, taking the charges from outgoing 80th abbot His Eminence Geshe Lobsang Gyaltsen after the handing over ceremony in presence of Chant masters, discipline head, tulkus, senior monks, monks officers of administration and planning, representative of 16 khangtsens. The enthronement ceremony was attended by CTA officials and representatives of various monastic colleges.
The traditional scarf offering was held on 19th Dec, 2021 at the prayer hall temples, attended by H.E. Abbots of the monasteries, tulkus, settlement Kungo la, representatives/chanzoes/directors of various monasteries, and officials/staff/camp leaders of the settlements, followed by traditional luncheon for all the special invitees and attendee of the ceremony.
Gaden Nyamchoe Chenmo, the parinirvana of Great Je Tsong khapa, the founder of Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism was observed on 29th Dec 2021 at Drepung Gomang Prayer hall temple, prayer ceremony attended by H.E. Khen Rinpoche, tulkus, geshes and monk students of this monastery.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama appoints His Eminence Geshe Jigme Gyatso as the 81st abbot (khen Rinpoche) of Drepung Gomang Monastic College. Today on 18th Nov 2021, the administration of the monastery delivered the official letter of appointment from the Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to His Eminence New Abbot Geshe Jigme Gyatso at his residence as per religious customs and tradition. The administration of Drepung Gomang Monastery and all its monks sincerely express hearty congratulation to the new abbot of the monastery. The official enthronement ceremony of the new Abbot of the monastery is scheduled for 17th December 2021 as arranged by His Eminence Labrang.
On 5th Dec, 2021, in the presence of His Eminence Khen Rinpoche, the Year 2021 rank holders of the Annual monastic examination were declared and honored at the prayer hall temple in presence of H.E. Abbot, H.E. Changkya Rinpoche, Discipline head, chant master, directors of administrative and planning office. The rank holders of each class were honored with small gifts as tokens of appreciation for their academic achievement and hard work. Drepung Gomang Monastery extends hearty congratulation to all those who excel in their annual exams.
Gonpo Bumtsok : The Six-Armed Mahakala-Gonpo Chagdug, the official Protector-deity of Drepung Gomang Monastery. Monks of the monastery gathered at Prayer Hall Temple to offer special Guru Puja (bhumtsok) dedicating it to all the Buddhas, invoking their blessings to usher - peace and harmony in the world. This two-day prayer was dedicated to the well-being of all benefactors, for the success of all dharma projects of the monastery, and for the long healthy life of His Holiness the Great XIVth Dalai Lama and all learned scholars, masters of the Buddha dharma.
As monk students from Mongolia, Kalmykia, Buryatia, and Taiwan are yet to return to the monastery to attend regular monastic classes due to Covid-19 Pandemic. Under the supervision of H.E. Khen Rinpoche and the examination committee of the monastery, with collaboration with the monasteries in their monastic heads and our senior monks, the annual monastic examination of Year 2021 was successfully conducted in respective countries. Our gratitude and thank you to all those who made this possible.