Gemur Monastery

Gemur Monastery, also known as Gemur Gompa, is a significant Buddhist monastery located above the village of Gemur in the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh, northern India. It is recognized as a central seat of Tibetan Buddhism within the sTod valley of Lahaul and is identified in religious literature as Dge-smon Gsam-bstan chos-gling.

History and Founding

The monastery's origins are traced to the first half of the 17th century, with legends crediting its founding to sTagtshang Raspa. Folklore also suggests that Lama Tanzin Paldan of Gemur village played a key role in its construction, receiving aid from the Thakurs of Khangsar. Scholars have proposed that the original gompa might have been situated at a higher altitude, with the present structure relocated to a lower hill in 1870. The woodwork within the temple is attributed to Tashi Tamphel. The monastic community at Gemur belongs to the Drukpa Kagyu sect, and lamas were historically dispatched from this monastery to other gompas in the region.

Features and Significance

Gemur Monastery houses a variety of religious and artistic treasures, including a sculpture of the goddess 'Marichi Vajravarahi', ancient Buddhist miniature paintings, wall paintings, chortens, statues, and other artifacts. It is particularly known for its annual Tshechu festival, a religious fair celebrated throughout the Buddhist Himalayas. During the Tshechu at Gemur, held in June, the monastery hosts the cham, a vibrant masked and costumed dance performance. In the 1960s, a valuable Thanka of a Dam-can Jagpa Me-Len, a Tibetan Buddhist painting made of silk patches, was reported stolen from the monastery along with other items.