Himalayan Art Resources

Tibet: Lhasa, Trode Khangsar Temple (Dorje Shugden)

Trode Khangsar Temple | Lhasa Main Page | Lhasa Outline Page | Dorje Shugden Main Page | Protector Deities: Traditions & Schools

The Temple of Trode Khangsar, Barkhor, Lhasa, Tibet. The temple was possibly built sometime in the early 18th century but it is also possible that it is earlier and from the 17th century. The temple is mentioned in a 1744 survey of Gelugpa Temples in Central Tibet (grva sa chen po bzhi, p.238.) An important feature is a large mural which depicts the incarnation lineage of Dorje Shugden. It is not known how old the murals are but could likely be dated to the mid 19th century. It would be useful to check with the ritual texts of Dorje Shugden and see when the list of incarnations was first used and how it relates to the figures and written inscriptions of the Trode Khangsar murals.

According to a mid 19th century Drugpa Kagyu ritual text for the practice of Dorje Shugden written by the 4th Zhabdrung Tugtrul, Jigme Norbu (1831-1861), he states that the deity must be invited from the three special geographic locations of the Tsuglakang of Sakya, Dol Dumbu Chokor and Trode Kangsar in Lhasa.

Jeff Watt 9-2007 [updated 6-2013, 7-2018]

(See the publication The Temples of Lhasa, Tibetan Buddhist Architecture from the 7th to the 21st Centuries. Andre Alexander. Serindia Publications, 2005. Pages 194 to 199. Also see a review by Jose Ignacio Cabezon).