256 MONASTERIES. 



bears a closer resemblance to the older form of stupa, but its capital ia 

 more elongated, and it and the cone or pyramid is separated from 

 the hemisphere by a square neck which bears on each face a pair of 

 eyes which typify omniscience. In the wealthier monasteries the 

 chhortens are occasionally whitewashed. 



The most holy chhorten in Sikhim is at Tashiding, the largest of 



the group figured by Hooker.^ So sacred is it that 



The great Tasliiding ^j^g ^^^,q g^j. ^f beholding it is su^jposed to cleanse 



from all sin, according to its name. Its full title is 



Thonn-tva rang to," or "Saviour by mere sight." It owes its special 



sanctity to its reputedly containing some of the funereal granules^ of 



the mythical Buddha antecedent to Shakya Muni, viz. — 0-simg,'^ the 



relics havin"- been deposited there by Jik-mi Pawo, the incarnation 



and successor of Lhatsiin Chhembo. As a result of this repute it is a 



favourite object of pilgrimage. 



The mendongs are faced with blocks bearing in rudely cut characters 

 the six-syllabled mystic sentence " Om mani pddme 

 Mendongs. hung''' — the same which is revolved in the " prayer- 



wheels." And occasionally it also bears coarsely outlined figures of 

 the three favourite protecting divinities of Lamaism, the Ri-sum Gonpo, 

 or "the Three Defensores Fidei,^^ viz. — the four-handed C%em« (Skt. 

 Avalokita), Jai-gang (Skt. Manjugosha), and Chahia Dorje (Skt. 

 Bajnttmni). As it is a pious act to add to these " mani" slabs, a mason 

 is kept at the larger temples and places of special pilgrimage, who 

 carves the necessary number of stones according to the order and 

 at the expense of the donating pilgrim. 



The above monuments must always be passed on the right hand, 



, according to the ancient Hindu ceremonial of 



of passLg ' religious pradakshina, as a tribute of respect. And thus it is 



buildings. that the prayer cylinders must always be turned 



in a similar direction. 



In addition to the foregoing objects there is frequently found in 



the vicinity of the monastery a stone seat called a 



Lama's throne. ,( throne " for the head lama while giving al-/rcsco 



instruction to his pupils. One of the reputed thrones of Lhatsiin 



Chhembo exists at the Pemiongchi chhorten, where the camp of visitors 



is usually pitched. 



' Bimalayan Jmirs., Vol. I, page 320. 



' mthong wa rang grol. 



^ It is believed by the lamas that on the burning of the body of a Buddha no 

 mere ash results, but two varieties of nodules which are named -.—(a) phe-dung, 

 small white seed-like granules ; (4) ring-srel, yellowish larger nodules from the 

 bones, and of these an enormous quantity are forthcoming. It is the former 

 ■which are said to be preserved in the great Tashiding Chaitya. 



* Aod srung. 



