Potala
The Potala Palace. Click to enlarge. Image credit: Treasury of Lives
པོ་ཏ་ལ།
Name Variants: pho brang po ta la ཕོ་བྲང་པོ་ཏ་ལ།; pho brang khri rtse dmar po ཕོ་བྲང་ཁྲི་རྩེ་དམར་པོ།, 布达拉宫, 布達拉宮, bu da la gong.
The Potala Palace, named after the mountain home of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, looms high above the city of Lhasa on Marpori (red mountain) to the northwest of the Jokhang. The current structure is thirteen stories tall, making it one of the world’s tallest buildings to have pre-existed the modern skyscraper. It is considered a masterpiece that represents the pinnacle of classical Tibetan architectural style and highlights the ingenuity of the Palace’s artisans and builders who were constrained by limited resources. It was designated a UNESCO world heritage site in 1994.
The existing palace is largely attributed to the Fifth Dalai Lama, who undertook an immense expansion of the original structure, which is dated to the year 637 during the reign of Songtsen Gampo. Some sources say that the original palace was eleven stories high, although it is possible it was considerably smaller. Several chapels, notably the Pakpa Lhakhang, are said to date from the time of Songsten Gampo. The Fifth Dalai Lama began building the White Palace upon the original foundation in 1645, with construction continuing until 1653. Thousands of workers and artisans hailing from near and far took part in the project. It would become the seat of the Ganden Podrang government (previously located at Drepung), and the winter home of the Dalai Lamas (in summer, they resided at Norbulingka Palace). When the Fifth Dalai Lama passed away in 1682, his Regent, Desi Sanggye Gyatso, continued the expansion and completed the building of the Red Palace in 1694, all the while managing to cover-up the Dalai Lama’s death. The structure is located at the center of the White Palace and extends several stories upward. It was used for religious purposes, containing many chapels and halls. Reliquaries for the Fifth Dalai Lama, and the Seventh through Twelfth Dalai Lamas are held in the Red Palace.
When Lhasa was attacked by the Dzungars in the early eighteenth century, the Potala was also damaged, and presumably many treasures went missing or were destroyed. Shelling during the Lhasa uprising in 1959 damaged the façade and once again works of art and texts were stolen and destroyed. Since that time, multiple phases of restoration have occurred. Today, the Potala functions as a museum; the influx of tourists presents challenges to ongoing conservation efforts. The Potala was surrounded by a walled neighborhood, the Shol, which was a center of administrative activity and included the Ngul Parkhang (treasury), Makchikhang (armory), Shol Parkhang (Shol printery), to name just a few.
Source: “Potala”, Treasury of Lives https://treasuryoflives.org/en/institution/Potala
Images
THE DEMONESS OF TIBET. The Demoness of Tibet is a close copy of a well-known image located in the Tibet Museum in Lhasa. The landscape of Tibet is shown as the mythical demoness of Tibetan legend. At key physical locations on her body are located important Buddhist temples and monasteries. Image credit: himayalanart.org. Click on image to enlarge.
THE POTALA PALACE AND THE MAIN MONUMENTS OF LHASA. This painting shows major sites of Lhasa including the Jokhang, Potala Palace and Lukhang. The monasteries of Sera, Drepung, and Sangpu Neutok are also pictured. It is possible that the image depicts activities during Losar festivities. Image credit: himalayanart.org. Click on image to enlarge.
SCENES FROM THE LIFE OF THE FIFTH DALAI LAMA (1617-1682). An eighteenth century painting of The Fifth Dalai Lama pictured with major scenes from his life. Image credit: himalayanart.org. Click on image to enlarge.
Source: https://treasuryoflives.org/en/institution/Potala. Click on image to enlarge.
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The Potala Palace is the abode of the greatest leader of Tibetan Buddhism, Dalai Lama. It is considered to be the holiest site of Buddhist religion in Tibet. Built in 631 AD by Songtsan Gampo who was the first king of the Tibet kingdom as a royal palace as well as a defensive fortress. Being the highest placed building in the world at 3,700 meters. The palace structures are made of stone and wood, and the palace walls are built with granite. Interesting history of this 1,300-year-old structure which was originally built as a gesture of love. It was commissioned by Tibetan king Songtsen Gambo for his marriage to Princess Wencheng of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. The Potala Palace was listed as a world cultural heritage and is a museum now. Thousands of locals and tourist visited this beautiful place which was once the winter palace residence of the Dalai Lamas during the past dynasties.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful sharing.
The Potala Palace is a fortress in the city of Lhasa, in Tibet. It was once a winter imperial palace of the Dalai Lamas but has been a museum since then . This palace is the highest ancient palace in the world, it also once served as a seat of government, and monastery, it’s now a must visit place for Tibet . As the most iconic architecture and top UNESCO world heritage Site in Tibet, at 3750 m . From the Palace one could see the whole area of the Holy Lhasa city. constructed in the 18th century, is a masterpiece of Tibetan art. The beauty of this Palace and the ancient architecture of the buildings integration in a striking landscape, added to their historic and religious interest. Hundred thousands of pilgrims visited this Holy city yearly. I am fortunate to have gone to this Holy sites with my friends. Worth going on a pilgrimage .
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing this article on The Potala Palace and many beautiful old paintings. Having been the seat of the Dalai Lamas, it would be a highly blessed place for pilgrimage. With all the painstaking restoration works that the Chinese government is currently undertaking, I can imagine the grandeur of the Potala Palace upon completion. Actually what would make it complete is the 14th Dalai Lama returning to his seat upon the successful agreement with the Chinese government. It is really interesting to learn of the “Demoness of Tibet” and how there is a temple or monastery sitting at each of the key physical locations of her body as shown in the painting.
Listening to the chanting of sacred words, melodies, mantras, sutras and prayers has a very powerful healing effect on our outer and inner environments. It clears the chakras, spiritual toxins, the paths where our ‘chi’ travels within our bodies for health as well as for clearing the mind. It is soothing and relaxing but at the same time invigorates us with positive energy. The sacred sounds invite positive beings to inhabit our environment, expels negative beings and brings the sound of growth to the land, animals, water and plants. Sacred chants bless all living beings on our land as well as inanimate objects. Do download and play while in traffic to relax, when you are about to sleep, during meditation, during stress or just anytime. Great to play for animals and children. Share with friends the blessing of a full Dorje Shugden puja performed at Kechara Forest Retreat by our puja department for the benefit of others. Tsem Rinpoche
Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzgskLKxT8&t=5821s
Interesting brief introduction of the most recognisable landmark in Lhasa, the Potala Palace, named after the mountain home of the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara. Thank you Rinpoche and blog team for sharing this wonderful history of Potala Palace of the 5th H.H. Dalai Lama ?
Amazing ……The Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet. It was once the residence of the HH Dalai Lama until the HH 14th Dalai Lama fled to India during the 1959 Tibetan uprising. It is now a museum and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The palace is named after Mount Potalaka, the mythical abode of the bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara. It is one of the most famous attractions in Tibet and it seem to be the highest ancient palace around the world. Its in my bucket list to go there for a pilgrimage. That’s my wish after reading and seeing those beautiful pictures of the place. Potala Palace is a must-see attraction in Lhasa.
Thank you for this sharing.
Thank you for this brief introduction of the most recognisable landmark in Lhasa, the Potala Palace. At the centre of the Tibetan government and also the winter palace of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, this magnificent 13-storey building is indeed a architecture masterpieces. It is also interesting to note the mystical Demoness of Tibet that illustrates the physical location of important monasteries in Tibet.