Tsuglagkhang(central catheral) through a plain and utilitarian substitute for its splendid 7th century namesake in Lhasa, also name as Jokhang, Tsuglagkhang is never the less facinating and peaceful. Situated opposite the residence of His Holliness the Dalai Lama, Tsuglakhang is known to the local Indians as the main temple. It houses three mian images: that of the Sakyamuni Buddha, Padmasambhava and Avalokiteshvara, the buddha of conpassion, of whom the Dalai Lama is a current emanation. The principal image is that of Sakyamuni Buddha, measuring three meters high and made of gilded bronze. To its right are the images of Padmasambhava and Avalokitesvara which are both facing Tibet. The image of Avalokitesvara has a maving history. The original jewel-encrusted image in jokhang(Central Cathedral) in Lhasa, was commisioned by king Songtsen Gampo in the 7th century.
Since then it has become an object of unparalleled devotion for people through out Central Asia. When red guards ransacked the Jokhang during the cultural revolution, this image and other were tossed into the streets. From these heaps and other religious artifacts, soma Tibetans managed to salvage and smugle out a warthful image of avalokitesvara. passing through many hands, these face images finally found their way to India via Nepal in 1967. One year later, an other warthful image of Avalokitesvara and one of Amitabha, The buddha of boundless light, reach India through Nepal in a similar way.
These faces are encased as precious relic on the newly sculpted image of Buddha of compassion in Tsuglakhang. The new Avalokitesvara image, which was consecrated in 1970 (the iron dog year of the Tibetan year), is crafted from silver and has 11 faces, 1,000 arms and 1,000 eyes.
In addition, Tsuglakhang houses the entire set of the Buddhist canons, Kagyur and Tengyur. Kagyur is the direct teaching of the Buddha while tanyur is the collection of the Kagyur by Indian and Tibetans Buddhist scholars.
In 1992 a new prayer hall was added to the Tsuglakhang complex with fine murals of the Kalachakra tantra cycle. The central cathedral is also the site of public prayers, sermons and certain religious festivities, includung monestic dances. A consult stream of devotees turn prayer wheels as they circumamblate the cathedrel.
