Namgyalma Stupa
Namgyalma Stupa is a dome-shaped construction that contains the remains of Buddha, which the Tibetans consider to be a sacred place of worship. It holds a huge shrine of Sakyamuni Buddha. It is a daunting structure located in the heart of McLeodganj. The Namgyalma Stupa was constructed in the remembrance of the Tibetan soldiers who fought for the freedom of Tibet. The first sight of the Namgyalma Stupa inspires a sense of peace within visiting tourists. The Stupa is surrounded by a number of prayer wheels. Tibetans who visit the Stupa for worship circle it rotating the wheels and reciting prayers. There is not a particular time when prayers are being offered at the Stupa. Followers of the tradition and devotees from around the globe tend to come in at any time and worship the Lord as the Stupa remains open all day for them.
The architecture of the Namgyalma Stupa dates back to the third century, and shares a lot of resemblance with the style of King Ashoka. It is a monument that characterizes the fight of restrained people against the odds of daily life. One visit to the temple can instill a lot of virtue. The pleasant surroundings coupled with the delivering of mantras by the devotees are a great way to escape from the bustling city life. It helps to clear the mind and cleanse the soul.
Speaking to the locals at the Stupa helps in gaining a wealth of knowledge on the traditions and customs of the Tibetan culture. Their mode of prayers, their faith and beliefs, the traditional methods of praying are all new learnings for tourists who visit here for the first time. Foreign nationals visit to learn and understand the long-established rituals of the Tibetan population.
The Namgyalma Stupa is carved from sandstone. It is made with a vision of being long-lasting. It is a belief among Tibetans that anything that falls on the Namgyalma Stupa gets purified. Some believe that rain water falling on the Stupa is blessed. It is also believed that a visit to the Namgyalma Stupa cleanses any bad karma that exists in the soul. It is not just with the Namgyalma Stupa in McLeodganj, it is the belief that it held sacred by Tibetans everywhere. Rotating the wheels around the Stupa and continuously reciting the mantras tends to enlighten the soul and makes thinking clear and more precise. It is a trusted faith among Tibetans that not only human beings, also the creatures and animals that wander around the Stupa are purified.
Lot of care and consideration has gone into the construction of the Namgyalma Stupa. All of the traditions and customary beliefs have been embedded in every inch of construction. Again, it is not only with the Namgyalma Stupa in Dharamshala, it is a religious practice that is strictly followed with the construction of any Stupa around the world.
During a visit to Dharamshala, it is highly recommended to pay a visit to the Namgyalma Stupa for some religious bliss. It is highly enlightening as well as a mode of acquiring spiritual peace.