Kathmandu, Nepal

Phelgyeling Monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal, was originally located in Nyanang, Tibet, not far from the Nepali border. It features, among many precious relics and religious items, a very precious statue of Dorje Shugden, made by the 5th Dalai Lama himself, who converted the monastery from Kagyu to Gelugpa in 1665.

This Dorje Shugden statue, currently housed at Gaden Phelgyeling Monastery, Nepal, was first offered by the 5th Dalai Lama to the original monastery in Tibet centuries ago. The predecessors of the monks of Phelgyeling Monastery also received the transmission of the Wisdom Buddha Protector, Dorje Shugden, directly from the 5th Dalai Lama, along with a statue for their practice.

During the escape of the monks from Tibet to Nepal in 1959, this statue was among the treasured items they took with them. When Phelgyeling was re-established in Nepal, the holy statue of Dorje Shugden was re-installed in the Protector chapel where it is still highly venerated today. The statue continues to draw many pilgrims looking for their wishes to be fulfilled.

Back in Nyanang, Tibet, both Kagyu and Nyingma Monasteries practiced Dorje Shugden while Phelgyeling Monastery, which is of the Gelugpa lineage, performed the Cham ritual dance of Dorje Trollo, mainly a Nyingma practice.

“Here in Nepal, Guru Tsengye, from that Nyingma monastery in Nyanang, still relies on Dorje Shugden; and a Nyingma Lama in Changmang relies on all the Gelugpa Protectors.” ~ Phelgyeling monk

To this day, Phelgyeling Monastery also houses in their main prayer hall a Tara statue that is known to have spoken to practitioners many times, as well as a rock imprinted with the footprints of H.H. the 5th Dalai Lama.

The monastery preserves these items with exceptional care while also upholding the practices and lineages that they so preciously carried with them from Tibet. It is now among the more well-known Dorje Shugden monasteries of Nepal.