Nanak In Lumpung Monastry
Lumpung Monastry connected with Tawang by mountains foot tracks is situated on the slopes to Zimithang valley. This valley located on the route from Tawang to Tibet is very close to Arunachal Pardesh (Indian state)-Tibet border. From there foottracks lead to Lhasa the state capital of Tibet and to Samya Monastry.
Col. Devinder Singh of Indian Air Force reached there in Oct. 1989 and held discussions with the Lama of Lumpung Monastry in connection With Guru Nanak's visit.
Information gathered is given in a form of Interview:
Q. Since what time you are here?
Ans. I was born and brought up here. My forefathers too lived in this place after they migrate from Tibet.
Q. When did they migrate from Tibet?
Ans: About 500 years ago there was a war between Gelug-Pa and Nyingma-Pa sects in which Gelug-Pa sect won and we were put through number of miseries. Finally our people had to leave central Tibet and we settled here. At that time there used to be no clear boundaries between India and Tibet. We came to know of it after 1962.
Q. What is your sect?
Ans: I am from Nyinga-PA sect. We follow Mahayana Budhism. We also follow Nanak Lama (Lama/man of God or priest). His 10 feet idol is one of the Chief decties in this Gompha (Monestry) and we worship it.
Q. When and how did your sect establish faith in Guru Nanak?
Ans. When we were being ousted from our area, Nanak Lama came to solace us and show sympathy. He blessed us with prosperity and freedom. That is why we are more prosperous and free than those in Tibet. Before this war, the king of Tibet was a NyingMaPa who had listened to Nanak Lama's discourses and became his follower. Our comlete sect followed the King and we started having the Idol of Nanak Lama in our Gompas. When Nanak Lama visited the place, we were in a quite desperate condition. With HIS blessings, we had good days.
Q. When and how did he visit this place?
Ans. He came here before Losar (The Tibetan New Year which falls around January every year) from Tawang through Tashi Gompha and Zimithang and after some days stay at this location,he proceeded to Lhasa.
Q. Can you show the Idol?
Ans. Yes it is inside the Gompha on the main pedestel. The idol is of size of 10 feet by 5 feet.
Q. The Idol is not much different from other idols. It does not seem to be of Nanak Lama?
Ans. It is, as we felt it should be. It is not very old. We have not seen Nanak Lama. My grand father had got it made. It may not be the exact replica but this is how we visualise Nanak Lama.
