Stakna meaning
"Tiger's Nose" is built some 500 years ago
on the summit of a high rock in the middle of the Indus
Valley. This is a small monastery housing some 35 lamas
o f the red-hat sect of Buddhism. Although small, it
has several sister monasteries, including three in the
Zanskar valley. The gompa consists of the head lama's
private apartment, a Dukhang (main temple and assembly
hall) and the rooms of the lamas and their attendants.
Entering the central courtyard, one sees a small stuffed
Lhasa Apso, the favorite pet of the previous head lama.
Directly ahead and up a flight of steps is the Dukhang
or main assembly hall, which contains a silver gilted
chorten, seven feet high, erected by the present head
lama in the 1950s. The chorten contains a statue of
the Buddha and various Buddhist texts. On the left wall
and beginning on the left are three new paintings: the
Tsephakmad (a Buddhist deity), Sakyamni (the Historical
Buddha) and Smchi (the Medical Buddha). On the wall
facing the entrance of the Dukhang are three more new
paintings. Again, starting from the left, the paintings
depict a Bodhisattva, Padme Sambhava, the 8th century
Indian Buddhist scholar and translator of Buddhist texts
into Tibetan and Tshong-san-gompo, am early king of
Tibet.
On the right of the Dukhang are three statues: of the
Past (Sakyamuni, Present anhd Future Maitreya Buddhas.
On either side are Buddhist canonical volumes. In the
center on the left side of the Dukhang is the head lama's
throne. In the room behind the Dukhang on the right
side is a large statue of the lama founder of Stakna,
Zaptung Nawangial, who was from Bhutan. He is flanked
by statues of other head lamas of Stakna. In the room
behind the Dukhang on the left, a wooden cupboard contains
a large standing figure of Dorje Phakma, a Bodhisattva,
beside eight Sashan Gyat (the 8 positions of Buddha).
On the right is a small central statue of Avalokitesvara
(analogous to the Hindu god Shiva and easily recognizable
by his eleven heads and one thousand arms).
On
the next level up are the head lama's private apartments,
newly decorated in colorful Tibetan style. There are
numerous small statues of Buddhist deities and historical
personages in the glass fronted cupboards. The library
room connected to the apartments is one of the most
beautiful in Ladakh. Colorfully painted, it contains
a gilded statue of the previous Rimpoche of Stakna.