2nd day ,,visiting a spituk monastery (Leh)

Brief History of Spituk Monastery

1. Ancient Origins (11th Century)
Spituk Monastery—also known as Spituk Gompa or Pethup Gompa—was founded in the 11th century by Od-de, the elder brother of Lha Lama Changchub Od, when he arrived in the region then known as Maryul  . The location had been blessed by the revered scholar Arhat Nyimagung  .

2. The Name & Its Meaning
During his visit, the esteemed translator Rinchen Zangpo (Lotsewa) declared that an exemplary monastic community would flourish here, inspiring the name Spituk, which means “exemplary”  .

3. Transition of Traditions
Originally aligned with a Red Hat (likely Kadampa) tradition, the monastery underwent a revival under Dharma Raja Grags-pa Bum-Ide, with support from Lama Lhawang Lodos. In the 15th century, it officially joined the Gelug (Yellow Hat) order, founded by Je Tsongkhapa—and has remained so ever since   .

4. Present-Day Monastic Life & Artifacts
Today, Spituk houses approximately 100 monks and features a towering statue of Goddess Kali, revealed to the public only during the annual festival   . The monastery also contains a museum filled with ancient masks, thangka paintings, icons, and antique arms   .

5. The Gustor Festival
Every year, from the 27th to the 29th day of the 11th month in the Tibetan calendar, Spituk celebrates the Gustor Festival—a two-day event marked by dramatic Cham (mask) dances, music, prayers, and symbolic rituals like the burning of an effigy to dispel evil   .