༄༅། །བསམ་ཡས་གཙུག་ལག་ཁང་གི་བཟོ་བཀོད་ཁྱད་ཆོས། ARCHITECTURE OF SAMYE MONASTERY IN TIBET

The Samye is about 38km northeast of Tsedang and a good 135 km southeast of Lhasa.The monastery is considered to be the first in Tibet but that is not the only reason why it’s important.
Samye was built within a span of about 12 years from 762-775 CE, by Trisong Detsun the second Dharma king of Tibet (Tibet has three Dharma Kings, the Buddhism revivalists). He had assistance from Guru Rimpoche (Saint Padmasambhava) and Shantarakshita, an Indian Buddhist monk from Nalanda University1. Many local noble families and evil spirits were opposed to the idea of Buddhism in Tibet. Shantarakshita advised Trisong Detsun to invite a spiritual tantric guru to overcome these calamities. It was then that Saint Padmasambhava was invited to Tibet. Tantric history tells us that the original attempts to construct the Samye monastery had failed due to the demonic power of the antagonist Srin Mo, an Ogress. It is believed that Saint Padmasambhava cut off the head of the demon at a place called Lo Gekar and subdued her powers to set up the monastery at Samye. It is also believed that in Samye, Padmasambhava first drew thiks on the earth to invoke his powers and started the tantric dance. This dance was later emulated by the monks and was spread all over the other monasteries in Tibet. Today these dance forms are known as Cham dance, performed at almost all major monasteries around the world, commemorating the victory of Padmasambhava, the Guru Rimpoche, over evil.
The structure of Samye follows the Indian tradition that is a representation of Odantapuri, a Mahavihara situated in Bihar, India. Mahavihara is a Pali term for “Great Monastery”. Odantapuri Mahavihara was the second oldest Buddhist University in India built in the 7th century by a king of the Pali dynasty. Note: Siddharta Gautama (The Buddha) preached in the Pali language. There is an interesting story regarding the Indian influence on the architecture of Samye Monastery. The construction period of this monastery is also known as the Dissemination Period of Tibetan Buddhism. During the construction of the monastery, disagreements arose due to the dissimilarity in analysis, understanding and translation between Tibetan and Indian versions of the Buddhist scriptures. In the year 792 CE Trisong Detsun declared that a public debate would be held at Samye to decide on which interpretation was accurate. Shantarakshita had sent his student Kamalashila from Nalanda University to present the Indian perspective. Kamashila’s debate was with the monk Ho Shang also referred to has Hasang. Hashang’s debate was based on achieving enlightenment through emptiness of the mind while Kamashila argued that enlightenment can be attained only through practice and merit. The Indian argument had won the debate in the year 792 CE thereby ushering in 3 major changes in Tibet.
The Samye monastery is a circular temple which is a symbolic representation of the model of the cosmos. The entire complex of the monastery has been designed as a Mandala2. It is a representation of Mount Sumeru which is considered to be the centre of the cosmic world. The layout of the buildings around the main hall is according to the layout of four continents and eight subcontinents in the Buddhist world. This temple is further encircled by 4 Chortens3 which represent the four worlds. Four groups of constructions and four Dagobas4 of different colours, green, black, red and white, are located respectively at the east, west, south and north sides.
According to Buddhist historical chronicles, the construction of Samye Monastery was done in accordance with Buddhist doctrines. The main hall in its centre, also called Uze Hall has a total of six storeys all of which include three architectural styles respectively- Tibetan, Chinese and Indian. This hall is composed of several units. There is the central Buddha hall, Sutra hall, circumambulation passage, passage, side halls and corridors.
The monastery is encircled by a wall which is considered to be the representation of Mount Cakravada representing the Mount Chakravada which means that the monastery is protected by a symbolic iron fence.The Samye monastery consists of a total of 108 temples, an auspicious number which matches the Tibetan rosary beads used for prayer and meditation.
Many Tibetan monks study here and are ordained. Referred to have the seven examined men, these Samye graduates continue in the tradition of the great masters who have saved and preserved the Nalanda tradition over many centuries.Many of the temple portions of Samye require renovation time and again. Even though many winds have come across it, it has stood the test of time. Today, Samye seems to stand resolutely, because it illustrates peace and serenity and humbly reminds us that it is the cradle of Tibetan Buddhism that went on to touch millions of lives all around the world.