Gorsam Chorten | Largest Stupas | Zemithang Valley | Arunachal Pradesh India

A significant monument in the most beautiful valley of the Himalayan region is Gorsam Chorten that is considered one of the oldest and the largest Stupas in South Asia. It is situated near the Nyamjang Chu river in Zemithang valley.

All-seeing Buddha (Gorsam Chorten)

     

The unbelievable structure was constructed by a monk called Lama Sangey Pradhar. According to the local fable of the Pangchen, another name of Zemithang valley, there has a lot of miracle stories regarding the monk. The infant age story of the monk is one of them. Usually, mothers of Pangchen have taken their babies with them in working place. Baby Lama Sangey Pradhar mother was not exceptional. One day his mother had laid him a bit of distance from her working-place and was working when the incident happened. When he had started rolling towards the gorge, suddenly a monkey came to rescue him. Since that miraculous incident, people have started to call him "Sangey Pradhar" which means deliverance by a divine enlightened monkey. 

Joy moment of a visitor

     

Before the construction of Gorsam stupa, the place was the kingdom for evil spirits. To ease the villagers from these evil spirits, Lama Sangey Pradhar had decided to build this stupa. He had gone to Boudhanath in Kathmandu and made a miniature model of the stupa using radish.

He successfully built the replica of Boudha Stupa when he came back from Kathmandu. It was taken almost 12 years to complete. Based on the assumption of native people, the stupa was constructed in 1200 AD, although there is little written evidence regarding the year of construction.

Moments of flashy stream enjoyment

     

The meaning of Gorsam is rock bridge. Before the construction of the mega stupa, there was a rock bridge to cross the river.

Native people believe that this all-seeing Buddha always protects them from all evil power. The place is also emotionally significant for locals and Tibetan as the 14th Dalai Lama had firstly rested there after fleeing from Tibet. 

Resting place of 14th Dalai Lama

     

From prehistoric times, the Gorsam Chorten Kora festival is celebrated every year to bring peace and prosperity for every living being at the Gorsam Chorten. The Kora that means orbiting is an indigenous language. During festival time, the stupa is decorated gorgeously by colorful prayer flags and lights. By wearing a unique type of dress and mask, devotees perform traditional dance. Local as well as many overseas people celebrate the festival with joy and pomp.

Visitor with all-seeing Buddha 

     

Although the festival is celebrated every year, the sacred door of the stupa is opened only after an era. There are only three such stupas in the world. One is stood here where the other two are located in Napel and Bhutan respectively.

Meditation cave

Meditation place for monk 

     

In Zemithang valley, there are a lot of hidden places using for meditation purposes. In the recent century, some ancient caves have been discovered. Moreover, two prayers halls, Gonchung Tsamkang and Gorsam Tsamkang have been constructed under these caves. Gorsam Tsamkang is situated near Gorsam Chorten where Gonchung Tsamkang is at half day trekking distance from Zemithang circle hade quatre. 

Front view of Monastery

     

According to natives, there is a lot of fable stories regarding the place. Lama taking dew drops story is one of them. Many years ago, people of Zemithang had noticed that in the early morning a monk came out from Gonchung cave to lick dewdrops on the leaves. However, they could not find anyone when they had gone near the cave. To catch the monk, women of Kharman village spread a strong ara, a special type of local wine, on the leaves in the evening. When the monk came the next day to take dewdrop, he got drunk and fell asleep. Finally, villagers caught him and made him the village Lama.