The Maha Bodhi Stupa

The Process of Rebuilding the Maha Bodhi Stupa

Traditionally, stupas are significant religious images in the Budhist monasteries. The great stupa is one of Gomang monasterys most significant religious sites for pilgrims. It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, but rebuilt in the 1980s by a man named Manlo and the Thanwa villagers near the monastery but it collapsed due to poor construction.

In 1997, Harwa Ringpoche and the monks held an auspicious ceremony at the site for the proposed stupa. They found a white conch-shell underground at the eastern side of the site. Finding the white conch was an auspicious sign because Tibetan Buddhists traditionally believe it is a symbol of good luck, and signifies that the Buddha Dharma will continue for the sake of all beings ultimate happiness. That year, in the middle of the winter, another auspicious sign occurred: a beautiful yellow flower blossomed along the eastern wall of the new stupa.

The location of the new stupa was moved further east from the original site and its size was also increased from that of the original. The construction began in 1997 on an auspicious day and the whole process was successfully accomplished without any obstacles due to the blessings of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and deities. Rinpoches brother Aku Sherap Gyasto and his dedicated disciples put great effort into the process of managing and constructing the new stupa.

The three storey stupa is 1,000 square meters, with a 3213 square meter yard. The stupa is 35 meters high and many golden prayer wheels encircle the stupa. There are four temples on the main floor inside the Maha Bodhi temple. On the second floor there are statues of Buddha Shakyamuni. The third floor is the Tsong-Kapa temple. The fourth floor is the Amitabha temple. The fifth floor is a temple and there are three statues of Buddha Shakyamuni and his two main disciples. On the sixth floor there is another Tsong-Kapa and Manjushri temple.

The Maha Bodhi Stupas opening ceremony was held on September 12th, 1999. Ven. Khonthang Rinpoche from Labrang monastery named the new stupa the ''Great Bodhi Stupa.'' Spiritual leaders of different faiths, devotees in Buddhism from a variety of places, the people of Ngawa region and guests from the country were gathered at Gomang Monastery to celebrate the accomplishment of Harwa Ringpoches project. They prayed and wished that the merit from rebuilding the Maha Bodhi Stupa would produce happiness, peace, and altruism in all sentient beings minds, and that it would help all beings reach Buddhahood or stages of ultimate happiness.