Shey Inscriptions: Rediscovering 17th-Century Records of Ladakh

In the 17th century, Nepali/Newari artisans crafted the Sakyamuni Buddha statue at Shey Palace. It was recorded that they inscribed their names somewhere in the area surrounding the palace. Recently, after a month-long search, we successfully located and documented these ancient inscriptions, which had disappeared from recent academic discourse, marking one of the first modern records of this rare gem in Ladakhi history.

Shey Inscriptions (Click and Refresh to Enlarge)

Translation:

Om Swasti!

The Guru is called Tiger (Stag), the King is Lion (Seng ge), and the Queen is Happiness (dGa’ ba).

The Dharma Minister is Aku Garmo (A ku ’gar mo).

This monument (chod yon) was constructed at that time, using 1020 zho of gold and 12.5 man bdros srang of copper.

The commissioner was Master Sheldok (She ldog) of Sakti.

Pomoche is Sengye Zargal Bangdup (sangs rgyas zar gal bang grub) from Nepal.

The goldsmith from Chiling was Paldan Tsering Gyatso.

The Gama was performed by Dea Tsering Nag Spere (bde’ tshe ring nag spe re).

May we be born as the prime disciples of the patron and priest. The monument was built in the Male Snake year. 

Mangalam!

Our Team:

The team involved Lama Jigmet Chozang le, the Khar Lama, Lama Jigmet Samstan le from Tia, Leh-based social anthropologist Viraf Mehta, Phunsok Angchuk Togo of Ladakh Rocks & Minerals Museum at Shey, and the author. Local scholar Stanzin Mingyur from Shang contributed to the translations, referencing Yoseb Gergan's mid-20th-century work on Ladakh Gyalrabs.

For more on the subject refer to Rigal JP, 1983, "Chiling, un village du Ladakh" in Dr Kantowski & R.Sander (eds.) Recent Research in Ladakh (SIA Band 1), Weltforum Verlag, Munich.