Perviously unrecorded painting of Gyalpo Sengge Namgyal ?

There are two wall paintings at Kharnak Gompa in Dat, Kharnak, that appear to depict Lama Taksang Repa. The first painting (Pics No. 1) is located on the ground floor of the gompa, positioned directly behind the statue of the main deity. Due to the narrow space between the painting and the statue, I was only able to capture a partially zoomed-out image.

The second painting (Pic No. 2) is on the first floor of the gompa, to the right of the Guru Rinpoche statue. An old wooden frame, added later to hold religious scriptures, conceals much of the left side of this important painting, making it difficult to view fully. Upon closer examination through a very narrow gap between the frame and the wall, one can observe what appears to be a figure that is completely hidden from public view (Pic 3). 

Upon request, Ven. Dorjey (Pic 4), the caretaker Lama of Kharnak Gompa, agreed to remove some blocks of the scriptures to allow the camera to be placed inside the wooden frame from where the picture has a clear visibility. The figure appears distinctly royal, and given the limited information available, it is proposed that this may be a depiction of King Sengge Namgyal. Expert insights for further analysis would be appreciated.

The wooden frame on the left, used for holding religious manuscripts, conceals 25% of the original painting.

Proposed painting of Sengge Namgyal

Ven . Lama Dorjey

Dat Gompa, Kharnak

Gyalpo Sengge Namgyal,Gyamo Skalzang Dolma and Lama Taksang Repa.

Three significant images are found at Chemrey Gompa, Shey Palace, and Hemis Gompa. The image at Chemrey Gompa is the most widely recognized depiction of King Sengge Namgyal. However, there is limited information available regarding the images at Shey and Hemis. Therefore, they are proposed only as possible representations of King Sengge Namgyal and his wife, Skalzang Dolma. Experts are invited to provide further insights into these lesser-known depictions.

Portuguese missionary António de Andrade, who traveled through Ladakh around 1624, met Sengge Namgyal in Leh and described him as a tall, dark man wearing a skull mala around his neck, symbolizing the impermanence of life.

Chemrey Gompa 

Chemrey Gompa 

Shey Palace

Shey Palace

 

Hemis Gompa.

Hemis Gompa.

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.