With due veneration to Buddha Shakyamuni, who gave birth to many illumined spiritual masters, scholars, saints, teachers who later founded numerous monasteries in Tibet for transmission of oral tradition of Tibetan Buddhism to followers, Drepung is one such monastery. Out of the seven great monastic colleges in Drepung Monastery, we would like to briefly introduce you about Drepung Gomang Monastic College which used to be second to none other than Great Nalanda University in India and is oldest among all the monastic colleges in Drepung.

Buddha Shakyamuni has prophesied about his great follower Tsong Khapa’s birth and attainments, and his endless followers. Je Tsong Khapa, the founder of Gelug sect of Tibetan Buddhism, at the time when he visited Van Tashi Dhokar presented his closest disciple Jamyang Choje with a White conch, an auspicious token and prophesied, “You shall establish a magnificent monastery and this offspring monastery shall become more extensive than its mother one.” The great master asked his disciple to build a small building, his disciple Jamyang Choje Tashi Pelden founded the Jamyang Lhakang, first small temple, 1416 A.D (Monkey Year) and during its inauguration ceremony, one of the seven monks passed away. Later, this incident was known to be shown that the Drepung monastery will have 7700 monks at congregation. Gradually, more extensive newer buildings and more artifacts were added, including representations of Buddha’s body, speech and mind, and idols of Yamantaka, image of past, present and future’s Buddha, and idols of Je Rinpoche and so on, in due course the teaching, practicing and studying as well as the monk population increased greatly as per prophesied by great master, and thus it became one of the most famous great Gelug monasteries.

Many imminent scholars have been produced by Drepung Gomang Monastery, from first Abbot Dhung Dakpa Rinchen, Kunkhen Choejor and it succession lineage, Kunkhen Jamyang Shepa and its succesion lineage, Trichen Gedun Phuntsok, Gungthang Tenpe Drolme and its succession lineage, Regent Yongzin Tatak and its succession lineage, Regent Tasak Kundeling and its succession lineage, Changkya and its succession lineage Ngari Tsang and its succession lineage, Khal kha Jetsun Dampa and its succession lineage, Teokan and its succession lineage, Scholar Lhundup, Tawok Dorjee Chang, makchok Dorjee chang, Kangsar Dorjee chang and many other followers of Je Tsong Khapa. And also it has produced scholars who are exemplary like a renowned Great Indian scholars, Arya Vimuktisen and Hari Bhadra and other scholars of India. All the followers of Je Tsong Khapa has tirelessly and selflessly work towards the transmission of Buddha’s teachings from Ladakh to China and Mongolian region, and have also founded many monasteries and temples. With all these, Buddhism flourished & helped people of Tibet in coexisting in peace and harmony.

Calamitous incident in world history, Tibet was invaded by China, thousands and thousands of Tibetan fled to exile. His Holiness the Dalai Lama in order to preserve the religion and culture of Tibet, asked the officials to reestablished monasteries at Buxa. At the time of shifting of camps from Buxar to Mundgod in South India, only 60 monks of Drepung Gomang Monastic College were present. Seeing its importance to enroll more monk students, young novice monks from Tibetan settlements in India, Ladakh and other part of Himalayan region was enrolled in Drepung Gomang Monastic College and religious activities of monastery were able to carry as per the old days. In 1980s, with relaxation of some restriction by Chinese Government on travel to India, more monks embark to India to pursue monastic studies. Apart from Tibet, there is now an influx of monks from Mongolia, Russia, Tuva, Buryiat, Kalmykia and Inner Mongolia, where everyone is genuinely pursuing their monastic studies. Currently 1850 monks are in Drepung Gomang Monastic College pursing their religious studies and activities. The young novice monks also get the opportunity to attend school under Dre-Gomang Buddhist Cultural Association where they were taught some modern subject other than traditional monastic subject like dialectic, literature, history, grammar and religious subjects. Moreover, during the summer holiday, ‘Summer Camps’ was also organized where children of Settlement were taught Tibetan grammar, history, handwriting and basic Buddhist texts. Those who are not able to pursue monastic studies are trained in tailoring, painting, computer works. All in all, Drepung Gomang Monastic College is a monastery who have excel in every aspect of monastic academic field, preserving well the religion and culture of Tibet and have always abide/obeyed by whatever the temporal and spiritual leader of Tibet, His Holiness the Dalai Lama says and worked under the guidance of Tibetan Government in exile.