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Nyando gompa, Upper Mustang, NEPAL
a Boddhisattva - Nyando gompa
I love this image because it reminds me of a magic experience. I had no idea of the spectacular art that was hidden on the altar of Nyando gompa, until I pulled back the covering garments on this image.
Nyando gompa is said to be very old. Locals claim that it is contemporary with the nearby Lo Gekar gompa which was built around 780 C.E. If true, this would make Nyando one of the very earliest gompas built in Nepal and much earlier than most in Tibet. As far as I know Nyando has been unvisited by Tibetan scholars. It would be a rewarding excursion.
It is interesting to speculate on the centuries required for butter lamps to darken the face of this image and leave the protected body unblackened. Given that Nyando has never been a large gompa with lots of active practice it is likely that this effect takes hundreds of years.
It's a rare privelege to experience this place.
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Our next trek to Mustang is in 2007 and we already have bookings for this wonderful experience. If you are interested, check the page:
Highlands of Mustang Nepal: July-August 2007
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revision 20oct05
http://www.greenkiwi.co.nz/footprints/photo/ph0602.htm