However, it was only in 1544 AD that for the first time the spirit of Nechung was possessed in a human being. Thus, Drag Trang-Go-Wa Lobsang Palden became the first medium of Nechung. During the reign of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, Gangkyi-Pa Tsewang Pelbar was recognised as the fourth medium of Nechung or Tibet's State Oracle. At that time, Nechung monastery had around 50 monks.

After the passing away of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, the Regent Desi Sangye Gyatso (1653-1705) ruled Tibet, and Kongpo Lobsang Gyatso succeeded the previous medium. It was during this period that Nechung monastery flourished extensively (see History of Nechung monastery).

The sixth medium, Ngawang Gyatso brought some major changes in the liturgical tradition of Nechung monastery. He instituted the entire cycle of practices comprising of the retreat, the accomplishment, and the ritual tradition of Sog-Khang Drub-Pa Chen-Mo (Grand immutable Life Shelter), a primary meditational retreat practice on Hayagriva and Gyal-Po Ku-Nga (Five Dharma Kings), and the complimentary ritual fire offering, invocation rite and the cross-thread rituals (Doe) and longevity rites, as are explained in Shal-Treng Kar-Poi Gyud (White Crystal Tantra). The medium also introduced Sog-Khang Nam-Shad Lak-Pe Kun-Shay (Omniscience Through Reading the Commentary of the Life Shelter) and others.

The Seventh Medium, Tsangyang Tamdin, also known as Lobsang Tashi, instituted the rites of Dag-Dun Bum-Sum (Self-generation, Generation In-front and Vase-generation) of the Thirteen Deities of Yamantaka, as well as the grand consecration rite of Ge-Leg Char-Beb (Auspicious Shower).

Lhalungpa Shakya Yarphel became the eighth medium of Nechung during the reign of the Tenth Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso (1816-1837) and remained so, until the first part of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama's rule. During this time, Nechung monastery then had 115 monks. This medium of Tibet's State Oracle restored Zhi-sum (Three Basic Rites) of the monastic discipline. He also founded retreat cells on the hills of Lhalung, where there used to be a meditation cell belonging to Lhalung Pelgyi Dorjee, the Buddhist monk responsible for killing Lang Dharma, the anti-Buddhist king. The medium Lhalungpa Shakya Yarphel built Pehar Chog (chapel) at the old Me-Ru monastery. it was during his time that Nechung monastery received Dra-Chyis Phun-Rab estate and Min-Drug estate and others. Drapchi Phunrabpa Tsering Palden also voluntarily offered the exquisite golden roof placed atop Nechung monastery and the 21 gold-coated statues of Tara, a human-sized statue of Avalokiteshvara Sem-Nyid Ngal-So, as well as a silver cascade altar containing two statues made of Sha-li bronze and Zhi-Khim bronze. For the assembly hall below, he offered a special Guru Nang-Srid Zil-Non statue, and a pair of gold butter lamp pots, known as Kal-Zang Chod-Kong (Auspicious Butter Lamp Pot) that could each retain about four kilograms of butter.

In short, Drapchi Phunrabpa Tsering Palden offered all his wealth, property and belongings to Nechung monastery as a resource for the conduct of future ceremonial activities.

During the same period, Barn-Rim monastery in Kongpo region also came under Nechung's administrative control. The general masses serving the government estates voluntarily offered a portion of their taxes to the government as offerings to Nechung monastery and requested the monastery to accept them as its subjects.

Besides, a small monastery known as Lha-Ri Zim-Bug or Pad-Me Zim-Bug of Phung-Po Ri-Bo-Che in the Tsang region and two nunneries located in Ki-Lung area of Phenpo also became branch monasteries of Nechung monastery.

Lobsang Sonam of Kham became the ninth medium of Tibet's Nechung Oracle, and Lhalungpa Gyaltsen Tharchin became the tenth medium. Lobsang Sonam was reinstalled as the eleventh medium. While he was in trance, the State Oracle pronounced a prayer for the speedy return of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama.

After the demise of the Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Lobsang Namgyal (ca. 1935) of Derbag, near Nechung monastery, became the twelfth medium. He accompanied the Regent, Reting Rinpoche, to Samye monastery at the Samye restoration ceremony.

When the Tibetan government requested him to perform a trance in the presence of Guru Nga-Dra-Ma's statue, the oracle through him made prophesies regarding the search for the reincarnation of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama. The oracle left a resource for the conduct of ceremonial rituals at Nechung monastery, especially for the conduct of Avalokiteshvara Dro-Wa Kun-Drol rituals.

In 1945, Lobsang Jigme of Lhasa was publicly proclaimed to be the new and the thirteenth medium of Tibet's State Oracle. He became the first Nechung kuten (medium) to rise from the ranks of Nechung monastery. His predecessors had all come from else-where.

In 1949, during a trance performed at Tsom-Chen Nyi-Od (Sunny Hall), the oracle gave clear prophesies concerning the spiritual and temporal issues relating to Tibet.

Likewise, during a trance performance at the main hall of Drepung monastery, it left clear-cut prophesies to remove obstacles and hindrances to the life of the present Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso.

The medium also offered costumes and built a special altar for the Thousand golden statues of the Buddha and the Twenty-one Taras housed in Nechung monastery's middle storey called Zam-Ling Zim-Chung (Universal Chamber).

During the 1959 Tibetan national uprising against China's invasion and occupation of Tibet, the State Oracle, Nechung, communicating through his medium Venerable Lobsang Jigme, left very clear prophesies about the escape route to be followed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama into exile in India.

Venerable Losang Jigme, who also escaped to India, following the Chinese occupation of Tibet, continued to serve as the medium of Tibet's State Oracle until he passed away in Dharamsala on April 26, 1984.

The present and the fourteenth medium of the State Oracle is Venerable Thubten Ngodup. Born in 1957 in Phari, Tibet, he and his family fled the country after the Chinese invasion. He came to Dharamsala in 1969 and joined Nechung monastery in 1971.

The first time Venerable Thubten Ngodup was possessed by Nechung's spirit was on March 31, 1987 see Interview). After this, His Holiness the Dalai Lama privately had Venerable Thubten Ngodup perform a trance in his presence, during which His Holiness tested him in accordance with tradition.

Later on, a number of trances were requested and he also went on a retreat of Hayagriva, the meditational deity Padma Wangchen and of Guru Rinpoche's La-Drub (Self-generation) practice.

On September 4, 1987, Venerable Thubten Ngodup was recognised by His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the new medium of the State Oracle of Tibet and an official ceremony to this effect was held at Nechung monastery in Dharamsala, the seat of the Tibetan government in exile. [ Homepage ] [ Buddhism ]



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Last updated: 10-Nov-97