Later, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama composed Dra-Yang-Ma (Melodic Chant), comprising a text of self-generation practice and an invocation rite of the Dharma protector. The text is based on Thug-Drub Yang-Nying Due-Pa (Essential Summary of Heart's Accomplishment) of treasure master Ratna Lingpa and Trin-Ley Don-Chu (Ten Enlightened Activities) of Ngadak Nyang. These are practiced at Nechung monastery even to this day. Likewise, La-Ma Sang-Due constitutes a primary practise of the monastery. The two treasure texts, La-Ma Sang-Due and Thug-Drub Yang-Nying Due-Pa are respectively considered the mother and the son doctrine.

In addition to these, Nechung monastery monks are required to carry out a 500,000 times preliminary retreat on Thug-Drub Yan-Nying Due-Pa.

The principle meditational deity of the monastery is Hayagriva Yang--Sang La-Drub, which stands for the Hayagriva as apparent in Thug-Drab Yang-Nying Due-Pa. It is for this reason that the coming of Ogyen Thinley Choephel (Nechung Rinpoche) to Nechung monastery, as the incarnation of Ratna Lingpa, signifies a special connection to the above treasure doctrines. (After coming into exile in India, Nechung monastery has been able to preserve the entire cycle of Thug-Drub Yang-Nying Due-Pa initiations, which were bestowed by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, and later especially by Khamtrul Rinpoche at the monastery).

During the time of the Sixth Medium of Tibet's State Oracle, Ngawang Gyatso, the great meditation master Vidhyadhara Kalsang Pema Wangchuk Jigme Gocha Thubten Langtshoi-De of Dorjidrak monastery became the root guru of Nechung monastery. Subsequently, numerous cycles of rituals and rites belonging to Jang-Ter (Northern tradition), such as, the Arya Avalokiteshvara (Dro-Wa Kun-Drol) of the Outer Aspect, being the primary deity, were instituted in the liturgical tradition of the monastery. (In exile, the initiations and transmissions of these traditions were received from Taglung Tsetrul Rinpoche, the present holder of Jang-Ter tradition).

At the same time a great tantrika Pema Gyepa, also became the spiritual guide of the medium, Ngawang Gyatso, and the sangha of Nechung monastery. He instituted the treasure doctrine Thugs-Drub Ye-She Nor-Bu (Jewel of Heart's Accomplishment) as one of the primary traditions of the monastery. It was also during this time that the medium, Ngawang Gyatso, who himself was one of the realised disciples of Pema Gyepa, and the monastery's chant master Kunsang Pema Dodul, as well as the entire sangha of Nechung monastery, accepted both the Vidhyadhara Kalsang Pema Wangchuk and Pema Gyepa as their root guru. Thereafter, the retreat, the accomplishment and the ritual of Srog Khang Drub-Pa Chen-Mo (Life Shelter), the complimentary fire ritual and the cross-thread rituals were instituted by the masters in the tradition of Nechung monastery.

And as a resource for carrying out Srog-Chang rituals, the Tibetan government, as grants to Nechung monastery, gave the Ram-Pa Nang-Ma Jing estate, Nga-Dha estate in the region of Dag-Po, as well as the Kha-Kor estate. As a resource for fire wood, the government provided land from the region of Nor-Tod Ling-Ga and Tsal-Bu Ling-Ga. Lha-Ri Zim-Phug also came under the administrative control of the monastery. In addition to these, the old Me-Ru monastery in Lhasa and others became a home for Nechung monks during the Great Prayer Festival in Tibet.

The Seventh Medium, Tsangyang Tamdin, introduced the practice of Dag-Dun Bum-Sum (Self-generation, Generation Infront and Vase-generation) of the Thirteen Deities of Yamantaka, as well as the grand consecration rite Ge-Leg Char-Beb (Auspicious Shower).

As a resource for performing these rituals, the government granted the Shar-Chog estate, Chag-Ru estate and Zhing-Mo-Che estate.

The Eighth Medium, Shakya Yarphel, was a contemporary of the Tenth Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso (1876-1837), and lived till the early phase of the life of the Thirteenth Dalai Lama, Thubten Gyatso (1876-1933). The medium restored Zhi-Sum (Three Basic Traditions) - bi-monthly confession ceremony, the rainy season retreat and the lifting of the restrictions during the rainy season retreat of the monastic discipline. He also introduced the grand accomplishment rite of the Dharma guardian Je-Che.

As a resource for carrying out the above rituals, Khyi-Nang estate, otherwise known as Drung-Yig estate of Kongpo, and Long Tag-Dong estate and Neu-Nas-Sar estate were granted by the government to Nechung monastery.

The Thirteenth Dalai Lama, in accordance to his own wishes, for the first time instituted the grand practice and ritual of preparing sacred pills rite of Vajrakila Yang-Nying Pu-Tri, a treasure doctrine of Ogyen Lerab Lingpa at Nechung monastery.

Recently on July 20, 1990, at the re-established Nechung monastery in Dharamsala the direct reincarnation of Terton Sogyal Rinpoche, whose predecessor transmitted and revealed this tradition of Vajrakila, gave an oral transmission of Vajrakila Yang-Nying Pu-Tri Due-Pa, a treasure doctrine discovered by him in accordance with the prediction of the Dharma protector. He also bestowed the initiation of Vajrakila Gur-Khug-Ma, a visionary doctrine of his own. It is believed that Rinpoche has given this initiation for the first time to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and then to Nechung monastery in his life time.

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Last updated: 10-Nov-97