The Kalimpong Gumpa [Lepcha Buddhist Monastery] of Bom Busty at Kalimpong was originally located on top of the hillock of the present day army gulf course and was built in 1690 A.D. A part of the Tshoten (small Stupa) can still be found in the gulf ground. This was the first Buddhist monastery ever built in Kalimpong as prior to that the Lepchas were deep rooted in the cult of “Mun” “Boongthing” i.e. what is commonly known to the world as nature worshipping ,a belief with a combination of monotheism and animism.
Rev. Dr. John Anderson Grahams in the year 1889 who was then vested with the power under the British government for the supervision of Khasmahal and Development area, was informed by the local Lepchas that the name of the ridge is “Kaalenpung” which means Kaa-we, Len-gather, Pung-ridge, it was during this time of survey the then Damsang Lyang name was overwritten by the name Kalimpong which was the anglicised version of Kaalenpung by the British. Dr. Graham later ordered the monastery to be shifted from the then area i.e. the present day Army Golf course, to Kaffer at a spot near the present day D.G.H.C. Guest house. This was done to convert the area into Development area. The present day Lepchas of Kaffer and Yangmakum are originally from Kalimpong town who were shifted for development of Kalimpong town.
As most of the followers were in Kalimpong, Aathing Sando Tshering Tamsangmoo Lepcha gifted a plot of land at Bom Busty for the same monastery to be shifted to Kalimpong. This is the present location of the Kalimpong Lepcha Gumba, Bom .
The difference of this monastery from the other Buddhist monasteries
1. The local Deities called the Lunjyee Lungnong (Tshoma) or in other words the local deities of Damsang lyang that is the region covering Kalimpong, Gorbathan, Darjeeling and surrounding areas find an integral place in the worshiping ceremonies of the Monastery along with the General Buddhist rituals, which is a unique feature separating this particular monastery from the other monasteries.
2. Lepcha holy book called “Naamtho Naamthaar” written in Lepcha is recited along with the Tibetan Buddhist text called “Tshyo” during the ritual prayer recitals.
3. It is believed that one of the unique rituals conducted in the monastery is the ability to stop the (Sotaap Chok) hail stones which causes destruction of crops and animals. The founder of the monastery Yeshey Rapgay Lepcha was gifted with such special knowledge by his guru after his training in the Druk Kargu sect this which is also a branch like the Bhutanese Druk Kargu sect.
4. Hereditary monkhood of the Monastery.
The head monks of the monastery are all passed on through the generations; the present monk is Rabden Lepcha, before him was his Grandfather Sangay Lepcha (present Head Lama) likewise his father Ganzi Lepcha, his father Ugen Dorjee Lepcha, his father Yeshey Thendup Lepcha, his father Lenjy Lepcha, his father Hithyaak Lepcha and then his father Yeshey Rapgey Lepcha the Founder.
NOTE
The first damage was due to the earthquake in the year 1934, and then later in 1968, which had developed slight cracks on walls of this unknown heritage of Kalimpong. Now the recent earthquake of 18th September’ 2011 has completely damaged the very base and the foundations of the monastery from where the name of the Kalimpong was evolved. The structure has been declared unstable and unsafe by the engineers and officials. It is matter of serious concern that this unknown heritage be preserved from obliteration.
A “Reconstruction Committee” under the present Kalimpong Gumba Welfare Committee has been formed for reconstruction of this heritage of Kalimpong to which I got the opportunity to be chosen the co-ordinator. Please send your queries through my email. i.e. azukval@gmail.com t
