Gyalsre Rigzin Chophel was the first Son from the first queen of the seventh
ruler Tsugphud Namgyal (1785-1861) and was regarded as an incarnate of Khenchen
Thinlay Rolpai Dorje the first Head Lama of
Pemayangtse Monastery
He was born on the
Earth Rabbit year of
14 Rabjung Cycle
which corresponds to
1819 A.D.
When he attained a stage of full monkhood
he was addressed as ‘
Labrang Kyabgon’. “
Kyabgon” means in Tibetan-
“
Savior” the Title, which conferred to High Lamas but
H.H.Risley
has written in Gazetteer page No. 23 as “
Kupgain” which is mispronounced
and has no meaning.
However,the founding date furnished by the Gonpa Management Committee as ‘
1826
A.D’, can not be taken as an authentic date since it’s founder, by this
time, attains 07(Seven) years old only. Hence the founding date recorded by
H.H. Risley in his Gazetteer of Sikkim as
1844 A.D, is more logical
and justifiable because by this time the founder attains the age of 25.
The record reveals that the Prince later installed a precious bronze statue
of
Karma Guru (a statue of Lord Guru in Wrathful form) in this monastery,
which is presently installed in the shrine of first floor. A major renovation
was done in 1978 with government aid. Its walls are adorned with life like
frescoes of Buddhist legends. Its structure is built up with typical Sikkimese
architecture of ‘
Rinchhen Surgye’or eight pointed diamond symbolizing the
indestructible and only monastery of its kind in Sikkim. The Monastery functions
all the major Buddhist festivals with mask dance. Presently, the government of
Sikkim has provided the old structure with steel columns to check further
damages