Sera Monastery

The origin of Sera Monastery:
There are two stories about the name of sera monastery. A legend says that Tsong Khapa and his two disciples traveled in the area, spreading their religion. One day, they heard a horse whinnying underground when they were taking a walk in the rose woods. They dug up a statue of Hynagriva (a horse-headed demon-god) and Tsong Khapa began construct a monastery to enshrine Hynagriva. When it finished,the monastery was named "Sera" which means Wild Rose in the Tibetan language, because the hill behind it was covered with wild roses in bloom when the monastery was built. The other one says that there was a heavy snowstorm when they constructed the monastery.while they called the snowstorm "Sera"  in the Tibetan language.

However, the truth is that in 1414, Jamchen Chojey (or Sakya Yeshe), one of Tsong Khapa's disciples, visited Emperor Chengzu as Tsong Khapa's emissary. The Emperor Chengzu granted him a title of Dharma King of Great Mercy, sutras, and a set of sandalwood Arhats. In order to preserve them, Tsong Khapa instructed Jamchen Chojey to build a monastery to house the treasures. The Sera monastery was completed in 1419.

The constructure of the Sera Monastery: 
The Sera Monastery is composed with the Coqen Hall,the Zhacang and the Kamcun in Tibetan language which covers an area of 114,946 square meters (28 acres).Its main buildings are the Assembly Hall,three College and 29 Dormitories.The Coqen Hall is the grandest hall of Sera, occupying a floor space of 1,000 square meters. The four-storied hall has four chapels in which Arhats, Manjushri, Tsong Khapa, and Chenrezi are enshrined. Later, a huge Maitreya was enshrined in the hall during the reign of the Seventh Dalai Lama. The valuable Buddhist sutras that Jamchen Chojey brought back from Beijing are kept in a sutrpigeonhole adjacent to the hall.

Sera houses three colleges as well as Drepung and Ganden. Sera Me college was the first one built in 1419 and Later it was destroyed by a lightening strike and Wars , but restored in 1761. Sera Me is prestigious for its fine, undamaged murals.

Sera Je college was founded in 1435 and expanded by a Mongol king in the seventeenth century. The building has five stores, covering a space of a thousand square meters. Its main hall contains 11 stupas of Ganden tripas and Ratreng tripas. The original Hynagriva statue is enshrined in its Hynagriva Chapel.

Ngagpa college was the smallest one of the three colleges,established in 1559,it houses its founder Jamchen Chojey's statue in its chanting hall. The set of sandalwood Arhats granted to the monastery is housed in this college. For the sake of perfect preservation, they are encased in the bellies of a set of clay Arhats which have been authenticated as the original ones.

Sera's collection of murals is maintained in perfect, original condition. Its statues of Maitreya, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats are very noteworthy. Scriptures written in gold powder, scroll paintings, a tapestry portrait of Jamchen Chojey, and thangkas can be seen throughout Sera.

Sera Bengqin Festival:
The Sera Bengqin Festival is a grand festival held in the Sera Monastery on December 27 of the Tibetan calendar (about February in the Gregorian calendar). On that day, a Dorje Pestle is carried to the Potala Palace to ask the Dalai Lama here to prays to the Buddha to confer strength and then  blesses the pestle. Following this, the Khenpo (president) of the Ngaba Zhacang will place the pestle on the monks and followers who believe that the power and support of the Buddha are transferred. Tens of thousands of believers come to witness this event as it only occurs at the Sera Monastery.

Debating of Buddhist Doctrines:
The Gelugpa or Yellow Hat Sect of Tibetan Buddhism studies Buddhist doctrines using a step-by-step process. As a part of their study, lamas must participate in debates to further their comprehension and proceed to more advanced levels of study. The debating traditions in the Sera Monastery are unique among the three famous monasteries in Lhasa. Debates are conducted by the lamas in the monastery every day beginning at 3.F.M. In a battle of words, they supplement their efforts by using a variety of gestures including clapping their hands, pushing their partners for an answer, or plucking their prayer beads to win the virtue of the Buddha. For a clear view of this unique event, an early arrival is recommended.