The Eidos Film Society - Than-ston rGyal-po

Search

Spiti Project

Spiti Valley Buchen Lamas Mahasiddha Charity Spiti Gallery

Than-ston rGyal-po

The great mahasidha Than-ston rGyal-po is thought to be the father of Tibetan performing arts. He lived in 1361-1485 in Tibet. He was a famous bridge constructor, architect,artist, doctor and philosopher. He is believed to be an incarnated emanation of Avalokitesvara and Guru Rimpoche (Padmasambhava).

Than-ston rGyal-po performed the braking stone ceremony during the Čun Ri-bo-če bridge construction and during a great epidemic in Lhasa.

The great mahasidha came to Lhasa on the silver tailed great bird. From five of his fingers sprang five flames and he appeared as five persons. These five gave performances that attracted all the citizens of Lhasa to the main market. With them also came the demon of epidemics.

Thang-ston rGyal-po using his supernatural power invited all the bad spirits into the stone and broke it. That was the end of the epidemic in Lhasa. Thus began the Buchen tradition.