Entrance to Mata Kuan Rani Temple
Temple shrine and attendant
Princess Mandarava statue in shrine.

The Mata Kuan Rani Temple, or 'Princess of the Well Temple', is situated near the bank of the Beas River in the town of Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India. This is the place where the princess Mandarava was imprisoned by her father.

31°43′N 76°55′E / 31.72°N 76.92°E / 31.72; 76.92

Description and history

The slate-roofed temple over a deep well is dedicated to the 'Princess of the Well' and celebrates the time when, according to legend, Princess Mandarava (man da ra ba me tog), the Princess of Zahor (or Sahor), which is usually identified with Mandi, though some scholars place it in eastern India),[1] became a consort of Padmasambhava (Tibetan: Guru Rinpoche).

Mandarava, the daughter of King Arshadhara and Queen Mohauki,.[2] is said to have been born a prodigy and an 'Awareness Dakini' (yes-shes mkha'-'gro) and was very beautiful. She refused all offers of marriage and fed her father the flesh of a Brahmin (a terrible offence), left the palace, and took on the robes of a beggar. She was ordained by the famous Buddhist scholar Śāntarakṣita, who is also said to have been a native of Zahor, and came to terms with her father who provided a palace for her meditation. When Padmasambhava came to Zahor from Orgyen, she fell for him and became his disciple.[3]

The king became incensed and condemned them both to death in a fire which raged for seven days. After the smoke cleared there was a lake with a lotus in it, Rewalsar (Tibetan: Tso Pema or 'Lotus Lake'), which is situated about 24 km from Mandi.[4] This convinced the king of the wisdom and power of Padmasambhava and he requested teachings from him and gave his daughter permission to pursue her religious destiny.[5]

The temple is sacred to both Tibetan Buddhists and Hindus, and was commonly visited by Tibetan pilgrims and traders before the invasion of Tibet by the Chinese when the borders were closed with India.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Chonam and Khandro (1998), p. 9.
  2. ↑ Kunsang (1994), p. 264
  3. ↑ Dowman (1984), p. 265.
  4. ↑ Stott and Dare (2009), p. 530.
  5. ↑ Changchub and Nyingpo (1999), p. 235.

References

  • Changchub, Gyalwa and Namkhai Nyingpo. (1999). Lady of the Lotus-Born: The Life and Enlightenment of Yeshe Tsogyal. Translated by the Padmakara Translation Group. Shambala, Boston & London. ISBN 1-57062-384-8.
  • Dowman, Keith. (1984). Sky Dancer: The Secret Life and Songs of the Lady Yeshe Tsogyel. Routledge & Kegan Paul, Boston, Mass. ISBN 0-7100-9576-7.
  • Kunsang, Erik Pema (Trans.) (1994). Advice from the Lotus-Born: A collection of Padmasambhava's advice to the Dakini Yeshe Tsogyal and other close disciples . . . . Rangjung Yeshe Publications, Boudhanath, Århus & Hong Kong. ISBN 962-7341-20-7.
  • Singh, Sarina (2009). India (Lonely Planet Country Guide) (Paperback). 13th Updated edition. ISBN 978-1-74179-151-8.
  • Stott, David and Annie Dare (2009). India Handbook 2009: Tread Your Own Path. 16th Edition. Footprint Handbooks. ISBN 978-1-906098-38-4.

Further reading

  • Chonam, Khandro and Gyatso. (1998) The Lives and Liberation of Princess Mandarava: The Indian Consort of Padmasambhava. Wisdom Publications. Lama Chonam, Sangye Khandro and Janet Gyatso. ISBN 978-0-86171-144-4.
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