Author: Sarat Chandra Das
W W Rockhill/
Publisher: Paljor Publications
Year: 2001
Language: English
Pages: 291
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8186230173
Description
Das made his first journey into Tibet in 1879. His second journey was made in the late 1881. In both the journey, Lama Ugyen Gyatso, a Tibetan lama from Sikkim and connected with the reigning family of the State, acted as his guide and companion. This book is a narrative of his journeys to Tibet.
Sarat Chandra Das is among the greatest pioneers of explorer and discoverer who ever entered Tibet. Born in 1849, in Eastern Bengal, in a Hindu family of the vaidya, he received his education from the Presidency College at Calcutta, where he became favorably known to Sir Alfred Croft, who ever since has been his friend and guide in his geographical and literary work, and by whose representations to the Indian Government it became possible for him to perform his important journeys into Tibet.
In his journeys to Tibet, beginning with Tashi Lhunpo, a great centre of learning, Sarat Chandra Das explored the valley of Yarlung, where Tibetan civilization is said to have first made its appearance. The report of his journeys were printed in two separate publications by order of the Government of Bengal. They are entitled Narrative of a Journey to Lhasa, and Narrative of a Journey Round Lake Yamdok, and in Lhokha, Yarlung, and Sakya. For various reasons these reports were kept as strictly confidential documents by the Indian Government until about 1890.
The amount of literary work accomplished by Sarat Chandra Das since his return from Tibet in 1883 is enormous. He brought back with him over two hundred volumes, manuscripts of block-prints, obtained from the great libraries in Tibet, a number of them in Sanskrit, and for past many centuries lost in India. For his achievements, he was awarded the title of Rai Bahadur by the Government of India, and in 1887 the Royal Geographical Society awarded him the Back Premium for his geographical researches.
Contents
List of Illustrations
Introduction
Journey from Darjeeling to Tashilhunpo
Residence at Tashilhunpo
Journey to Dongtse
Residence at Tashilhunpo, and Preparations for Journey to Lhasa
From Tashilhunpo to Yamdo Samding, and thence to Lhasa
Residence at Lhasa
Government of Lhasa - Customs, Festivals, etc.
Return to Tashilhunpo and Ugyen-gyatso’s visit to the Bonbo Sanctuary of Rigyal Sendar
Funeral of the Panchen Rinpoche - Visit to the Great Lamasery of Samye and to Yarlung
Visit to Sakya and Return to India
Social Divisions - Marriage - Funerals-Medicine - Festivals