Kama Drubchö: Great Accomplishment Ceremony that Confers the Supreme and Common Siddhis of the Kama Teachings
Every year, from the 9th to the 15th day of the 4th Tibetan month, Namdroling Monastery conducts the Kama Drubchö, or the Great Accomplishment Ceremony that Confers the Supreme and Common Siddhis of the Kama Teachings. This year’s Kama Drubchö ceremonies coincided with the Western calendar dates of 1 to 7 June, 2009. During these seven days, ceremonial practices are conducted around-the-clock at the monastery.
Procession on 6 June, 2009 for Kama Drupchod Conclusion
Ritual practices prior to Kama Drubchö began on 27 May with the Tsa Cham, or the “Root” lama dances discovered by Lochen Dharma Shri in the 16th century. Other preparatory practices include “opening the countenance” of seven distinctive Mandalas. These Mandalas, which embody a total of thirteen Kama Teachings, are: the Mandala of the Sutra Practice of the Great Gathering, the Peaceful Magical Net, the Wrathful Magical Net, the Union of Buddhas, the Yangdag Heruka, Rongzom’s Version of Vajrakilaya, and the Six-faced Yamantaka.
In strict accordance with tradition, after receiving Khelchog, the arrangement of the Mandalas began on 30 May, were completed on the 31st, and the main ceremony began precisely on 1 June. The Mandala of the Sutra Practice of the Great Gathering was established in the Golden Temple, which is Namdroling’s main temple, while the other mandalas were established in other temples at the monastery.
On the morning of 2 June, the mammoth painting of Lord Buddha, Thoung-Drol (Liberation Upon Seeing), was hoisted over the High School-level dormitory. The Garcham (lama dance) was performed on the 5th, and on 6 June the Rolcham (dance with cymbals) and Throcham (wrathful dance) were performed. On the last day, 7 June, the fire ritual was performed in the morning. At this time, thousands of local people gathered at the monastery to offer substances that held particularly special significance to them. In the afternoon, the empowerment for the Great Accomplishment practice was granted to all the devotees. By evening, dedication of inestimable merits and aspiration prayers were performed, together with offerings of bountiful butter lamps. The ceremonies concluded with prayers for auspicious circumstances, the tossing of flowers, and songs of sacred hymns accompanied by the sounding of ritual instruments.