Today (25th February) is the 8th day of the first Lunar month according to the Kalacakra calendar, traditionally celebrated as the birthday of HH 12th Khenting Tai Situpa and also Noble Tārā day. At Tai Situpa’s main monastic seat in India, Palpung Sherab Ling, HE 9th Gyalton Rinpoche, tulkus, Khenpos, vajra masters, monastic community and lay devotees joyfully came together to celebrate his life and activities and wish him a long life and good health.
In the morning there was a Sang/Purification ritual, at which I had an intense vision of Gyalwa Gyamtso on the main throne. Afterwards, the 12th Tai Situpa and 9th Gyalton Rinpoche arrived in the shrine room. This then seemed to transform into a union/empowerment with 9th Gyalton Rinpoche as the vajra master/deity. Afterwards, the 12th Tai Situpa and 9th Gyalton Rinpoche arrived. Together with Buddhist aspirations there was a mandala offering by 9th Gyalton Rinpoche to 12th Tai Situpa, which merged with Gyalwa Gyamtso above and on the throne ending in a union with guru-yidam-protector with Tai Situpa’s fatherly loving kindness blessing. Together with Buddhist aspirations there was a mandala offering by 9th Gyalton Rinpoche to 12th Tai Situpa, which merged with Gyalwa Gyamtso above and on the throne ending in a union with guru-yidam-protector (as Gyalton Rinpoche) with Tai Situpa’s fatherly loving kindness blessing.
Traditional sweet rice and tea were offered to all in attendance, including the many followers seated outside the temple. A lovely birthday cake was offered with a beautiful white horse on top, with the cake-cutting task honour given to Gyalton Rinpoche. Sweet, smiling child monks with sparkly birthday hats (which brought a big grin to my face and many others), sang Happy Birthday in English and Tibetan to Tai Situpa.
A vegetarian and tasty lunch was also generously offered to all attendees.
As a material offering to 12th Tai Situpa, when I went up to offer a katag, I offered specially framed prints of the pure vision red hat White Tara for Rinpoche’s “rabney” blessing. Later, I distributed limited edition postcard size prints of the new artwork design to monastic and lay devotees (one version Tārā is alone, one version with one if the greatest Tibetan Buddhist masters, 8th Tai Situpa, Chokyi Jungney above). People seemed overjoyed to get them. In particular, the version with 8th Tai Situpa was popular among devoted followers. The image of 8th Tai Situpa is a digital version of the same image on the huge thangka next to the golden relic stupa of 8th Tai Situpa at Sherab Ling.
Also as an offering I re-share my translation of the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje’s long-life prayer for 12th Tai Situpa, composed in 2021: https://dakinitranslations.com/2021/02/19/new-long-life-prayer-for-14th-tai-situ-rinpoches-birthday-by-17th-karmapa/?
As a part II birthday offering, I will also publish a brand new article on the 8th and 12th Tai Situpa’s artworks and historical origin and significance.
For other research and translations on the Khenting Tai Situpas, see here.
Music: Tribute to Jamgon Tai Situpa by Sonam Topden and Tenzin Kunsel.
Dedicated to the long-life of 12th Khenting Tai Situpa, and to the flourishing and preservation of the great 8th Tai Situpa and Palpung legacy and creative and intellectual innovation!