Pullahari Monastery, Kathmandu, Bagmati Nepal

Pullahari is the main seat of His Eminence the fourth Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche, Lodro Chokyi Nyima. In 1986, the Venerable Dabzang Rinpoche offered land for a monastery to the third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche and requested that he establish a three-year retreat centre for monks of the Karma Kagyu lineage.

Accepting the offer, the third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche began the construction of a monastery in 1987. He named the place “Pullahari”, after Naropa’s monastery in Bihar, India where Lotsawa Marpa lived and practiced for many years. It was also there that Naropa learned about Marpa’s student, Milarepa, and prophesised the future of the Lineage.

Pullahari Monastery opened in March 1992. The Third Jamgon Kongtrul Rinpoche consecrated the lineage shrine hall, appointed the site of the 3-year Mahamudra retreat centre, and made the decision to relocate the Rigpe Dorje Institute project to Pullahari from Sarnath, India, the originally intended location. He also gave instructions for the annual Rigpe Dorje programmes and pointed to a site for a Tibetan Medical Centre. He advised Tenzin Dorjee, his General Secretary, to think not only of him but also the future incarnations when working for his projects and activities. As it came to be, the Third Jamgon Rinpoche dissolved his mind into the sphere of Dharmakaya on April 26th, 1992.