Cham/ Mask Dance Story In Tibetan Buddhism | Meet The Evil Inside Us | Monastery In Shimla, Himachal

What is Cham Dance? The cham dance is a lively masked and costumed dance, a pratice associated with Mahayana Buddhism. The word Cham itself means Dance in Tibetan language. It’s a 1300+ years old dance also known as mask dance which has religious significance. It is performed by the monks during festivals and special events of the monasteries located mostly in the Himalayan region to transform evil for the benefit of the entire world and for the greater good of humanity. I got to witness this dance during the Gutor Festival at Dorje Drak Monastery in Shimla. I am quite frequent to this monastery in Shimla, can proudly say "It's my second home in Shimla" :)
History of Cham Dance
The Cham or Mask Dance has a very important and interesting history. It was during the 8th Century when the King of Tibet,Trishong Detsen called the Great Indian Guru of Buddhism "Guru Padmasambhava" and told the Guru about his interest in constructing a monastery in Tibet and how every single time just with the thought of the monastery, natural disaster takes place. The king and the locals felt the local God was not happy with the plan and thus natural disaster happens. They also feared the existence of evil spirits living in the air and the mountains. The Great Guru Padmasambhava then performed a pooja and a dance and it was while dancing, he rose so up in the air that wherever his shadow showed on the ground, became the boundary line for the monastery. Today, this monastery is known as Samye Monastery - the first monastery in Tibet and the dance became popular as Cham or Mask Dance.
In Buddhism it is believed that evil is something not outside us. It is our own ego. The deities are also represented in wrathful forms in order to show that evil comes from within. It is created by ignorance, anger, desire, jealousy, and ego. The nature of the mind is clear, but it is covered by the ego. Cham removes the ego from evil’s mind, allowing it to see clearly the path to transformation.
How Cham is performed?
Cham or Mask dance is performed in the form of chants, meditation, mantras and body movements. however, this form of dance is focused mostly on the hand gestures and mantras recited by the monks. I got to witness Cham during the Gutor Festival at the Monastery in Shimla during which the monks performed a 9 days pooja to invoke deity Yamantaka or Yamraj. Basically during the Pooja, the monks meditate and pray to surrender their personalities completely to be the deities.So during the cham performance, it is not the lamas who dance but the deities on the sacred ground to shower the blessings upon the whole universe.
I hope you enjoy watching this video on Cham or Mask Dance. It took me a lot of hard work, research and dedication to create this video cause it was totally a new topic for me. Please remember to Like, Comment, Share & Subscribe.
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[@hazy16]

I swear to Lord I feel actual proud as being a buddhist💜🌟💖. Namo Buddhaya 💜💖⚡🌟

[@gyadre]

GURU Padma Sambhava was INVITED on the advice by Shantharakshit abbot of Nalanda was invited to teach Buddhism in Tibet. Shantharakshit faced challenges from local or native religion which he was not able to cope. Shantharakshit taught Sutra while Padma Sambhava taught Tantra in Tibet to the Tibetan Royal Court and first 7 monks were ordained in Tibet. The Samye monastery was designed on the pattern of Vikramshila of Bihar. So 3 individuals are known as founders of Buddhism in Tibet Shantharakshit Padma Sambhava Emperor of Tibet. Without the emperor patronage and permit Buddhism is difficult to root in Tibet. The Cham in essence victory defeat of Buddhism over the Native religion Bon and other spirit worships.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks for adding this. I read this part ad well while researching for the topic. But it was too lengthy to explain in a video and hence, I explained the latter part

[@xycccdeftwnewq]

Mesmerising rich culture of holy ritual tradition in Tibetan Buddhism as well as cham performances of the lamas particularly peace , prosperity and happiness to whole world , thanks for showing us a good time as specially Dorje Drak Shimla Monastery , superb vlog.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@tada358]

@@DesiGirlTraveller an ex L I

[@debajitsingh4789]

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[@sangey2]

Hello mam I felt so glad by watching your video. It is so kind of you to make such a knowledgeable video. May you Lived a happy and healthy life. Love From Tawang India. You videos are mind blowing can't express in word but love from bottom of my heart.

[@TheBodhiVajra]

Pure Bliss ! 💖👌👌👌 GUTOR= GU means nine and TOR stands for torma, offerings made of dough with various colors, shape and decorations. The dance, masks, torma and effigy may differ a bit based on the deity invoked during the puja. I have watched few Gutor chams (Yamantaka) at Mindroling monastery, Clement Town and Vajrakilaya Gutor cham at Sakya Magon, Puruwala & Sakya Centre, Rajpur. Gutor is performed on the (GU) 29th day of the 12th month of Tibetan calendar. The burning of the effigy symbolises cleansing of negativities and obstacles to welcome the Losar (Tibetan New Year) .

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks for adding :)

[@shivangi_7]

Full of Buddhist culture. Loved it soo much .. It's sad that not soo many people on this platform appreciate this kind of pure , positive, and real content . I want to know more about Buddhism. please share more🤗

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@nimaenrique]

Absolutely great job. It’s not a easy to research about it. You have done superb.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you very much!

[@hazy16]

The Goosebumps just won't go off! 💜🌟💖⚡👹

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

I totally agree :)

[@Thatiswhy]

Would love to see the whole Cham dance in itself too!

[@zambalasenpen409]

Wow a beautiful and significant dance performance that was. Your smile tells all how you felt. ❤️ 🙏

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you so much! :)

[@losangtsether8995]

In this era when it is diffult to separate grain from chaff, you have given a very authentic and near-perfect description of CHAM. On the whole, I would consider this video as one of the best made by a young Indian on the subject. CONGRATULATIONS.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

This made my day. Thank you so much 😊🙏

[@garibrathpaart1208]

@@DesiGirlTraveller yes

[@garibrathpaart1208]

I have seen this dance

[@ruchitapathak3065]

So so so beautiful video i can't explain exit words bt super se upar wali video 👌👌😍 mja agya khuch naya jane ko mila 😍👌👍

[@gyatsotamang2709]

My you are new friends and So Very very Amazing Butiss Cham Dana's rele Nice Beautiful........ 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@sonukumar-rh6pw]

Thanks, your explanation of this dance is really awesome👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏, Doing great job

[@lobsangdekey465]

It is a freshening air vlog and you said it all right. Whoever contribute themselves in such Cham dance of monks are fortunate and gives you peace of mind just being there at present. Nice vlog😘 Good luck for now and future👍

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@starsoul8357]

Very beautiful and your explanation about monastery so good, about Cham informative video ❤️

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@somabhattacharya369]

Wonderful dance , is dance ka history bhi bhaut achha laga

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@tseringphuntsok7696]

Tashi Delek , thanks 👍 for your video, it's really good happy losar

[@RadhikaKal]

Thank you for sharing it priyanka

[@jeetanayak6628]

Really worthy.thank you 🙏.

[@Just_forfun9140]

Loved the video, delightful dances. Very interesting, thanks for all your efforts.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

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Very nice and informative video!

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Superb video. Thanks for sharing such valuable information.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@panchalibora4235]

Lovely vlog ❤️ Beautiful dance 👏

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you so much 😊

[@nikhilbhushan7767]

Amazing, Thanks for the alot of information about the Tibetan Buddhism culture. Loved your all videos & hoping for alot of good content coming soon. I also live near to this monestry in Panthaghati. Hope to meet you soon Ma'am 😊

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@adreamerfrom90s36]

Thankyou for adding to our knowledge! gratitude 🙏

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@sonamdolkar6445]

You did such an Excellent vlog with explanation of Cham dance. Thank you 🙏 for your hard work.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Glad you liked it

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Lovely vlog and beautiful dance

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

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I am proud to be Buddhist ❤️becouse you guys are also supporting our relegion and know about Buddhist ❤️I am so happy today ❤️😊

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@thuptenkalden556]

Desi Girl has yet again come up with a high quality video and tried to explain about it fairly well, which I really appreciate she being coming from a different background. She explained very well that Cham and Dance mean the same which many people, even among some of the Buddhists people in the Himalayan region are unaware of. Yeah, this kind of Dances are basically related to the tantric practice of Mahayana Tradition of Buddhism. One of the core principle of Buddhism is Anatman or Atma theory or No-Self theory. So when you say that between the two lifes (ie this life and next life) the intermittent period of 49 days maximum, it is not the Atma but the subtle Consciousness which is referred to as per Buddhism. And the ultimate aim of a Buddhists is not take rebirth in the Samsara because in the Samsara there is no freedom. That's why the word Yamantaka meaning the end of dying and taking rebirth process in a cyclic form.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you so much for adding this. As an outsider, it's a little difficult for me to understand a few things and more difficult is to make others understand. I am learning day by day and trying to educate on things i like or find interest in :)

[@jigmerock1]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@testinglhundup2018]

Thank u for the vlogging of Buddhist monk dances .(chamb)❤️👍👍🙏🙏✌️✌️✌️

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@tintinlol7881]

Thanks for sharing. Truly felt great watching the great Cham in the video and I am pretty sure that would be much better if I get a change to see in in real life.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@abukahagama6163]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@jamlob2130]

Tashi Delek desigirl travels you are great job you research our Tibetan Buddhism so thank you 🙏🏻 Tibetan large monastery in south India, Drepung, Gaden, Sera, Tashi Lhunpo, Sakya, Kagyu & Nyingma monastery 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 beautiful vlog 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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Hey desi girl traveller. I genuinely appreciate and have observed from the time I've been following your blog that you show respect to all religions and culture. This show of respect to various cultures is itself a religion . A religion where we don't call ourselves a Hindu/ Muslim/ Christian/ Buddhist etc etc. Take care and lots of blessings 🙏

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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great

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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bahut badiya

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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Informative video .

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks :)

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Thanks again ! :-)

[@omparkashgupta4772]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@tenzinchodon3660]

Very informative :) Thanks for covering this part of the Tibetan religious ritual tradition. Just to add here: "Cham" the literal translation is "masked dance' (especially, performed during a religious ritual ceremony), the normal "dance" in Tibetan is called "ghar" or 'shabdro". All the best.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@Deepaksharma-fc6vv]

Is this Dance is performed by both male & female.?

[@tenzinchodon3660]

@@Deepaksharma-fc6vv It is only performed by male monks.

[@pawansingh5463]

❤️❤️🙌🙌

[@tenzinyangdol2767]

Love from tibet

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

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Hi your video was very informative

[@kalpanabhatia7932]

Thanks for your effort god bless u

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Really enjoyed your video

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kamleshpatadia389]

Very good

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks :)

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Very good video

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@RadhikaKal]

It's a mice video about tiberias culture which we cm to know

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@tseringdhundup3807]

🙏🙏🙏

[@fromindia123]

Namo Yamantaka 🙏🙏🙏

[@karmakamalvajralepcha9682]

😍😍😍😍🙏🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏👏

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Imagine getting a heart from uh❤

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

here you go :)

[@palakbharadwaj8837]

Thanku😊😊

[@Deepaksharma-fc6vv]

Is this dance performed only by men? Or by both men & women?

[@wicharajkumari1087]

Desi girl I totally agree that evil is within us..

[@sureshchandra2693]

आपको देखना सुखद अहसास है।

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@universe7903]

It’s very useful for everyone and your convey most important part of its dance related with evil spirit (Bardo). Not much different from Hindu practice by sadhus.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@janchupchhoden7963]

Thank you for the video. I really enjoyed a lot watching it. Hope your research and hard work bring good results soon. All the best 👍

[@fromindia123]

if you want to know about Bardo then i recommend you to read a (Tibetan Book of Living And Dying) very famous book

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@pankajvlogs4048]

जो जो अपनी प्यारी आंखों से यह कमेंट पढ़ रहा है भगवान उसके माता-पिता को सदा सलामत रखे ❤💛