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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[@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

[@hazy16]

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

[@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

[@Thatiswhy]

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

[@hazy16]

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

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

I totally agree :)

[@debajitsingh4789]

Very vivid culture of Buddhism , it's really knowledgeable and praiseworthy vlog 👌 you are doing great job ❤️👍

[@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 :)

[@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 :)

[@zambalasenpen409]

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

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you so much! :)

[@gyatsotamang2709]

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

[@jeetanayak6628]

Really worthy.thank you 🙏.

[@nimaenrique]

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

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you very much!

[@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 😍👌👍

[@sonukumar-rh6pw]

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

[@RadhikaKal]

Thank you for sharing it priyanka

[@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

[@nimaenrique]

Most waited one.

[@tseringphuntsok7696]

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

[@sonamtsetan7279]

Very nice and informative video!

[@adreamerfrom90s36]

Thankyou for adding to our knowledge! gratitude 🙏

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@somabhattacharya369]

Wonderful dance , is dance ka history bhi bhaut achha laga

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@dilbanjare]

Extremely valuable video...thank you so much....and keep making such videos with lots of information. It's very useful for us common ordinary people who probably will never go to such places on particular occasions yet has the keen desire to know about them. Indian culture in any part of the country is unending...still you summaries them so well.Keep on doing it. .. it's so helpful for your fans like me

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@mehakjaidka2004]

Yeah first 😀

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

🎉

[@Just_forfun9140]

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

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@tenzindorjee9624]

Thank u very much for ur lots of afford to put this beautiful video really feel blessed 🌹🙏

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks for watching :) . Please share this video cause I know not many would find an interest to watch this one unless they start watching :)

[@Kungoe767]

truly amazing!! you articulate so well for the viewers and i am so proud of you. thank you for sharing our tibetan buddhism to your followers and its very very important just to know about it. Tashi delek !!!

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@sangeygonpapa8450]

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

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@jigmerock1]

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[@dreamworld8579]

Well done you explained it in very simple way

[@starsoul8357]

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

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@priscilladsouza8990]

Superb video. Thanks for sharing such valuable information.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@bacchawagle]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Glad you liked it

[@aachentenzin]

Very nice informative video. Thank you for sharing

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@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 :)

[@tenzinyangdol2767]

Love from tibet

[@sonamdolkar6445]

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

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you so much!

[@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 :)

[@soniakumar60]

heyya desigirl...ur brief abt the vlog is the best .superrr jst loved it.thankyou .god bless you

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@panchalibora4235]

Lovely vlog ❤️ Beautiful dance 👏

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you so much 😊

[@MTGVlogs]

very informative vlog..👌👌👌

[@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 :)

[@jayantdalvi627]

Very nice and excellently shot 👌 👌👌

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@jalimmarak7215]

Priyanka you're awesome👍

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@choeneygyurmey7507]

Thank you so much for this beautiful content.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@parichayakarta3465]

great

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@monikagautam8482]

Lovely vlog and beautiful dance

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@nandinibasu3020]

Thanks for all the informations.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@drema8238]

Got sooo much knowledge
Thank you soo much

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Glad to hear that :)

[@amyly2647]

I am glad I found ur channel.Thanks for sharing this informative video...

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@maniksalkline2505]

Good coverage

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@rakeshbodhkhampa-rbk6199]

bahut badiya

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@petersheppard1979]

Thanks again ! :-)

[@poojaupadhyay5691]

Wonderful

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you 😊

[@grace22267]

Thank you. this was very nice!

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@sonisharma9397]

Wow amazing information

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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Very nice video 👍❤️

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@tashinamgyalbhutia7753]

Beautiful vlog from Gangtok Sikkim india 🇮🇳

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@testinglhundup2018]

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

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@tAklHaofficial]

Your explanation is really great.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Glad it was helpful! :)

[@namgyel6447]

Hats off to you madam for your effort 👍

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks a lot

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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[@Tseringdolma1111]

Hi Priyanka ur vlog is really wonderful

[@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 :)

[@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 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@JyotsnaRamani]

Very interesting. Shows you worked hard here. And wow u can totally use this description on ur new blog (yes not vlog 😁) 👍

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks a lot 😊. I know how much you want me to start blogging too :D

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Lovely n very informative vdo, love it the way how u minutely describe everything... It's an honor for us how hard u work to educate n entertain your viewers. Stay blessed❤🤍

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

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❤️❤️🙌🙌

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🙏🙏🙏

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[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

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Excellent. Informative. Keep it up 👍

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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Nice story

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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Hi
Very nice vlog good job

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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Interesting and informative vlog 😊

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

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Informative video .

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks :)

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Very good

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks :)

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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]

Thank you :)

[@Sangitapradeep]

Thank you priyanka for showing a glimpse of this holy ritual tradition of Tibetan Buddhism....Great effort and good narration...😍😍

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

My pleasure 😊

[@Sangitapradeep]

It is all new things for me from kerala...Thanks again 😊😊

[@RadhikaKal]

Nice video

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@kuldeepdassonowalkachari6787]

Again a beautiful video.... 🎉

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@kuldeepdassonowalkachari6787]

@@DesiGirlTraveller I do believe you're awesome

[@kuldeepdassonowalkachari6787]

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Hey..Good morning awesome girl

[@RadhikaKal]

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

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@SunilKumar-xn2td]

Very nice ji 👍🙏🏽👍👍

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thanks a lot

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Very nice👍 vlog👌

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@lisapriyadarshini1832]

Very good video

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@fromindia123]

Namo Yamantaka 🙏🙏🙏

[@ArjunSingh-cd8tr]

Amazing vlog👌👌 very nice,

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@ArjunSingh-cd8tr]

@@DesiGirlTraveller thank you so much for reply 🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@dhondorkr6861]

Hi Desi girl , your video is very good performance.

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you so much 😄

[@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.

[@kalpanabhatia7932]

Hi your video was very informative

[@kalpanabhatia7932]

Thanks for your effort god bless u

[@kalpanabhatia7932]

Really enjoyed your video

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Deepaksharma-fc6vv]

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

[@karmakamalvajralepcha9682]

😍😍😍😍🙏🙏🙏🙏👏👏👏👏

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

Thank you :)

[@wicharajkumari1087]

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

[@palakbharadwaj8837]

Imagine getting a heart from uh❤

[@DesiGirlTraveller]

here you go :)

[@palakbharadwaj8837]

Thanku😊😊

[@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 :)

[@sureshchandra2693]

आपको देखना सुखद अहसास है।

[@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 👍

[@pankajvlogs4048]

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

[@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 :)