Tilopa and Naropa Caves at Trilokpur, Himachal Pradesh, India
Written by Rahi on May 20, 2024 | Reading Time: 8 - 12 mins
Key points of this article:
Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism
Role of Nalanda University
Tilopa
Naropa
Tilopa’s Teachings
The Cave of Tilopa and Naropa
Buddhism:
The beginning:
Buddhism came in existence after Buddha left his body and merged with the source. Buddha’s era was in 600 BCE which is around 2,600 years from now. Later it flourished in India for about 400 years and then started growing its branches and roots all over the southeast Asia in China, Korea, Japan and then Tibet.
East to West:
Later it started glooming in the west, when in the 1700 travelers from west countries started coming to explore the esoteric tradition of the East. Some of them got attracted to the path of Buddha, gathered knowledge out of inspiration and then translated into English. As a result, Buddha’s teaching started spreading all over the world like a fire in the forest.
More about the history and lineages of Buddhism:
1. You can have a look at briefly detailed History of Buddhism.
2. Then you can study about Schools of Buddhism.
3. After Mahaparinirvana of Buddha, his disciple gathered and had a first councils and then over the period many other councils. Read more about these Buddhist Councils.
4. You can find detailed account of Buddhism from the birth of Shankyamuni Gautama Buddha till the present era by exploring this Buddhist Timeline with pictorial presentation.
Tibetan Buddhism:
In this pictorial Buddhist timeline, you can see that Vajrayana Buddhism came into existence in 700 CE, which is also known as Tantric or Esoteric Buddhism. This form of Buddhism primarily spread in Tibet and so often referred as Tibetan Buddhism.
Padmasmbhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche, is believed to be one of the founding fathers of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet. He is also founder of the Nyingma school ("Ancients") of Tibetan Buddhism and later in 8th Century, Padmasabhava played a major role in converting Bhutan to the Buddhist country.
Padmasambhava Cave is located at Rewaslar, Near Mandi area of Himachal Pradesh, where he practiced tantra with Mandarava who was the princess of Mandi (Zahor).
Tibetan Buddhism has developed four major schools, which are Nyingma (8th century), Kagyu (11th century), Sakya (1073), and Gelug (1409).
Tilops was the founder of Kagyu School which was further developed the main school and also created new schools by his disciples.
Nalanda University:
Nalanda city is in the present region called Bihar, was established during the Gupta Empire era (c. 3rd – 6th century CE).
Ancient Nalanda University, also known as Nalanda Mahavihara, was flourished by Gupta emperors. As mentioned on the Nalanda page of Bihar Government’s website that it was founded in 5th Century and was the greatest learning center of Buddhist and non-Buddhist teachings till 1200 CE. It is also recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2016.
There are many historical names are associated with Nalanda University, which are Aryabhata (the first of the major mathematician-astronomers from the classical age of Indian mathematics and Indian astronomy), Nagarjuna (Famous Buddhist Monk), Atisha (Important Buddhist Monk), Naropa (Student of Tilopa and teacher of Marpa, who was guru of Milarepa) and many others, which you can read more on Nalanda Mahavihara page of Wikipedia.
This brief historical overview brings us to the era of Tilopa and Naropa.
Tilopa:
Tilopa’s life story is not usual. He (988-1069 CE) was born in Bengal, India. When he was young he started working as solicitor and bouncer for a prostitute. Also, during the day he was grinding sesame (Sanskrit – Til) seeds for living and it is believed that he got this name “Tilopa” from “Til (Sesame)”.
Tilopa is one of the rarest masters who had no human teacher or guru and he received the transmission of mahamudra and Vajrayana directly from Buddha Vajradhara in his meditation. It is also believed that he received direct orders from Dakini (Female Buddhas as embodiments of enlightened energy) and studied teaching of many gurus by travelling throughout India. He is considered the grandfather of today's Kagyu Lineage. Kagyu translated as “Oral Knowledge” or “Whispered Transmission”.
Another important Tibetan Buddhist guru – Atisa, was a contemporary of Tilopa and Naropa. Atisa and Naropa were scholars from Nalanda Mahavihara University.
Naropa:
According to the information shared on official website of Kagyu Lineage, Naropa (1016-1100) is an important spiritual master in Tibetan Buddhism, because he was a scholar and master of mahamudra and tantra, which he received from his Guru Tilopa and later transmitted to Marpa (the Great Translator of Tibet) who was a master of great yogi Milarepa.
Naropa was born in a Kashmiri brahmin family in a place called Jambu (which is currently a capital of Kashmir – Srinagar).
In his early age, he was non-Buddhist scholar from India and was also practicing Hinduism Tantra. He was such a great scholar that he was teaching to great universities of that era. But being a true seeker, he kept on looking for the truth wherever existence led him.
Naropa is also famous for his intense devotion – unconditional and unwavering surrender towards his Guru Tilopa. You will surely find different stories of Tilopa and Naropa, and how Tilopa was a tough master out of compassion and how Naropa devoted himself to him and passed all hard exams of Tilopa, and attained the higher possible consciousness in the one life. One of the story you might find interesting is – The Story of Tilopa, Naropa, and the 6 Yogas of Naropa.
Tilopa’s Teachings:
Tilopa was the founding father of Kagyu Lineage in Tibet. After him great disciples carries his wisdom and transmitted to the next chain of important gurus of Tibet, who added their own significant practices and made the Kagya Lineage richer and which gave birth to Karmapa Lineage as well.
Mahamudra Meditation:
Tilopa is also the direct descendant of Mahamudra Teaching from the Vajradhara and transmitted to his disciples including Naropa. Mahamudra is the path of experiencing the nature of mind.
This is an important practice in Tibetan Buddhism to direct experience of the ultimate truth or ultimate reality through understanding the nature of the mind.
Six Words of Advice:
Tilopa transmitted his teaching called “Six Words of Advice” to his most famous disciple Naropa, it is also called Tilopa’s Six Nails or Six Precepts, which are –
Don’t recall. Let go of what has passed.
Don’t imagine. Let go of what may come.
Don’t think. Let go of what is happening now.
Don’t examine. Don’t try to figure anything out.
Don’t control. Don’t try to make anything happen.
Rest. Relax, right now, and rest.
—trans. Ken McLeod
His one statement gained popularity is: "The problem is not enjoyment; the problem is attachment."
You can deep dive into Tantric Enlightenment also called The Essence of Tilopa through this online article.
The Caves of Tilopa and Naropa:
Significance of these caves:
These are the caves of Tilopa and Naropa who are important Gurus of Tibetan Buddhism and helped countless seekers on the path for more than 13 centuries through their teachings and the divine presence at such caves, where they have meditated for years.
In Hinduism and Tibetan, such ancient and charged shrines, caves and samadhi’s of the siddha are important pilgrimages where spiritual seekers can visit and meditate to receive direct transmission.
If you are receptive enough, you will surely experience the sacred energy which still vibrates and will always be available to those who are seeking the ultimate reality.
Location of Tilopa’s Cave:
This Cave of Tilop and Naropa are located at Trilokpur, Himachal Pradesh, which lies on the highway of Pathankot – Dharamshala / Kangra. It is near a place called 32 mile (pronounced as “Battis meel”).
It is around 50 Kms / 1 hr 20 mins from the city Pathankot, Punjab and 36 Kms / 1 hr 10 mins from the town Dharamshala (abode of His Holliness Dalai Lama) in Himachal Pradesh.
This hidden Cave, which is not easily visible, is under the bridge (slightly right) of chaotic Highway.
Naropa Cave / Shiva Temple:
Above the bridge there is an ancient Shiva Temple, which Buddhist believe that it was the cave of Naropa. When you enter the temple, you will see main cave which is now sacred shrine of Lord Shiva. It has the same peaceful and blissful energy as you might experience at Tilopa Cave.
Trilokpur Nunnery - Karma Drubgyu Thargay Ling:
This Trilokpur Nunnery called Karma Drubhyu Thargay Ling is situated above these both caves of Tilopa and Naropa.
It was founded by Mrs. Freda Bedi in the early 1960s. She was a British nun and disciple of Karmapa. She was also known as sister Palmo (Gelongma Karma Kechog Palmo) and became first western to take ordination in Tibetan Buddhism. She was married to Baba Pyare Lal Bedi. She has 3 children including Kabir Bedi, who is a very famous as an actor and director in the Indian Film Industry – Bollywood as well as in various international cinemas. His daughter Pooja Bedi is also the famous actress in Bollywood and sometime visits this nunnery.
This nunnery is providing shelter and education to over 100 nuns who range in age from 9 to 88 years old.
Best time to visit Cave of Tilopa and Naropa:
Anyone can visit these caves and nunnery throughout the year except during the monsoon season because particularly to reach cave of Tilopa one has to walk in river, which is not possible during monsoon when the water level is high and dangerous.
Currently (as of May 2024) there is no ladder available to climb and reach Tilopa monastery, but you can always get help from locals as well as request nunnery to get help for you. Though if you are young and adventurous you can climb on wooden blocks which are tied with thick wires but be careful as this arrangement is not so reliable and slippery.
Please feel free to ask if you have any questions regarding this article or about Cave of Tilopa and Naropa.