Dechen Choekhor is the historical mother monastery of great importance to Drukpa Kargyu Lineage and the seat of both Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche - an emanation of Vajrapani, and Drukpa Yongzin Rinpoche - an emanation of Manjushri for centuries, is currently being rebuilt in the beautiful pristine valley of Kullu, India. These two great masters are traditionally known as the "Chokzig Namnyi", which means "the two who possess the supreme view".

'De' means Bliss, 'Chen' means Great, 'Choe' means Dharma, 'Khor' means Abode - "Dharma Abode of Great Bliss" is what it denotes. Dechen Choekhor being the foremost seat of the Drukpa Kargyu Lineage in Tibet, was the cultural focal point for more than 300 monasteries that branched out from it in the 16th century, including Khamtrul Rinpoche's monastery - Khampagar  in Eastern Tibet; Hemis Monastery, Chemey Monastery and Korzog Monastery in Ladakh, and Dorzong Monastery of Tibet. Tsechu Monastery of Trulshik Adeu Rinpoche in Nangchen, Qinghai is a direct branch monastery of Khampagar.

Since its inception in 15th century, Dechen Choekhor has held the Lineage intact, pure and unbroken through their perseverance and diligent practices and preservation for over 500 years; and it remains as the main and respectable source for Buddhist learning and training, particularly to the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage till today.

Today, as the survival of the Tibetan culture and the religion grows ever more uncertain, the reconstruction of Dechen Choekhor Monastery is of dire importance. In the 15th century when it was originally founded, Dechen Choekhor was comparable to the great Buddhist universities of India, and to the great schools of theology and classical learning in the medieval Europe. Many students came from far and wide across the Himalayan regions to study at Dechen Choekhor because it was well known for its training of Lineage-Holding Rinpoches, tulkus and monks. Although there are over hundred Dechen Choekhor's Lineage branch-out monasteries in the Himalayan region, there are still many monks and nuns who wish to maintain the tradition of Dechen Choekhor, but have no main monastery in which to do so. They have raised numerous requests to both the previous and present Choegon Rinpoche to rebuild his main monastery so that future generations would be able to receive monastery training of the Drukpa Kagyu Lineage.

The teachers of the present Choegon Rinpoche, H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, 8th Khamtrul Rinpoche and 8th Trulshik Adeu Rinpoche, strongly encouraged the present Choegon Rinpoche to re-establish this great monastery of the Drukpa Kagyu lineage. After deep careful consideration and consultation with his root lamas, Cheogon Rinpoche decided to rebuild the new Dechen Choekhor Monastery in Kullu, located at Himachal Pradesh region, Northern India. Kullu is considered to be one of the 24 holy places of Chakrasamvara, and it was visited by Padmasambhava and many of the great Mahasiddhas.

Kyabgon Adeu Rinpoche wrote: "In Drukpa Kargyu Lineage, Dechen Choekhor completely held to the Lineage of the Drukpa Kargyu like its ancestral origin or the source of river.

It was the cultural focal point for the entire Drukpa Kargyu Lineage and was well known for its training of Lineage Holding Rinpoches and monks. Students came from far and wide across the Himalayan regions to study. H.H. Pagsam Wangpo, H.H. Kunzig Choenang, and every single Khamtrul Rinpoches Lineages primarily received transmission and teachings in this Monastery from Shabdrung Choegon and Yongzin".

Present H.H. 12th Gyalwang Drukpa writes: "Dechen Choekhor in Tibet has played a very important role in guiding numerous practitioners on the path to enlightenment. It was the source of many great teachings and many important monasteries of Drukpa Kagyu Lineage".

Note: Shabdrung = another name of Drukpa Choegon Rinpoche

Note to Reader:

Some readers might be confused by the term "Kagyu" vs "Kargyu" use in this website. Below are the short explanations on the actual denotation of these 2 terms. However, nowadays Drukpa 'Kargyu' and Drukpa 'Kagyu' are used interchangeably in English media.

Kagyu -  can be translated as "The Lineage of the Oral Instructions." The first syllable "Ka" refers to the scriptures of the Buddha and the oral instructions of the guru. "Ka" has the sense both of the enlightened meaning conveyed through the instructions of the realised master, as well as the power and the blessing such words of insight carries; and "gyu" simply means lineage or tradition.

Kargyu - The Kar (white) Gyu (lineage) of Marpa, Milarepa, and their followers; many of which dressed in white robes. Kewang Sangye Dorje, one of the foremost disciples of Pema Karpo, suggested this name for our Drukpa Kargyu Lineage.