LAHUL AND SPITI

These 253 govern the principles of religion as also the personal conduct of a lama. Every Gaylong carries on his person an idol of the Lord Buddha at all times and prays to it for forgiveness whenever a minor deviation occurs from the chosen path. Every monastery has a head lama Khanpo, a second lama Uzat and a third lama Gaygo who with the help of a committee of three Chisova, run the affairs of the institution.

The second lama is a sort of a general assistant to the Khanpo; on the other hand the third lama's duties make him a sort of police chief of the monastery: he is responsible for the safety of the property and for checking delinquent behavior of the monks.The hierarchy of Lamas from the Head Lama down below in every monastery and they are there, large and small, throughout encourages a spirit of religion which is the second nature in every person of Spiti particularly and in Lahul also.

Small temples as Iha-kang or the devil's temple whets the appetite of religion all the more. They have set up small brass images under the tree and on the tree, niches of the rocks, stone-dykes and practically at all conceivable places.Lamas come occasionally, burn the candle and utter some words. At village Gemur about 18 km. from Keylong there is a gompa (monastery) where every year Devil-dance is done by the Lamas. Gondhla village has also a historic gompa.

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