The Ngagpa College

In 1705, when Lhazang khan, the Mongolian prince, plan to go to kokonor a rumor spread saying that after his departure the Regent, Sanggye Gyatso, was to reform the four great monastries of Tibet and the upper and lower tantric universities (in Lhasa) to some other sects. For this reason monks originally from northern Tibet took Leave with Lhazang Khan to Damsho Narmo in Rong-po region in March of that year. At that time, Lhazang Khan summoned his ministers for a meeting and put forward of his intention of establishing a college for the monks with him, who were devoted to Tsongkapa's sect and also for their food and shelter, The ministers agreed to his idea. However, as Lhazang khan and his ministers after all were Lay people, he thought he didn't have the authority on making decisions on such affairs, and thought it would be wiser to ask Lobsang Geshe, to make the dicision. The Pan-chen Lama consednted to their proposal and named the college Tashi Chokor-ling, and moreover endorsed the establishment of a tantric college which was granted to be either the upper Tantric College or the Lower Tantric College.

As a result, on 15, April of that year, over five hundred monks were gathered at Api-Aral in Damsho Narmo region and held a grand opening cercmony of the college, and appointed Hardong Sang-Gye Tenzin as the abbot of the college, who egnerally spent his winter time in Lhasa and summer time in the northern part of Tibet. Unop his appointment, he asked the Protector God, Lamo oracle for guidance regarding to his permanent resience, whether should he be within great monasteries of Lhasa. Or in Ganden Khangsar in Dam. The answer was to take residence at Sera. Therefore, the former assembly hall of the Sera was given for the new establishment of Ngagpa college in 1712 (Water-Dragon year of the 12th Rabch ong). Unfortunately, in the Fire-cock year (1717), the monks of this college for thirteen years was transferred to Tsandok monastery in Tsang region. In the Iron-cock year of the 12th Rabchong, the Dzungarians left Tibet. The authorities of the time Tsering-kyal Teji and Kortsa Koche said," There is no longer any enemy or fear for you, thereafter, you can return to where you were during Lhazang Khan's time." Thus Ngagpa college was reestablished in it's origional place in the nineth month of the 12th Rabchong (1720). But also there were only ten monks left in the college then. The number of monks increased day by day later.

Though college was reestablished, but their share of tea and donations were prohibitted by not allowing them into the seats of the Assembley Hall of Sera monastery without the permission of the Emperor. For this reason, Hardong Lobsang Chojor with two others left for the Chinese Emperor where they succeeded an official recognition for the college. They received the Emperor's blessing as well as an official letter addressed to Gung Tsewang Norbu in Lhasa. At their return to Lhasa in 1722, they presented a report to Gung Tsewang Norbu and Efu Peli the details of their and translated the Emperor's proclamation from Chinese to Tibetian. Gung Tsewang Norbu promulgated a decree that the clollege should be recovered to it's original condition as in Lhazang Khan's time and the government officials must supervise it's renovation. Even then Sera monastery still refuse the share of tea and donations to this newly erected college. Finally the seventh Dalai Lamam, Kalsang Gyatso issued a strict order demanding their right, and the name "Ngagpa" was officially proclaimed for the college. Ever since the college has remained to it's present existence. Hardong Lobsang Chojor suceeded to the post of the abbot at the abbot at the age of 57. During his 25-year rule as the Abbot, there were more than three hundred monks in the college. He resignes from the post at the age of 81, and died at the age of 84.

Since this college was not divided into "house" the monks were volunteers from the "house" Je and Med colleges. According to the data exmined during the period of the liberation of 1959, there were nine hundreds monks in this college at that time. The present day assembly hall used by the Ngagpa was the Assembly Hall of the whole Sera rounded by Jamchen Choje, which covers columns 46 with a floor space of 1517 square metres measuring from the other line of the wall. While the Assembly Hall of the whole Sera, built by Lhazang Khan in 1709, covers a floor space of 1974 square metres measuring from the outer line of the wall with a hundred and eight columns.