རྒྱལ་བ་ལྷ་ལས་བབས་པའི་དུས་ཆེན།
Lhabab Düchen
Buddha’s Descent from Indra’s heaven
Sunday 1st November 2026
At the age of 41, the Buddha ascended to Indra's heaven in order to deliver teachings that would benefit the gods in that desire realm, and to repay the kindness of his mother by liberating her from samsara.
Buddha spent three months teaching. He was urged by his disciple and representative, Maudgalyayana, to return, and after a protracted debate and under a full moon, he acquiesced. He returned to Earth a week later by a specially prepared triple ladder of 80,000 vojanas, each crafted by Viswakarma.
As the Buddha descended the central one, Indra and Brahma accompanied him on each side, holding parasols to honour him. He descended to a place called Sankisa in this world, which is in modern Uttar Pradesh. This site is considered one of the eight sacred locations.
On Lhabab Duchen, the effects of positive or negative actions are particularly potent. In accordance with Tibetan Buddhist tradition, it is customary to engage in virtuous activities and prayer on this day.
Prayer and meditation text link:
