Following in the footsteps of this Divine Master Lama Tsong Khapa, a devoted and noble disciple, Kunkhyen Lodroe Rinchen Senge, possessing profound knowledge, a master at the Drepung Monastery, who fatedly left to join Sera Monastery where Sera Jey Monastery was formed.

History and legend has borne the records of the magnificent accounts that led to the birth of Sera Monastery and the subsequent establishment of Sera Jey Monastery. It was when Lama Tsong Khapa, the master and founder of Gelug Order, during one of his deep prayer and meditation on Manjushri (Jampel Yang) behold the vision in which he clearly saw the entire text of Prajnyapara-mitta's 20 slokas on Shunyata spread over the sky. The unique moment spelled upon him total insight in the complete knowledge of Tsawasehrab (Fundamentals of Madhyamikka or Shunyata) Text.

Simultaneously, he beheld the vision of a rain like "AA" characters descending from the sky. This was an auspicious symbol to his prophesies on the birth of a great source of learning on Buddh-ism. Which after twelve years, Jamchen Choje Shakya Yeshe acting upon the supreme wishes of his Master, began establishing the proper Seat of learning where knowledge of complete teachings and practices of Mahayana Tradition are imparted and pursued.

Nedong King Dagpa Gyaltsen gave financial support for the construction of a Monastery and laid down the foundation in the year1419. All the subsequent development including installing sacred Images and other objects of worships were completed according to the supreme wishes of great Lama Tsongkhapa. It was soon known as ' the Seat of Theckchen ling (Mahayana Tradition)'. It is said that name 'SERA' came to be attached with this great Monastery from its location being surrounded by raspberry shrubs called 'Sewa' in Tibetan, that formed like a ' Rawa' in Tibetan meaning 'Fence'. In the following years very soon the fame of this great Monastery as a great seat of learning Gelug tradition spread all across Tibet and elsewhere in Buddhist influenced neighbouring countries.

Haya Griva is the wrathful characteristics of Chenre sig (Avalokteshwara). The deity is well known for its supreme power in removing obstacles and also for its healing power.

Tokden Yonten Gonpo, father of Kunkhepa, a learned and firm devotee of Haya Griva deity, during the final days of his life, had offered to is beloved son the complete teachings of Pema Yangsang & Tandin, with the advice to commit oneself in complete devotion & follow them.

Kunkhenpa, as one of the most dedicated disciple of Lama Tsong Khapa, sought the virtuous advice and consent of his master. The all-knowing noble master laid his hand on the head of his learned disciple & scholar, blessing him to give his approval. An indentation mark of the saintly master's palm was left on the head of the devoted pupil Kunkhenpa. Thus leaving a memorable legend to the history of Tamdin Yangsang /Haya Griva's emergence as the sacred deity of Sera Jey Monastery. From thereafter, Kunkhenpa institutionalised Tamdin Yangsang / Haya Griva as the Deity of Sera Jey Monastery.

The event of 1959, that witnessed the invasion of Tibet by the communist China, was the darkest period in the History of Tibet and its religious faith - Buddhism. It brought the near end of centuries old Monastic Culture and Practice, by the indiscriminate destruction of monasteries and persecution of monks. And Sera Jey Monastery was one of the most severely affected from this spiritual & cultural genocide.

Sensing the immense threat to the existence, survival and freedom of right to worship the traditional & cultural faith of Buddhism, an integral part & a way of life of Tibetans for centuries, His Holiness The Dalai Lama devotedly acting on the responsibility of His leadership as the temporal and spiritual head of Tibet, took the most tough & noble decision when He took flight to India. Followed by many thousands of Tibetans in His footsteps, who are fortunate to escape the communist Chinese troop's ruthless dragnet to check any Tibetans from leaving Tibet. Few hundred of Sera Jey members comprising of lamas, geshes and monks were fortunately able to escape to India.

Hence this special rehabilitation of monks, about 1500 no in total from the four Buddhist Orders, was to program for the preservation of our traditional culture and religion in the very first stage. And secondly, from this existing human resource, to develop & prepare for the promotion and education of the younger & new Tibetan generation that will take root in India. At the rehab camp, all the monks were chiefly engaged in learning & teaching Buddhist Text & Philosophy. The younger monks were given special couching on Tibetan language & literature. For a period of 10 years the monks engaged in various religious and educational activities in a complete new environment & life, amidst struggling with the unadepted harsh climate that has inflicted large no of contagious lung infections, where quite many no of them succumbed to it.

The Indian Government sponsored 38 one-room tiled houses for the overall 300 monks of the two Monasteries, with 24 for Sera Jey and 14 for Sera Mey. The monks did all the construction labour. Also the surrounding area of 225 acres bulldozed were cleared by the monks of the two monasteries, and made available for cultivation. Cultivation was done on these lands during the onset of monsoon rainfall season, and there was one harvest in a year, which was then the only resource and means of survival to the entire monks. In the initial years, the monks were more or less obliged to engage for their livelihood & survival.

Each & every individual monk put up their best effort & time to create & harvest resource for the survival of the community in the initial stage, that laid the strong foundation for the development and establishment of a well organised Monastery.

The first Assembly Prayer Hall of the Monastery at Bylakuppe was built in 1976 and completed by the end of 1978. The Prayer Hall has a capacity to hold an assembly of 1500 monks, which was the total no of monks present at the Monastery then. It was inaugurated in the year 1979. Prior to this first Assembly Prayer Hall, a smaller one with asbestos sheet roofing has been built which was used until then.

To their historically & genetically spiritual binding background, the past experienced life of repression & curtailment of religious freedom and human rights have created a vacuum of spiritual faith in almost every single new arrivals from Tibet. Which is evident from the vast majority of them joining Monasteries spread across in most parts of Tibetan settlements in India.

As this Monastery is recognised for its principal & renowned learning institution and its affiliation to the various sub & smaller monasteries spread across various regions of Tibet, the no of recipients of these new arrivals is by far the greatest in this Monastery. During the initial exodus in the early eighties they number in several hundreds at every single year that by late nineties the total no of member of the Monastery has reached an unprecedented record level crossing over 3000.

This dramatic increase in population has resulted in the shortage of residential accommodation, and especially the total inadequacy of the Assembly Prayer Hall. This inadequacy was the major & compressing issue for resolution.

Hence in 1995, the General Board Members of this Monastery unanimously proposed for the construction of a new Assembly Prayer Hall. This was a gigantic project, for the construction involved was an unprecedented enormous one, with the expected project cost estimating to a mind-boggling amount.

The arduous task of making available the needed financial fund was the second biggest mission undertaken since the re-establishing at Bylakuppe. The Monastery geared up for an unprecedented Fund Raising Project, by organising various activities and programs.

For three consecutive years there was incessant program of rigorous work schedule both in and off the field project. With the construction work in full progress, and the fund raising programs spontaneously generating generous sponsorships and & funds. That finally after 3 most eventful & most busy years, saw the completion of the new Assembly Prayer Hall.

This new Assembly Prayer Hall is a magnificent creation, its sheer massive size & enchanting holy ambience has set an unprecedented new & inspiring monastic experience. The main assembly hall has a glorious 31-foot high spacious area measuring 23,275 sq ft, supported by 110 haughty pillars. It has created a distinct place in the history records of this Monastery. And undoubtedly it has gained a significant position in the circles of Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries, notably for its significance of the huge assembly surpassing 3500 no of monks conducting prayers in a single Monastery.

The construction of this new Assembly Prayer Hall was a marvellous achievement that the Monastery and its entire monks are extremely proud and happy, and nevertheless immensely grateful to every single donor, sponsors, supporters and to each & every devotional volunteers - member monks & lay devotees, for their committed hard labour and time.

His Holiness The Dalai Lama graciously inaugurated the new Assembly Prayer Hall on 31st December 1997.