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Tharnang Lhakhang

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Tharnang Goenpa (Lhakhang) was established by Gelong Jabthangpa (Wangpo) around 19 th century. The place where the lhakhang stands is believed to have been blessed by Lam Jangchu Tshendru, the root teacher of Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyel (Father of First King of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck). The present Goenpas is believed to have been built by Gelong Jabthangpa, whose descendants still owns the Goenpa. The lama lived in the village which lies at the base of the hill. Every morning at about 3 in the morning, when the lama offered his prayers, he saw sun shining on the hill where the Goenpa today stands. So, one day, the lama visited the place with some of his students and blessed it with a small stupa built with stones. Tharnang lhakhang It was during the lama’s pilgrimage to Trongsa that he met with Trongsa Penlop Jigme Namgyel. It is said that Jigme Namgyel sought advice from the lama on his decision to become a monk under the lama. However, the lama told him that he would need time t...
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Guru Lhakhang

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 As a Buddhist nation, Bhutan is dotted with many blessed places. To add on, the country is blessed with monasteries and temples established by great masters and communities for the benefit of the sentient beings. One such place is the Guru lhakhang in Begana, Thimphu. According to the caretaker, the great master Jamyang Chokyi Lodre requested the Dalai lama to construct a huge Guru Nangsel Zyelnon in Potala in Tibet. This, as prophesized by the master, was to protect Tibet from external threats.  As the time was running out, HH the Dalai Lama constructed a smaller version of the statue in the hope that a larger one would be built later. Later in 1959, Tibet was conquered by China and HH the Dalai Lama and Tibetans fled the country for their safety. A group of people settled down in the present place as refugee. It was during this time that His Majesty the late Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck commanded the Tibetans who have temporally settled in different places in Bhutan ...
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Nyantse Lhakhang

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The Lhakhang was established by  or  Nyangrel Nyima Wozer  (1124/1136 - 1192/1204) in the 12th century. It is said that the lama shot an arrow from Tibet (During those days, most of the Buddhist masters were from Tibet as Buddhism was yet to set its root in Bhutan) to seek his destiny to establish a Lhakhang. Following the direction of his arrow, the lama reached the place. The lama pulled out his arrow only to see holy water gushing out. Thus the place came to be known as CHUMED. "Chu" meaning water and "MED" meaning lower land. The Lhakhang is located at the end of Chumey gewog and the settlements. Today the gewog is better spelled as Chumey. This holy water is located about 40 meters from the lhakhang. According to the locals, the water can cure various illness. There are stories how the holy water has cured warts of many people. The holy water is preserved with a wooden box and the water looks fresh and clean. According to Karma Tenzin, a local from Nan...
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The Taag Lhakhang

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 There is a small one-storied lhakhang about 200 meters from the Thangbi Lhakhang. The author could not authenticate the name of the lhakhang but the locals call it as Taag Lhakhang. It is not known whether Taag refers to the horse or the tiger (In Dzognkha). The lhakhang was built by Lam Ngopa, a great Tibetan master in 14th century. When Lam Ngogpa reached the top of the hill above the village, he threw a dumpling-shaped rock to check his prophecy. Descending down to the valley, Lam Ngogpa found the rock at the present location. Taking it as a good omen, Lam Ngogpa built the small temple.  Lam Ngogpa is said to have established a lhakhang in Dhur, about 9kms from Kujey and Lamlung, another Lhakhang in Tang. Both the temples are in Bumthang. Lam Ngogpa was one of the closest disciple of Lam Marpa. Lam Ngogpa is also reflected in Milarepa's namthar as the latter's friend who studied under the same master.  Lam Ngogpa's Kudung chorten The lhakhang houses the Buddhas of Thr...
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Thangbi Lhakhang (Lhendrup Choeling)

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The Thangbi Lhakhang was built in 15 th century by the Fourth Zhamar Rimpoche Choekyi Drakpa (an important  Lama of Karma Kagyud sect), which corresponds to iron rat year of the lunar calendar (1480). Elders in the locality say that Terton Pema Lingpa also had his hand in the construction of the lhakhang. The presence of the iron chain at the entrance and the time (1480) supports the claim. Some sources denies the claim. The source, however believes that the lhakhang was later taken over by Pema Lingpa, thus becoming a Nyingma lhakhang.   No written or oral history clarifies why the lhakhang was built at the location. However, records has another name for the lhakhang, Lhendrup Choeling. The lhakhang got the name in 1730 when the first floor was added to the ground floor. The project was initiated by the 8 th Zhamar Choekyi Dendrup and blessed by 12 th Karmapa Jangchub Dorji. However, the locality name has overtaken it and thus known as Thangbi Lhakhang. During the time...
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Druk Choding lhakhang

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 One prominent structure, as you enter the Paro town, is a Lhakhang. The Lhakhang serves as an entry point to ever fast-growing Paro town. Despite the close proximity to the town, not many visit it. I could visit the Lhakhang only after five years in Paro. The renovated Lhakhang. According to the caretaker, the Lhakhang 496 years old which correspondence 1525 (16 th century). This, he says, is according to the research done by some experts. However, he also believes that the Lhakhang is much older than what is was found out, maybe double the years that they have pointed. According to records, Gyalchog, a decedent of Pha Dampa (Dampa was the son of lam Phajo Drugom Zhingpo) used the place as a meditation center. However, the Lhakhang, according to the caretaker, was founded by Lam Ngawang Chogyal (brother of Lam Drukpa Kuenley). Wangchuk (2020) also believes the place to be used as meditation center by Gyalchog, the brother of Gyalzom, who later invited Lam Nagawang Chogyal. ...
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Tshering Tshenga (The Five sisters of longevity)

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 Buddhism is never short of gods and goddesses of different forms. There are Dakinis and deities who are known to have unparalleled unseen force. These abstract forms are jewels of religion and an integral part of everyday life. The five sisters (Tashi Tsheringma in the center) PC: Dr. Dorji Wangchuk One such example is the five sisters of longevity ( ཚེ་རིང་མཆེད་ལྔ ). As the name suggests, they are five sisters who possess the power to gift us with different blessings. A ccording to the caretaker of Dzongdrakha (Paro), the sisters were demons who were subdued by Milarepa and made them the protectors of the dharma. It is also said that the sisters became the main disciples of Jetsuen Milarepa and also his secret religious consorts. However, Five sisters of long life (2008), claims the sisters to have taken the first oath from Dakini Seng gdong ma (the lion-faced). To add on, Wangchuk (personal communication, April 6, 2022), believes that the five sisters had been ferocious, as G...
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Dechenpelrithang, the forgotten place of the True son.

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Pema Lingpa, the true son of Bumthang and one of the great five kings of the Tertons (Tresaure The stupa Revealers) was born in the year 1450 to Yab Dendup Zangpo and Yhum Pema Dolma. He was born on the fifteenth day of the second month of the male iron-horse year. His birth was marked with many auspicious signs and thus, the great Terton was born.  Terton Pema Lingpa, during his early days, spent his time with his grandfather who was a blacksmith. He, thus picked up the skill and mastered it. According to records, Pema Lingpa experienced an unusual dream twice. The first dream was experienced when he was just twenty five years. The prophetic dream was experienced two years later, on the tenth day of the second month of the Monkey year, while he was asleep near Mani Goenpa. A voice from shabbily dressed monk awakened him and handed him a scroll. Without a slightest knowledge, Pema Lingpa was urged to read as a key to decode the predestined Terma (Treasure).  Wish-fulfilling ...
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