Official Vandalizing- Saving the fading future of Chortens

Bhutan is known throughout the world for its exotic collection of cultural sites and monuments. These monuments echo the prosperous roots of Buddhism, and we make no mistake in showing our rich culture.
Chortens were and are the most famous monuments that dot all hills, passes, valleys, near rivers, villages, near the temples and Dzongs, cremation grounds, and many more places. These various-sized stone monuments were built to ward off evil spirits and bring peace to the locality. Some of them were erected after subduing the local demons and deities by great lamas.
20150202_125005.jpgThese chortens hold a great significance as they are as old as Buddhism in Bhutan. They retell the history and the situation, and what our ancestors had.
The chortens were constructed with almost the same materials- mud and stone but their shape and size varied to suit the purpose and the financial wellness of the sponsors. These materials have become vulnerable over time.  
The unknown and the known reasons prevented people of those days from recording the history of the chortens in their timeline. Though some have, most chortens lack records of when it was built and by whom. All we know is the rationale for the construction- for the well-being of the locality.
20150202_131413.jpgAs we all know, chortens are useless if it has no inner relics some of which are very precious. Our ancestors sacrificed the most precious jewel they had for the benefit of all. These inner relics (as we believe) included cat's eye (Dzee), religious texts and instruments, gold and silver coins, a religious vase, and many more, which some of us have never seen.
Because of these inner relics, vandalism of chortens can be traced back to the time the chortens were built (that’s what I believe). The precious objects inside have lured people to vandalize these monuments. And today, after hundreds of years, people are eager to try their luck at every chorten they can see. No one knows what is inside. All they can do is guess and bring down the walls of the chortens.
The people and the government are facing the toughest hurdles of the time to protect these monuments, which are scattered throughout the country.
Now let us think of a WILD IDEA. Why don't we vandalize all the chortens in the country? WHAT? People would think I am insane, but let me justify my thoughts.
DSCI4735.JPGThe government can form a committee and vandalize the chortens- for a good cause. The committee can record all the relics with details and photographs and then secure them in a safe box and then seal the chorten with concrete because the recent concertized chortens are not vandalized. This may sound like an impossible task for a country like ours, but I think it will stop, if not reduce, the crime. The government can trace the relics when they are vandalised, and the pictures can help the police in nabbing the culprits with these relics.
 The records can also help the historians to dig out the history of our country. The local area officials and relevant stakeholders can be briefed about the relics, so that they can help the government in protecting the relics.
It is very sad to see and hear chortens being vandalized. I have rarely seen a chorten without the scar of the wound. It’s time to think- be it a wild one.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Pemi Tshewang Tashi’s obedience in the context of Hierarchal and social Fabric of the Bhutanese Society.

Pemi Tshewang Tashi’s obedience in the context of Hierarchical and social Fabric of the Bhutanese Society. During the medieval era in Bhutan, different regions were ruled by lords called Penlops and zongpons. The three penlops were of Tongsa, Daga and Paro and the three Zongpons were of Thimphu, Wangdi and Punakha. They were roughly equal in ranks yet all yearned to become the Tongsa penlop for it was very coveted unlike other lords. Jakar Zongpon Choje Pem Tenzin bargained with Tongsa penlop Choje Dunkar Gyeltshen and central government to upgrade his rank from Zongpon to Penlop. The Tongsa Penlop sought the help of Wangdi Zongpon Andruk Nim who sent his chamberlain Pemi Tshewang Tashi and troop to Tongsa. Although he died, he gave birth to one of the best ballads in our country.The birth of the ballad is reflected in The ballad of Pemi Tshewang Tashi; A wind Borne Feather. Dasho Karma Ura’s The Ballad of Pemi Tshewang Tashi: The Wind Borne Feather is one of the fi...
Read more

Druk Choding lhakhang

Image
  One prominent structure, as you enter Paro town, is a Lhakhang. The Lhakhang serves as an entry point to the ever-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 is 496 years old, corresponding to 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 out. According to records, Gyalchog, a descendant 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 was used as a meditation center by Gyalchog, the brother of Gyalzom, who later invited Lam Nagawang Chogyal. Lam...
Read more

Tharnang Lhakhang

Image
Tharnang Goenpa (Lhakhang) was established by Gelong Jabthangpa (Wangpo) around the 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 the First King of Bhutan, Ugyen Wangchuck). The present Goenpas is believed to have been built by Gelong Jabthangpa, whose descendants still own 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 the 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 ne...
Read more