Guru's Cave

The Guru's cave
Bhutan was blessed by many great Buddhist masters and Guru Rinpoche was the greatest and the first master to have visited Bhutan in the 7th century.
The worldly pleasure
History has it that Guru visited Bhutan for the first time, as invited by the local king of Bumthang, Sindha Gyalp (Sindhu Raja). According to the records, Guru Rinpoche came from Nepal to Tibet and then to Bhutan. However Mr. Tenzin (Son of Chakar Lam), from Chakar lhakhang in Bumthang believes that Guru Rinpoche was already in Bhutan when Sindhu Raja sent his two ministers to Nepal to invite Guru to cure him. The king sent 7 Dreys (1 drey equal appropriately 1.5kg) of Gold powders as offering. When the ministers reached the present Reotala, they met a monk meditating in a cave. The monk asked where they were heading, to which they shared that they were on their way to invite Guru Rinpoche from Nepal. The monk then insisted them to show the gift that they were carrying, but to their surprise, the monk threw the gift on the ground. Furious and confused, they asked the monk what he did. The monk replied that he was the man they were going to invite.
Guru's Zhugthri
The Guru Rinpoche, then advised them to return to Bumthang and inform the king that he was on his way. It took them two days to reach Bumthang and could not inform the king until the next day. In total, it was only after three nights (after they left Guru Rinpoche) that the ministers could inform the king.
No sooner did they inform the king, they heard that a great Lama has arrived in Bumthang and that he was meditating in a cave not very far from Chakar phodrang. The great lama was none other than Guru Rinpoche who was meditating in a cave above present Dekiling town planning. It proves that Guru Rinpoche, with his supernatural powers, has reached the cave the same time the ministers left him at Reotala. So we can say that he was meditating in the cave for three days.
Few years back, one can sit inside the cave and enjoy the scenic view o
The Drilbu
f Dekiling and across but later, Karchu Dratshang installed a copper statue of Guru Rinpoche. During the reception of the statue, many auspicious signs were witnessed by the people. There were double rainbow around the sun and a light shower blessed the place which people believe is a great omen.
In 2016, a group of elders constructed a hut attached to the cave as a place for the rituals to be conducted but a mysterious fire gutted the hut few months later.
The cave is surrounded by many other sights like the Drilbu (bell), Guru's seat and the place where Guru and his consort are said to have experienced worldly pleasure. There is also a self arisen letter ཨ on the cliff. The entrance of the cave have wall constructed with small stones which is said to be the work of the dakinis.
The Guru's statue inside
the cave
The cave is just 10 minutes walk from the Dekiling town planning areas but one can travel by the farm road during the dry season which will take about 5 minutes from hotel Ugyenling junction. There are two drupchus (blessed water source) just above the cave but has dried up now. Few years back, the drupchu reemerged after rituals were performed and offering were made. People also offered drupchus from other religious sites but the drupchus but in vain.

No one can deny the visual treat of Dekiling and the places across from the cave. One can also circumambulate  the cave since there is a footpath around it. It takes about 5-8 minutes for a person to make a round.
The scenic view from he cave
During the time (when Guru Rinpoche was meditating in the cave a hundred thousand dakinis along with countless people are said to have received blessings and transmission from Guru Rinpoche at a place about two hundred meters below the cave. Thus the place came to be known as Choekor. Choe means religion and kor means to turn the wheel of dharma. Today there is a Jangchub chorten at the place and the chorten is known as choekor chorten. According to the elders, there used to be stone slab used by Guru as his throne but was put in as a relic while the chorten was renovated. The chorten is just a meter away from the road above the Wangdicholing hospital.
Although the cave hold a great historical significance, not many people know about it, neither the chorten is famous among the people.

Self arisen letter ཨ

Choekhor Chorten

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