Ara Zang (ཨ་རག་ཟངས་)

Guru Rimpoche was invited to Bumthang to cure the local king, Sindha Raja from his death bed, in the 7th century. Guru Rimpoche, the "Precious Teacher" entered the country from the south and believed to have journeyed from Trongsa to Bumthang.
Arriving at Bumthang, the precious teacher meditated in a cave (above the present Bumthang hospital) for three days. During the duration, it is believed that the khandrom brewed ara (Local alcohol) on a rock facing the cave across the river. The khandoms then offered the ara to Guru as an offering. The religious site directly faces the meditation cave and the Chokhor chorten, where Guru has taught Buddhism for the first time in Bumthang.
The ara zang.
The place today, is under RNR research office and fenced. However, people can still access the site. The site is just above the domestic airport in Bumthang. Taking the road towards Tamshing from Chamkhar town, enter the RNR gate near the airport. Stop the car at the first turn and walk towards Chamkhar town for about 3 mins, and the site is visible.
The cave seen from the site. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Taag Lhakhang

Luck and the Kharam Shing

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