Dechenpelrithang, the forgotten place of the True son.

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 chorten 

Handing the scroll, the monk disappeared asking Pema Lingpa to gather five friends and visit Naring Drak (Present Mebartsho). He was informed about his first task of revealing treasure from the lake during the full moon light. The shabby monk is believed to be Guru Rinpoche himself. 
As Pema Lingpa unfurled the scroll, he saw the instruction, about the treasure beneath the rock in the Mebartsho. As instructed in the scroll, Pema Lingpa jumped into the lake without uttering a word on the appointed night. Inside the lake, Pema Lingpa came across a throne and a stake of texts as he entered the cave. The guardian of the cave handed Pema Lingpa one of the text and told him to run. He felt himself propelled up to the cliff as if by push of wind and realized that he was on the surface of the lake. 
 Wanting to decode the text, Pema Lingpa sought help from his family and two masters but to no avail.
Kharchu Drathsng's Tshamkhangs as seen from the chorten.

Back at Mani Goenpa, he referred the scroll key once more and was able to see the title of the text as "Crystallization of the Tantra of the Luminious space" (Klong gsal gsang ba snying bcud)- considered to be the first of his thirty-two Termas. And in the year of the pig, decoding the entire text, Pema Lingpa offered his first initiation at Dungkarbi (aka Dechenpelrithang) under the patronage of the Lama Rinchen Pel over the course of three weeks. During the event, Pema Lingpa, in his dream, was taught steps of various sacred dances and was given further instructions, by the dakinis. Later a chorten (Stupa) was erected at the site to mark the importance of the place where the greatest Terton turned his wheel of dharma. 
The Zangthopalri as seen from the chorten.

Despite it's sacredness, not many know or visit the chorten. The chorten is also known to be a wish-fulling stupa and those who visit, make a point to make wishes. The chorten falls under the National Sheep Breeding Center campus at Dechenpelrithang. The place is widely known as Dungminthang. The stupa is about 15kms away from the Chamkhar town towards Ura. Reaching the gate of the breeding center, one needs to enter and gate and the stupa can be seen from the highway. Pilgrims can also visit the Zangthopalri near the chorten and also the Mebartsho which is just few minutes drive from the chorten.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Drinking, a to-do-away culture

It would have been an embarrassing for the Bhutanese team lead by the Health minister attending the 68th session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee meeting in Timor- Leste’s capital, Dili or the Bhutanese citizens should be. It may have been the wise though of the reporter but the kuensel read “ Tobacco use is culturally accepted in Timor Leste, just as alcohol is in Bhutan” . They are comparing our nation’s culture to what tobacco has done to theirs. So is it not time for us to learn? Bhutan, a small country, cannot afford to learn from repeated mistakes but be swift to discover from others’. Drinking may have been culture but the time has come for us to rethink our culture. During those days, drinking was culture, yet people rarely got sick form alcohol. The amount of drink was subsidized by the manual work they had to do. They had to work in the field, defend the crops against the animals, walk, carry and fetch. In short, everything was physical and ma...
Read more

Luck and the Kharam Shing

Image
 Luck is what we think we deserve to have every time but it is otherwise. People seek interference of seen and unseen forces in hope to have the tinniest fraction of luck. Luck, in laymen term can be defined as absence of bad things happening. according to Chophel (2018),  Kharam means ‘together,’ reflective of the event’s communal nature. It is believed to have evolved from a Bön ritual, and includes a particular wooden structure marked by a phallus. The lucky phallus (Image:Google) In Bhutan, there is a special way to drive away evil and bring luck; having a kharam shing around. It is a phallus craved from wood. The size and the wrathfulness can vary from place to place. Sometimes it is painted on the walls of the homes. The idea may be taboo for the west but it serves a purpose here. According to Kinga. (2005, p.157), kharam shing offsets evil influences and empowers people. It is a common sight to see traditional houses decorated with the kharam . The culture is more e...
Read more

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