Pilgrimages in Bhutan.
Paro Taktsang
Paro Taktsang's origins are shrouded in the mists of history just as its modern location is shrouded in mountain fog. Its remote location is centered around a taktsang (which means tiger's lair in Tibetan) - one of thirteen such Himalayan caves that were used for meditation by Guru Rinpoche, also known as Padma Sambhava. Legend tells us that he arrived in the Paro valley of Bhutan atop a flying tiger and meditated in the cave for exactly three years, three months, three weeks, three days and three hours before quelling some troublesome demons in the valley .Historians believe that the historical Padma Sambhava lived in the 8th century C.E. and that he was a member of a Brahmin,or upper caste, family in what is now Pakistan. He began practicing Tantric Buddhism as a young man and spent his life bringing Buddhism to the Himalayan region. Padma Sambhava is credited with introducing Buddhism to Bhutan, a remote mountain kingdom situated in the Himalayas between modern-day China and India, where Paro Taktsang is located. Farflung Paro Taktsang became a meditation spot for many important Tibetan Buddhist figures in the subsequent centuries, but it wasn't until the late 17th century that the temple was built. In 1692, Tenzin Rabgye visited the site and constructed a temple honoring Padma Sambhava. Tenzin Rabgye was a Bhutanese ruler believed to be the reincarnation of Padma Sambhava, and he timed his historic visit to mountain cave to coincide with the Tsechu dance festival.Legend tells us Tenzin Rabgye's Tsechu celebration was accompanied by dramatic miracles including flowers raining from the sky, the appearance of mythical beasts and Tenzin Rabgye simultaneously appearing inside and outside the cave.
Architecture
The temple complex at Paro Taktsang is made up of four temple buildings and a series of eight caves. The buildings are connected by a network of narrow stone walkways and a few rickety bridges, with the caves accessible behind the temple buildings.Like many prominent buildings in Bhutan, Paro Taktsang features stark white exterior walls and red shingled roofs as well as golden roofs. Temples in Bhutan are typically constructed of stone and rammed mud. In the courtyard, there is a large prayer wheel, which monks turn every morning to start the day. Tibetan Buddhists believe turning a prayer wheel is similar to reciting prayers orally.The interior of Paro Taktsang features golden ceilings, golden idols and the Hall of a Thousand Buddhas, where a statue of a large tiger can be found.
Thimphu Memorial Chorten
The Memorial Stupa, Thimphu, also known as the Thimphu Chorten, is a stupa (Dzongkha chöten, cheten) in Thimphu, Bhutan, located on Doeboom Lam in the southern-central part of the city near the main roundabout and Indian military hospital. The stupa, built in 1974 to honor the third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–1972), is a prominent landmark in the city with its golden spires and bells. In 2008, it underwent extensive renovation. It is popularly known as "the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan". It was consecrated by Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje.This stupa is unlike others as it does not enshrine human remains. Only the Druk Gyalpo’s photo in a ceremonial dress adorns a hall in the ground floor..When he was alive, Jigme Dorji wanted to build "a chorten to represent the mind of the Buddha"
Architecture
The architecture of the chorten has been designed to present it as “one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu”.The Memorial Chorten, in the heart of the city, is designed is a Tibetan style chorten, also called the Jangchup Chorten, patterned on the design of a classical stupa, with a pyramidal pillar crowned by a crescent moon and sun. The feature that is distinct here is the outward flaring of the rounded part to give the shape of a vase (a pyramidal shape), unlike a dome shape.
National Museum of Bhutan
National Museum of Bhutan is a cultural museum in the town of Paro in western Bhutan. Established in 1968, in the renovated ancient Ta-dzong building, above Rinpung Dzong under the command of His Majesty, the King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, the third hereditary Monarch of Bhutan. The necessary infrastructure was created to house some of the finest specimens of Bhutanese art, including masterpieces of bronze statues and paintings. Suitable galleries were constructed to house the extensive collections. Works of art were elegantly displayed on scientific lines.
Today the National Museum has in its possession over 3,000 works of Bhutanese art, covering more than 1,500 years of Bhutan's cultural heritage. Its rich holdings of various creative traditions and disciplines, represent a remarkable blend of the past with the present and is a major attraction for local and foreign visitors.
Thimphu Great Buddha Dordenma
Great Buddha Dordenma is a gigantic Shakyamuni Buddha statue in the mountains of Bhutan celebrating the 60th anniversary of fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The statue houses over one hundred thousand smaller Buddha statues, each of which, like the Great Buddha Dordenma itself, are made of bronze and gilded in gold. The Great Buddha Dordenma is sited amidst the ruins of Kuensel Phodrang, the palace of Sherab Wangchuck, the thirteenth Desi Druk, overlooking the southern approach to Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan. Construction began in 2006 and was planned to finish in October 2010, however construction did not conclude until 25 September 2015. The completed work is one of the largest Buddha rupas in the world, at 54 metres (177 ft) and contains 100,000: 8-inch-tall and 25,000: 12-inch-tall gilded bronze Buddhas.
The statue was constructed at a cost of millions USD paid to Aerosun Corporation of Nanjing, China, Sponsorship from Singaporean, while the total cost of the entire project is well over millions of USD Men Supporter from Singaporean, the interior will accommodate respectively.Ground floor of Biggest Buddha Statues : in Backside centre Buddha Shakyamuni Statues 7ft tall, and right Sharibu, left Mongalbu 6ft tall, and 16 Arhats, and Genyin-Dharmata, King Hashang make by Clays gold paint and Silk cover. Pemalingpa, Zhabdrung, all of Status 5ft tall, Centre following eight Pillars Guru Padmasomabava, Dakini Mendarawa, Dakini Yeshe Tshogel, Guru Tshoke Dorje, Guru Shakyasenge, Guru Padmasamva, Guru Loden Chokse, Guru Padma Gyelpo, Guru Nyima Oizer, Guru Senge Dradog, Guru Dorje Droloe, all of Status 5ft tall gold gilded make by bronze. wall painting 5meter hight by 220 meters long internal over 1000 defends live peruse history of Buddha Shakyamunis, and 12 inch Buddha puts surrounding in the wall.
First floor centre Four Face Buddha Kuenrig Namparnangzad 12ft tall, Eight Boddhisatovas: Menzusir Jamyang, Vajrapani Chanadoje, Avaloketeshora Chenrezig, Cintigarba Sainyingpo, Sarwanevaranavescamven Dripanamsey, Asakagarba Namkhainyingpo, Metrea Jampagonpo, Samantabadra Kuntuzangpo. All of Statues are 18ft tall make by bronze and gold plated. Wall painting tells 12 history of Buddha Shakyamuni, and 12inch Buddha puts surrounding in the wall.
Third Floor Eight Medicine Buddhas : King Vendurya, King Shakyamuni, King Amitava, King Ngonkhen, King Drayang, King Serzang, King Drime-Nangwa, King Tshenlek, all 5ft tall gold gilded make by bronze.
Fourth Floor Backside centre Guru Ngangsid-zilnoen, Heroka Kagad, Heroka Gongdue, Heroka Vazarkilaya, Guru Horsokmarkdok, Vajradara-Dechok, Kurukule Lhamoriggadma, Vajrayogini-Dorjephakmo, Guru Rigzindakpo all 7ft tall standing Make by Clay painting Gold. Front centre chamber Sevens Reunion Buddhas: Namparzig, Tsuktorchen, Thamchadchob, Khorwajig, Serthub, Oisung, Shakyamuni, and right lift chamber : 12 Buddha Shakyamuni History Buddha’s Mother, Siddhartha’s waiting, Crown Price, Buddha-hoot so forth all 5ft tall of Status gold gilded make by bronze.
Fifth Floor Centre Samentabadra Kunzang yabyum, Verochana Namnag yabyum, Vazarsatova Dorsem yabyum, Radnasambava Rinjung Yabyum, Amitava Oipakmed yabyum, Amukasidhi Doendrub yabyum, Amitayus Tshepakmed yabyum, Avaloketeshora Chenrezig Gylwagyamtsho yabyum, Vajradara Dorchang Yabyum, all 5ft tall Make by Clay gold painting.
Under the eyes of the Buddha statue, the Kuensel Phodrang nature park formally opened in 2011. Kuensel Phodrang Land of Buddha area 145 acres was a gift to Monks Body of Bhutan all Bhutanese for gathering area by King of Bhutan. The park conserves 798.4 acres of forest area that surrounds the Buddha Dordenma statue and houses two public outdoor gymnasiums which opened in 2015.
Dechenphug Lhangkha
Dechenphug Neythang, located at the extreme north of Thimphu Valley at around 40 minutes drive from the main town. it sits on a gentle slope at the base of the mountain. Especially during the auspicious day, one can see the huge crowd gathered at the neykhang. During other days visitors goes there for a purpose; to get the name of the newborn baby, student, of course, to get the blessing from the deity for their examination, and other people to seek help from the deity. People living in Dechencholing or in Thimphu area, either old or a young are fond of Aap Genyen. Within children when they are making the promise, they say "Aap Genyen gi Nah za" which means promise in the name of Aap ganyen.
History
The root of the temple is closely related to Phajo Drugom Zhipo (forerunner of Drukpa Kagyu School in Bhutan). Lam Phajo has five sons, four from Wangzam Sonam Palden (Garten, Wangchuk, Nyima and Lama) and one from Achog called as Dampa, who was known to be the reincarnation of Pha Dampa Sangye, an Indian Maha Siddhi.
When Phajo sent his sons to rule in different parts of Bhutan. he appointed his eldest son Dampa as the abbot of Tango and instructed him to build 21 drubkhang (meditation room) and temple with five doors in the vicinity of Dedeyna. As per father's command, he carried out the work. during the construction of drubkhangs and temple he met with Bjob Zam (nomad lady) Budrenma and had a son called Bjob Kuenzang Dorji. He received the teaching of Buddha from his father as well as a grandfather. Later he was installed as abbot of Tango.
The structure of the Neykhang was built by Damtrul Loden Gyalpo and Jamyang Kuenga Singye respectively and installed the statue of Genyen Jakpa Melan. The Legend has it that Genyen Jagpa Melan appeared before Jamyang Kuenga Singye as a person, and he was given the Kago Damzha to be the protective deity of Pelden Drukpa.
Of the two sons of Damtrul Loden Gyalpo, Drung Drung Gyalzom was appointed as the 4th Chief Abbot of the monastery. Later, Drung Drung Gyalzom’s successor assumed the title of Chief Abbot.
It was renovated under the command of the 4th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. The renovation work commenced in 1996 and was concluded in 1998.
Today, the neykhang observes a one day Tshechu dedicated to Genyen Jagpa Melan.