From tonight an annual 2 days Bumchu Celebration Festival starts
at Dakkar Tashiding Monastery, Sikkim. It is a great night and a blissful day
tomorrow for the great people of Sikkim and neighboring states and countries.
The importance of
the day cannot be felt if the Origin of Bumchu Festival is not known. I
therefore would like to narrate the fact as to how the celebration of 'Holy Water Vase' festival
originated” in Sikkim after little research.
During the reign of
the religious king Trisong Deutsen in Tibet, Guru Padmasambhava, while
bestowing the unparalleled tantric system of tutelary deity Mahakarunika
Avalokitesvara Sadhana and initiation on emancipation from the cycle of mundane
existence to king Trisong Deutsen, prince Murub Tsenpo, Yeshe Tsogyal and
Verotsana, consecrated the same Holy Vase which is preserved in the Tashiding
monastery till today.
According to the
works of Zhigpo Lingpa, the Holy Vase is made of various kinds of sacred soil,
water and five kinds of precious jewels (Rinchen Na-nga) collected from the
holy places of India, Odiyana and Zahor by Guru Rinpoche.
It is said that Damchen
Garngag, wrathful Dharmapala, makes the Vase and consecrated by Guru Rinpoche
by conducting Sadhana of Yidam Chuchig Zhal (tutelary deity of eleven heads).
When he performed the sadhana, the entire retinue of the deity and deity
himself appeared in the sky and inseparably merged into the Holy Water
contained in the Vase.
Thereupon the holy
water overflowed and spread in all directions in the form of rays. That very
moment, as a sign of good omen, there was earthquake, the four guardian deities
(Gyalchen Dezhi/Cutur-Maharajika) of Dharma and the gods of thirty-three heavens
(Sumchu Tsasumgyi Lhanam) showered flowers from the sky. The people assembled
there witnessed this event. All the people were overjoyed at this spectacular
event and Holy Water was distributed to the devotees from the Vase. Yet it was
found that the holy water of the Vase never decreased. Inspired by this, the
sinners became virtuous; the pious people realized the lofty divine qualities
and all were spiritually benefited.
Finally, Guru Rinpoche
concealed the 'Holy Water Vase' into the sublime hidden treasure and entrusted
it to the protective deities.
In the later
period, the great Terton (revealer of hidden treasures), Chokyi Gyalpo Garwang
Rigzin Zhigpolingpa, the reincarnation of prince Murub Tsenpo of Tibet,
unearthed the Vase of Holy Water for the sake of sentient beings.
After the discovery
of the Vase, Terton Zhigpolingpa maintained it as his Thugdam Ten and in the
later part of his life; he offered it to Terton Tagshamchen with special
instruction. Terton Tagshamchen then handed over the holy Vase to Ngadag
Sempachenpo Phuntshog Rigzin to be kept and installed at Dakkar Tashiding, the
holiest and most blessed hidden land of Guru Padmasambhava.
So, Terton Ngadag
Sempachenpo brought the Vase to Tashiding and installed it in the Tshuglagkhang.
He conducted special recitation of 1,300 million syllables 'OM MANI PADME HUM',
through Thugjechenpo Khorwalegrol Sadhna under the royal patronage of the first
Chogyal Phuntshog Namgyal. At that time many unprecedented and auspicious signs
had appeared in the country.
Bumchu celebration
is one of the most important and holiest events in Sikkim and thousands of
devotees from all over the state and its neighbouring countries come on
pilgrimage and participate in the holy occasion. The Vase, containing holy
water, is kept in a miniature mansion (chosham) under lock and seal of the
Chogyal of Sikkim.
Every year special
recitation is conducted and the high officials and Lamas check the seal before
the Vase is taken out of the mansion. The Vase is opened on the night of the
14th day of the first month of the Tibetan Almanac, which is today (1st March
2018). From the Vase three cups of the water is first taken out. The first cup
is meant for the royal family, the second cup for the Lamas and the third is
distributed among the devotees on the full moon day. Fresh water is brought
from Rathong Chukha, which is also considered as a blessed river, as
replacement.
In some years the
Holy Water in the Vase increases by 21 cups and other times it decreases. In
some cases the water of the Vase remains at the same level but other time it is
found dusty. These are believed to be the predictions of auspicious and
inauspicious observances in the country.
When the water
level increases, it is a sign of prosperity and when it decreases it is an
indication of bad year of drought and diseases the dusty water indicates
conflicts and unrest.
In brief, the seed
of enlightenment is obtained by taking a drop of this Bumchu water thereby all
the distress; evil spirits and untoward happenings are removed. And prosperity
and fulfillments are rewarded in this life and one attains Buddhahood or is
born in the Riwo Potala or Zangdopalri in the next life.
I wish all devotees
a VERY HAPPY, AUSPICIOUS and SRIRITUALLY FULFILLING DAY.
Thank you.
Courtesy: ORGIN OF
THE BUMCHU OF DAKKAR TASHIDING by Rigzin Ngodub Dokhampa.
