The temple of Dongkar Yösel Tsemo
is situated at 3650 metres above sea level.
Terton Tshering Dorji
while studying under Drupwang Rinchen Chador is said to have seen
something illuminate bright on the mountaintop every night, he later than asked
a monk to see the place and to the monk's surprise there was a dark statue of
Yidam Thongwa Donden floating on the surface of lake which was guarded by the
Samba deers. The statue is believed to be one of three that Terton Pema Lingpa
discovered from Mebartsho that happened to fly away.This revealed treasure was
offered to the treasure discoverer Tshering Dorje whose footprint is preserved
in the temple. Because of this, the place is still venerated.
As advised by his master
Terton Tshering Dorji founded this temple in the 15th century
and made his seat.
Terton Tshering Dorji in his early life used to live in the
lower valley of Paro and as a teenager he used to be wild, breaking the cow's
horns and legs. It so happened that one day he and his friend slaughtered one
of the cows and having found an unborn calf inside the carcass, he was deeply
moved and regretted his doing and then titled to a religious pathway. He was
destined to be a Terton.
Since there is also the dwelling house of Dongkar Tsen and it
has been said that no one can steal anything from the temple. There had been
numerous cases where thieves had tried to steal from the Lhakhang, one of them
tried to steal a throe which happens to be a bronze vessel, it is said that he
was followed by the guardians terrifying him, and when daylight ended the
night, he couldn't make it past the chorten close by. When he decided to leave
the relic, his right hand got stuck on the surface and fearing someone would
catch him, he cut off his own hand and ran away.
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| (Photo Courtesy: Being A Bhutanese Facebook Page) |
Even to this day the hand covered in leather is stored in the Goenkhang. It is also said that a cup was stolen but mysteriously returned to the Lhakhang on the doorstep.
After descending about ten minutes from the temple there is a
blessed water source.
From Dongkarla you can see Bumthang Kikila, Jomolhari, Chabthra
Zemala, Darkarla, Kilila, Hosharla, Bumdra Namgöla, Wang Dochongla and
Tashigang, Bemri, Thadra Gönpa, Gerling Gönpa, Tsöndru Gönpa, Drakwang
Tengchenkha, Lharipang, Gorinang, Beltram Gönpa, Drake, and Do Chöten Gönpa.
Since so many places can be seen from here, the words of an
ancient song say: “From Paro Dongkorla, [both] Paro and Wang (Thimphu) can be
seen."
In earlier times, when there were no roads in Bhutan, travel was
very difficult. It is said that when the mother of Kuzho Tshering Paljor, the
Pönlop (governor) of Paro, was living in Bumthang, he used to send people from
Bumthang and, by prior arrangement, the Pönlop used to come to Dongkarla and
his mother to Kikila where they each made smoke offerings (so that they could
see each others' smoke and feel as if they have met together).
Recently HE Tsugla Lopen performed the consecration
ceremony of the renovated Dongkola monastery.
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| (photo Courtesy: Tshula Lopen Facebook Page) |
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| (Photo Courtesy: Tshula Lopen Facebook page) |
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| (Photo Courtesy: Tshula Lopen Facebook page) |
Dongkola is also a metaphor
which depicts the height at which a person can rise to and a height to which a
devotee can climb.
