Chimi Lhakhang, a sacred monastery that blesses childless couples a baby

Visiting Chimi Lhakhang is always of some excitement. Here one is embarking on Lama Drukpa Kuenley's monastery and the place that he had frequented long time ago. Reaching here one is expected to receive his blessing.

Climbing few meters from the last motor able road one reaches at the entrance gate.

 A prominent signboard placed nearby explains the history of the monastery. So if you don’t have guide just read it with patient and you are done with a brief history. The information from the board really takes you to the next stage of reverence to this great Saint that is known all over the world.

Little above you will encounter a Chorten (Stupa), which is half black. This stupa is the main force behind the establishment of monastery here. Lama Drukpa Kuenley subdued a demon of Dochu La with his “magic thunderbolt of wisdom” and trapped it in a rock below this chorten.

Stepping inside the monastery, one comes in close contact with Choejay Drukpa Kuenley’s statue sitting in front of Lord Buddha with his dog near by. You can now do the prostration to Lama DRukpa Kuenlay.

A replica of the iron bow and an arrow of Lama Drukpa Kuenley are seen dangling on the left column of the main sanctum/chapel. Replica of small brown scriptures with thread ends used basically to get name for a child is also kept on the Chapel. If you want to get name of your child and for the expecting baby, you can ask the caretaker or Lam. The name one get is generally Kinley. It is believed that for the expecting couples, if you get male name you will get a baby boy and vice versa.

Along with the above items the monastery is the repository of the original wooden symbol of phallus that Lama Kunley brought from Tibet. This wooden phallus is decorated with a silver handle and is used to bless people who visit the monastery on pilgrimage, particularly childless women seeking blessings for children. 

The white phallus of the lama is therefore the symbolic representation of fertility. Lama Drukpa Kuenley was known to have used his phallus as a tool to impart his teaching during his life. 

I with great reverence to Lama Drukpa Kuenlay, received the blessing from the white phallus. It is believed that if we are possessed with evil spirits or negative forces, it will be driven out. And I am very happy, I am now free of such negative forces and neither anyone can inflict on me. 

Today, Chime Lhakhang is widely known all over the world. Most people who visit the temple pray and seek blessing for children if they are childless or other seek protection for their children. 

(Tourists trying hard to carry big phallus in Chimi Lhakhang to get blessed. Bhutanese don't feel shy seeing or carrying phallus Courtesy: The Bhutanese Messenger Facebook page)

Many western visitors including local people make a point to visit the Great Monastery vouching on the success story of fertility.

(Courtesy:Tourism Council of Bhutan)

Chimi Lhakhang was built in 1499 by Ngawang Choegyel ( Lama Drukpa Kuenley's Brother) after the site was blessed by Drukpa Kunley (1455–1529) who built a chorten on the site.

Courtesy: GT HSU

Lama Drukpa Kuenley was known as the "Mad Saint" or “Divine Madman” for his unorthodox ways of teaching Buddhism by singing, humor and outrageous behavior, which amounted to being bizarre, shocking and with sexual overtones. 

He is also the saint who advocated the use of phallus symbols as paintings on walls and as flying carved wooden phalluses on house tops at four corners of the houses.

Traditionally symbols of phallus in Bhutan have been intended to drive away the evil eye and malicious gossip.

When in Lobsesa, please visit the monastery and receive blessing.

Check the success of fertility ready one of the story here https://gate20.com/2018/03/12/the-fertility-temple-in-bhutan-changed-our-lives/