Woh! Lama Drukpa
Kunley's arrow voyaged approximately 169 km after freeing from Tibet to Toep
Chandhana (Western Bhutan) in the 15th Century. Lama Drukpa Kuenley just used
his simple bow. Isn’t it a great miracle?
His focus was to
find his dream woman, eliminate fearful demons and spread Buddhism. Alas the
most sacred relics, a ladder that his arrow landed and also the house where he dwelled
for some years find no visitors today.
I am very privileged
to visit this historical site and get blessing from Lama Drukpa Kuenlay’s
artifacts. To reach there one
has to cross Thinlaygang (Thimphu to Lobesa route) and take small feeder road
on the left side. Drive cautiously and whenever intersection roads are
encountered always take the right road. You have to drive till the end of the
feeder road, which is approximately 5 KM, and there emerges the historical
place of the great Divine Madman.
The house is still
intact. The precious ladder is stored at the main Altar. I asked the Lam to
show me the exact point where the arrow hit. The lam explained that it couldn’t
be seen, as the ladder is long and placed behind the altar. What we can see is only
the ladder. The arrow has landed on the third ladder step counting from top.
This is accessible only if whole altar is removed.
I prostrated 3
times and ask Shomo (dice divination). The caretaker Lama informed me about
Lama Drukpa Kuenley’s Shomo, which is 7. Surprisingly my dice rolled 7. The Lam
was bit surprised for hitting the bull eye and declared that Lama Drukpa
Kuenley has given his blessing to me.
Above the house you
will find a Monastery. The main Statue inside the monastery are the three
Buddhas (Past Buddha, Present Buddha and the Future Buddha). On the right side
of the future Buddha you will find the statue of Lama Drukpa Kuenley.
The story of Lama
Drukpa Kuenley’s (his visit to different part of Bhutan) was portrayed in the
foam of an art on the wall. In one corner, you will also witness a game plate
(Stone curving) on which Lama Drukpa Kuenley played various games.
Just few meters
above you will find Lama Drukpa Kuenley’s Drupchu.
The place is very
tranquil and peaceful. I felt internal happiness and was wondering the reason how
a great saint stayed around this locality.
The area needs
development and I strongly feel, if tour operators could include this
historical site in their tour itinerary. This will bring development to the
Monastery and blessing to the visitors.
Why did Lama Drukpa
Kuenley shot the arrow?
One night, when Lam
Drukpa Kunley was sleeping at lady Semzangmo’s house at Nangkatse in the
province of Yamdrok in Tibet, he dreamt of a woman asking him to shoot an arrow
in the direction of Bhutan.
Recognizing the
woman as a ‘smoky goddess’, the lam next morning strung the bow shot into the
southern sky the arrow that landed on the ladder of Teob Tshewang’s house in
Chandanang. The family ran
outside fearing an earthquake, until they found the arrow quivering on the
ladder. Knowing that it was a good omen, Tshewang’s young wife, Palzang Buthrimo,
who was believed to have signs of dakini wrapped the arrow in silk and placed
it on the altar.
Hence, the house
came to be known as Toeb Chandanang, which literally translates into “landing
of the arrow.”
Today a ninth
generation of Pelzang Buthrimo, the wife of Toeb Tshewang, who later became one
of Drukpa Kunley’s many consorts, is the present owner of the traditional
building that still preserved the ladder on which Drukpa Kunley shot an arrow
from Tibet. To accommodate the ladder, they have done few structural changes on
the building. Rest remain exactly same as used by Lama Drukpa Kuenlay.
The landing of an arrow
was an indication of Drukpa Kunley’s arrival to Bhutan to spread the Drukpa
Kagyu teachings. Today many people are not aware of these sacred relics. Visiting
Chimi Lhakhang visitors are happy or may
be people are not aware of the arrow that he shot from Tibet to Bhutan (which
itself is a wonder) and the house where he stayed the maximum when in Bhutan.
To continue with
the story Lama Drukpa Kuenley arrived at Toeb Tshewang’s house to ask for his
arrow. Upon seeing the divine countenance and full-bloomed flower like face of
Palzang Buthrimo in the house, the lam sang:
“The arrow has
certainly not gone astray since it has led me to this voluptuous goddess.
Tshewang, mine host, please leave us, I must lay this lady this instant” saying
that, the Lama Drukpa Kuenlay immediately ‘picked up’ Palzang Buthrimo, but
Tshewang, in a rage, retaliated with a sword, which the lam caught and folded
with his right hand, while his left hand firmly held Palzang Buthrimo.
Awed by his mystical
power, Tshewang then offered his wife and residence, and asked the lam to stay
there for his entire life.
Lam Drukpa Kunley’s
son, Dungsey Ngawang Tenzin, who was born to Palzang Buthrimo, offered the
sword, arrow and a stone, on which the lam left his fingerprint, as the main
nangten of a statue in Tango monastery in Thimphu.
It was believed
that the lam stayed there until his son, Dungsey Ngawang Tenzin was 10. Ngawang
Tenzin became a monk at Ralung monastery in Tibet, and later founded Tango
monastery.
His line of
generation passed down Drukpa lineage, after his son Tshewang Tenzin begat the
fourth Druk Desi (secular ruler), Gyalse Tenzin Rabgye, who became the main
propagator of the Drukpa School, according to the biography.
The lam sculpted a
statue of Buddha Shakyamuni and one of himself, drew murals of the eight
manifestations of Guru Rinpoche, and Tungshak (thirty five Buddha of
confession) on a temple above Tshewang’s house.
Despite the temple
being old and sacred, there are hardly any visitors today.
We should therefore
explore the historical house and the monastery above to see the sacred relics
and get Lama Drukpa Kuenlay's blessing.
You
must visit Toeb Chandhana to explore more. What I have given was bit of
information. Happy Visit.
