Phuentsholing Aum Duntik Ney is the most sacred Ney in the country.

As per Gyalpo Dendrup’s Namthar the Ney was known as Dentik and in Rinzin Garab Dorji’s Namthar it is called Duntik. However, today the Ney is commonly known as Duntem Ney.

As reflected in the Kunjur Do dey Poti volume Aa  “Gyalpo Dhendupi Dognag”  page 85 lord Buddha mentioned that:

In ancient time the Phuentsholing settlement was known as Yul Yawa (Yawa village).  Not far away from this dwelling there lived a king called Gewa who has 2,000 queens. Among them queen Dampam Mentay has a prince called Dhendup.  The prince was so kindhearted that he offered all the treasures that belonged to his father to the common people. After emptying all wealth from royal casket, the prince also gave Bal la their precious elephant (animal treasure) to his father’s opponent. Learning such immoderate attitude of his son, the king became so furious that he exiled his son and his family to a twelve years confinement at Riwa Duntin without any support from the king. People were also warned not to go there. Before approaching Riwa Duntik  the prince and the family met a monk who happened to stay somewhere in that area and discussed about the place.

Prince Dhendup, his wife, 7 years old son Yari and 6 years daughter Gyelno resided at the present Riwo Dintik Ney. The prince mostly stayed in retreat and  looked after his two young kids. His wife goes around  Duntik hill to hunt for foods to fed them. 

During that era, in another village called “Kio-leo” there lived a very poor Brahmin and his wife. Due to their adversity they explore all chances of finding something and finally learnt about the kind prince Dhendup at village Yawo who donates whatever was asked for. The poor Brahman went to Yawo with a hope of getting something from prince Dhendup. Reaching Yawo, the Brahman approached the king and asked about the prince and expressed his expectation. The king got very irritated and told Brahman that his son has no wealth and left to a place called Riwo Duntik. The Brahman pleaded that he doesn’t require any thing from Prince Dhendup but would like to meet him in person. The king subsided his temper and showed him the way to Riwo Duntik hill.

On his way he met a cow herder who was collecting firewood. The Brahman requested him to show the way that led to Prince Dhendup at Riwo Dintik. The cow herder got furious, caught the Brahman, tied his hand and thrashed heavily. The Brahman in ache pleaded that he was not going there to ask for alms but to convey the message of the King who had called the prince back to the palace. Hearing this statement, the cow herder untied his hands, released and shown the way.

The poor Brahman finally met the prince Dhendup at the cave and demanded him to give some gifts. The prince voiced his inability to provide anything, as he has nothing to offer. He expressed that he himself was in life-threatening state. The Brahman seeing his two kids nearby requested the prince to give the child as his gift. The prince finally consented to give his two kids to the Brahman. Hearing their father’s decision the two children cried like anything, time and again pleading their father to revoke his decision, which he did not budged at all. The Brahman tied the two kids and than moved out of the cave without exhibiting any compassion. The two kids have suffered extreme agony and also they couldn’t meet their loving mother.

At that point of time the kid’s mother was out in the forest searching for food. She suddenly felt uncomfortable and sad that made her to rush immediately down to the cave to check on them. On reaching the entrance she saw a tiger blocking the way, seeing that she fainted.

After sometime when she regained, the tiger got disappeared from the spot. She quickly rushed in only to find there were no kids with the prince. On enquiry the prince didn’t tell any thing, but kept in total silence.

At last the prince broke  his silence. The prince told her that in his past life he was at the feet of Sangay Nampar Nangze (VAIROCANA) and promised him that he will give away everything that he has in his next life and this was exactly what he has done. Learning this prophecy his wife immediately comforted from suffering caused by mother child separation.

Meanwhile, the poor Brahman along with two kids reached Kio-leo village. The Brahman wife on seeing them was so pissed off and scolded him for bringing additional burden when they have nothing to eat.  She immediately told him to sale them in the open market and bring the money to her. The Brahman as desired took the kids to the market for auctioning. At the market as luck would have it the two kids met Lyonpo Tobchen (King’s minister) who took the kids and the Brahman to the King Gyalwa at his palace.

The king was so happy to see his grand children and abundantly rewarded the Brahman.   He immediately sent a messenger to call his son and his wife to the palace from Riwa Duntik.  The prince refused to come stating that he was serving 12 years deportation and only a year passed. The messenger reported back to the King. The king again sent his messenger along with Kasho (decree) and finally the prince Dhendup and his wife returned to the Yawar palace and reunited with his father, the two children and other royal families. The kingdom flourished under his father’s great rule thereafter.

All people whoever got gifts from prince Dhendup earlier came back with the items to return who categorically refused to accept saying that “the food once vomited from the mouth cannot be eaten back”.

The prince finally declared to the assembled people that:

·      Those days the Prince Dhendup is I (Buddha)

·      My father Gyap Gyalwa is the present Yap Zetshang (King Śuddhodana)

·      Queen Yum Dangpa is the present Yum Jurma Lhazey (Queen Māyā).

·      The monk at Riwa Duntik is Moudgal Bu (Maudgalyayana).

·      The tiger that blocked the way is Shari Bu (Shariputra) who at that time was Lhayi Wangpo Jagin.

·      The cow herder that thrashed the Brahman is Kuenga wo (Ananda).

·      My son is the present Drachendzin Zangpo (Rahula).

·      My daughter is present Yum Goutama.

·      Damzey Longmi was present Lhajin

·      Damzey Chuma is present Damzi Motshana.

As such from the Kanjur (Buddha teachings) Phuentsholing  Riwa Duntik Ney is the place where the retina of Buddha has assembled and was considered one of the most sacred Ney in the country. Many people were not aware of this. I am happy that through this write up people will learn about this sacred Ney.

In the biography of Ponlop Drukpa Gyatsho, the following account is mentioned about this sacred place:

“Then (Ponlop Drukpa Gyatsho) stayed near Riwo Duntik of Welbangna. This is a place where King Dondrup suffered hardships in the past and also presumably the place where the great master Garab Dorje attained rainbow body. In any case (Ponlop Drukpa Gyatsho) thought it was a good sign for this area to be auspicious in the future and so conducted the verbal transmission of one volume of the biography of teacher Sugata written by the Great Lord Taranatha and the verbal transmissions the Sutras”. 

(Lord Garab Dorji)

His Holiness late Kyabje Jardel Sangay Dorje Rinpoche also visited and declared the place as supreme sacred place of Devi Koti (Pelden Lhamo). It is one of the twenty-four sacred places and composed a petition prayer in honor of its local deity. 

This sacred Ney is not accessible during summer because of the swollen river but can reach easily in winter. Nonetheless even in summer one can explore the Ney by going from Hasimara.

I have long planned to visit the Ney, which I see daily from my house but without proper guide I could not visit. Yesterday the day was auspicious and I am lucky to be accompanied by Lam Thinley (Tundra Pass Ami Ney), who knows details of the Ney.  In fact this year he took 7 groups to the sacred Ney.  I am the eight.

Since the Ney was not accessible from Toorsa, we went from Hasimara. Just crossing Toorsa Bridge we turn right and than follow the small Indian forest route by the side of the Toorsa River.  In fact entry through this road is prohibited but people go.  After few minutes drive in the jungle three peacocks greeted us that was a good sign.

We keep on driving with slight fear of elephants and wild animals that could possibly attack us but we were lucky not seeing any of them on both the journey.

The drive was long but one can enjoy the beauty of the nature. There is also lots of pasture fields where one can see people herding their cattle.  Such sight bring nostalgic of the fun during our young age.  At one point we were near to Bhutan India boarder.

We could see Bhutan border with electric fence basically to keep wild animal at bay.   Finally we edge near Riwo Dintik hill and after passing each inch of the hill we are finally at the Sacred Ney, just opposite Phuentsholing town.

Going to this Ney from Hasimara in fact is same like catching your ears by other way around.

With great excitement we offered incense and than entered the main Ney Go (the main entrance of the Ney).  My travelling Guru with lots of relics blessed the Ney.

After climbing up there is a small shrine where statue of Aum Duntik was housed.

Here we offered fruits, serkyem and Rio Sangchok.

Lopen Naphey

It must be noted that any child born in Phuentsholing must worship Aum Duntikma from time to time, as she is their Keylha (birth deity). It is also of great bonding with local deity if Phuentsholing residents could time to time offer Syerkam and get protection from it. I do offer seryem on daily basis and enjoying her blessing.

(Aum Duntikma)

On the right side we entered the cave. I first made a clockwise around an elephant statue.

After that from another entry we got in to find two holy places, the first one is the oven of Aum Duntikma

and second after squeezing through a narrow opening one reaches the main dwelling place of Aum Duntikma.

Returning back we move through the staircase on the left of the main shrine. Along the way one can see different formation of rocks that is hardly seen anywhere. After moving up one find the highest point of the Ney with lots of trees grown on it.

As in every sacred Ney there is a Duthro (cremation place). The cremation place of Aum Duntima Ney is located on top of this hillock.

(Cremation ground)

Rescaling back we than moved straight following the cemented path. Suddenly we heard peculiar and strange loud hissing sound coming from the rock. Lopen Naphey was seen immediately reciting some mantra, which I did followed him reciting the seven line Guru Rinpoche prayer as a counter incase of some evil pouncing on us. Negotiating through rocky terrain we finally reached the entrance to the retreat place of Prince Dhendup.

(Entrance to Prince Dhendup's Ney)

Due to heavy rain the day before the place was made so slippery that I could not able to go inside the cave where Prince Dhendup, his wife and two kids stayed. Near by is the prince Dendups’s retreat cave. To make it accessible year round I promised to make a railing on this passage. Offered Nyendra and prayers.

(Below this you will retreat cave of prince Dhendup)

Moving further by the side of Prince Dhendup cave there is another entry to this cave from another side. Prince Dhendup wife used this route when she goes to look after foods in the jungle. The steep rock at the entrance represents Lhamo Ekajati

(Lhamo Ekajati)

and on the other side the rock represents Chana Dorji that can be viewed clearly from the base.  

(Chana Dorji)

Near this entry is the place where tiger appeared and stopped Prince Dhendup’s wife going inside till the Brahman took away the two kids from the cave.

(The spot where tiger appeared)

We return and than descending down through the staircase we reached at the base. On the left side there is another cave with meditation cave on the top.

Below is a small entry, which is believed to be the path to Bayyuel (Heaven). One has to really struggle to get in through the small opening. There are lots of rocky pattern seen inside the Bayyuel route.

(Entry route to Bayuel)

(Bayyuel entry seen from inside)

Finally my visit comes to an end and I am very happy to be here with Lam Thinley. I felt some accomplishment after waiting for some years to reach this sacred Ney.

 

I strongly urged all Bhutanese to at least visit this scared Ney visited by by Buddha and his disciples including Lord Garab Dorje.

Thank you for reading.