Bumthang Valley is the main inhabited valley in the Bumthang district of Bhutan .
58-553: Bumthang is one of the most beautiful and sacred valleys in Bhutan. The main town in the valley is Jakar . Bhutan's only brewery, brewing Red Panda wheat beer , is in Jakar. Bumthang is divided into four gewogs , namely Chhoekhor , Tang , Chhume and Ura . The valley is broad with various habitats including coniferous woodland. The language spoken in Bumthang is known as Bumthang Kha,
116-426: A bodhisattva . In his right hand, he holds a five-pronged vajra at his heart. His left hand rests in the gesture of equanimity, In his left hand he holds a skull-cup brimming with nectar, containing the vase of longevity that is also filled with the nectar of deathless wisdom and ornamented on top by a wish-fulfilling tree. Cradled in his left arm he holds the three-pointed khatvanga (trident) symbolizing
174-492: A "second Buddha." According to Khenchen Palden Sherab , there are traditionally said to be nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine biographies of Padmasambhava. They are categorized in three ways: Those relating to Padmasambhava's Dharmakaya buddhahood, those accounts of his Sambhogakaya nature, and those chronicles of his Nirmanakaya activities. Hagiographies of Padmasambhava such as The Copper Palace, depict Padmasambhava being born as an eight-year-old child appearing in
232-671: A Lotus"), also known as Guru Rinpoche (Precious Guru) and the Lotus Born from Oḍḍiyāna , was a semi-legendary tantric Buddhist Vajra master from India who fully revealed the Vajrayana in Tibet , circa 8th – 9th centuries. He is considered the reincarnation of Shakyamuni Buddha as foretold by the Buddha himself. According to early Tibetan sources including the Testament of Ba , he came to Tibet in
290-708: A Mountain". Because of his role in the founding of Samye monastery, the first monastery in Tibet, Padmasambhava is regarded as the founder of the Nyingma school ("Ancients") of Tibetan Buddhism. Padmasambhava's activities in the Tibet include the practice of tantric rituals to increase the life of the king as well as initiating king Trisong Detsen into tantric rites. The various biographies also discuss stories of Padmasambhava's main Tibetan consort, princess Yeshe Tsogyal (" Knowledge Lake Empress"), who became his student while living in
348-417: A Tibeto-Burman language. Each of the four valleys of Bumthang has its own dialect. The Jampa Lhakhang temple is located in the heart of Jakar Vally, it was built in the early 7th century by the dharma king Songtsen Gempo. He commissioned the creation of 108 temples at the same time to successive circles in order to pin down and evil demoness who was seen to be blocking the spread of Buddhism. This monastery
406-534: A demon tamer. As Nyingma scholar Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche explains: There are many stories explaining how Guru Padmasambhava was born. Some say that he instantly appeared on the peak of Meteorite Mountain, in Sri Lanka. Others teach that he came through his mother's womb, but most accounts refer to a miraculous birth, explaining that he spontaneously appeared in the center of a lotus. These stories are not contradictory because highly realized beings abide in
464-584: A high priest of the Bonpa sect that ruled supreme in Tibet and surrounding areas including Arunachal Pradesh in the pre-Buddhist times. The waterfall was formed when Guru Padmasambhava flung his rosary against a rock and 108 streams gushed out. Chumi Gyatse waterfall is revered and holy for the Monpas , the Tibetan Buddhists. Bhutan has many important pilgrimage places associated with Padmasambhava. The most famous
522-462: A lotus blossom floating in Lake Dhanakosha surrounded by a host of dakinis , in the kingdom of Oddiyana . However there are other birth stories as well, another common one states that he was born from the womb of Queen Jalendra, the wife of king Sakra of Oddiyana and received the name Dorje Duddul (Vajra Demon Subjugator) because of the auspicious marks on his body were identified as those of
580-571: A powerful deity offended by a local king. According to legend, Padmasambhava's body imprint can be found in the wall of a cave at nearby Kurje Lhakhang temple. The eight manifestations are also seen as Padmasambhava's biography that spans 1500 years. As Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche states, When Guru Padmasambhava appeared on earth, he came as a human being. In order to dissolve our attachment to dualistic conceptions and destroy complex neurotic fixations, he also exhibited some extraordinary manifestations. In accord, Rigpa Shedra also states
638-402: A profit. Constructed in 1667, Jakar Dzong sits atop a ridge above the town of Jakar. The dzong fortress is now an administrative center. It may be the largest dzong in Bhutan, with a circumference of more than 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). Being located in the spacious and tree covered Bumthang (Choekhor) Valley , the area is also a popular tourist destination, and consequently the town
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#1732884768106696-543: A residence when he visited Bumthang. Even today there is still a small room above the entrance of the main temple that people believe was the very first seat of Guru Rinpochen. The Jampa Lhakhang festival has become an increasing more popular tourist attraction due to two unique portions of the program in fire offering and Naked Dances. Pema Lingpa was born in Chel Baridrang in the Tang [Stang] valley in district of Bumthang. At
754-523: A tantric master associated with kilaya rituals named Padmasambhava who tames demons, though they do not associate this figure with Trisong Detsen. According to the Testament of Ba , Trisong Detsen had invited the Buddhist abbot and Indian philosopher Śāntarakṣita (725–788) to Tibet to propagate Buddhism and help found the first Buddhist monastery at Samye ('The Inconceivable'). However, certain events like
812-416: A white vajra undergarment. On top of this, in layers, a red robe, a dark blue mantrayana tunic, a red monastic shawl decorated with a golden flower pattern, and a maroon cloak of silk brocade. Also, he wears a silk cloak, Dharma robes and gown. He is wearing the dark blue gown of a mantra practitioner, the red and yellow shawl of a monk, the maroon cloak of a king, and the red robe and secret white garments of
870-525: Is Paro Taktsang or "Tiger's Nest" monastery which is built on a sheer cliff wall about 900m above the floor of Paro valley. It was built around the Taktsang Senge Samdup (stag tshang seng ge bsam grub) cave where Padmasambhava is said to have meditated. He is said to have flown there from Tibet on the back of Yeshe Tsogyal , whom he transformed into a flying tigress for the purpose of the trip. Later he travelled to Bumthang district to subdue
928-529: Is a separate thromde (municipality) inside the gewog. The administrative office for the Choekhor Gewog is located in the northern suburbs of Jakar. Just north of Jakar lies Wangchuck Centennial Park , a protected area of Bhutan . Jakar has a subtropical highland climate ( Köppen : Cwb ). Jakar is accessed via a north-south road that connects to the Lateral Road , the main highway of Bhutan. Jakar
986-529: Is also the site of Bathpalathang Airport . The airport formed part of the Royal Bhutanese Government 's 10th Five Year Plan (2008). The airport was originally scheduled to open in October 2010, but faced many delays due to soil stability, river diversion, funding, and labour. Labour and material shortages through early 2011 prompted a new target date of July 2011, however as of September 2011,
1044-510: Is considered to be a Buddha that was foretold by Buddha Shakyamuni. According to traditional hagiographies, his students include the great female masters Yeshe Tsogyal and Mandarava . The contemporary Nyingma school considers Padmasambhava to be a founding figure. The Nyingma school also traditionally holds that its Dzogchen lineage has its origins in Garab Dorje through a lineage of transmission to Padmasambhava. In Tibetan Buddhism,
1102-543: Is depicted as a great tantric adept who tames the spirits and demons of Tibet and turns them into guardians for the Buddha's Dharma (specifically, the deity Pe har is made the protector of Samye). He is also said to have spread Vajrayana Buddhism to the people of Tibet, and specifically introduced its practice of Tantra. The subjection of subduing deities and demons is a recurrent theme in Buddhist literature, as noted also in Vajrapani and Mahesvara and Steven Heine's "Opening
1160-499: Is enthroned as the Lotus King ( Pema Gyalpo ). However, Padmasambhava's khaṭvāṅga staff falls on one of Indrabhuti's ministers, killing him, and Padmasambhava is exiled from the kingdom, which allows him to live as a mahasiddha and practice tantra in charnel grounds throughout India. In Himachal Pradesh, India at Rewalsar Lake , known as Tso Pema in Tibetan, Padmasambhava secretly gave tantric teachings to princess Mandarava,
1218-437: Is now "cautiously accepted". Padmasambhava himself was recorded as saying he was an historical person, and his footprints left in rocks are evidence. Padmasambhava later came to be viewed as a central figure in the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet. Starting from around the 12th century, hagiographies concerning Padmasambhava were written. These works expanded the profile and activities of Padmasambhava, now seen as taming all
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#17328847681061276-552: Is one of two such temples that survive in Bhutan. the other being Kichu in Paro Dzongkhag. The Jampa Lhakhang is dedicated to Maitreya, the Buddha of the future. Many historians assert the Buddhism appeared in the establishment of this Jampa Lhakhang. This temple remains as one of the most important landmarks of the country. The Jampa Lhakhang has never destroyed by fire, flood, wind or earthquake. Guru Rinpochen used Jampa Lhakhang as
1334-481: Is served by several good quality hotels and craft shops, along with several guest houses. The bazaar is located on a street of single story buildings in an area of the town called Chamkhar. A new bazaar consisting of three story traditional buildings in the Dekiling area was planned to be completed in 2010. Jakar, like the rest of Bumthang District and its neighbors, is culturally part of eastern Bhutan. While Dzongkha
1392-454: Is the national language of administration and instruction, local languages include Bumthang and Brokkat . Jakar is famous throughout Bhutan for its distinctive and brightly colored woven wool items called yethra . There are 19 schools in the dzongkhag. There are two higher secondary schools, three middle secondary schools and two lower secondary schools and the rest are community schools. Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava ("Born from
1450-431: Is white with a tinge of red. He is seated with his two feet in the royal posture. On his head he wears a five-petalled lotus hat, which has three points symbolizing the three kayas, five colours symbolizing the five kayas, the sun and moon symbolizing skillful means and wisdom, a vajra top to symbolize unshakable samadhi , and a vulture's feather to represent the realization of the highest view. Padmasambhava wears
1508-551: The Guhyagarbha tantra and the Thabs zhags padma 'phreng ( A Noble Noose of Methods, The Lotus Garland ) , an exposition of Mahayoga . The former work is mentioned in the work of Nubchen Sangye Yeshe (c. 9–10th centuries) and attributed to Padmasambhava. While in the eleventh and twelfth centuries there were several parallel narratives of important founding figures like Padmasambhava, Vimalamitra , Songtsän Gampo, and Vairotsana , by
1566-455: The Yang gsang rig 'dzin youngs rdzogs kyi blama guru mtshan brgyad bye brag du sgrub pa ye shes bdud rtsi'i sbrang char zhe bya ba . Padmasambhava has one face and two hands. He is wrathful and smiling. He blazes magnificently with the splendour of the major and minor marks. His two eyes are wide open in a piercing gaze. He has the youthful appearance of an eight-year-old child. His complexion
1624-557: The dharmakaya , sambhogakaya and nirmanakaya . Nine iron rings adorning the prongs represent the nine yanas. Five-coloured strips of silk symbolize the five wisdoms The khatvanga is also adorned with locks of hair from dead and living mamos and dakinis, as a sign that the Master subjugated them all when he practised austerities in the Eight Great Charnel Grounds. Around him within a lattice of five-coloured light, appear
1682-587: The 14th century, the Padmasambhava hagiography was further expanded and re-envisioned through the efforts of the Orgyen Lingpa (1323 – c. 1360). It is in the works of Orgyen Lingpa, particularly his Padma bka' thang (Lotus Testament, 1352), that the "11 deeds" of Padmasambhava first appear in full. The Lotus Testament is a very extensive biography of Padmasambhava, which begins with his ordination under Ananda and contains numerous references to Padmasambhava as
1740-489: The 8th century and designed Samye Monastery , the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet during the reign of King Trisong Detsen . He, the king, and Khenpo Shantarakshita are also responsible for creating the Tibetan Canon through translating all of the Buddha's teachings and their commentaries into the Tibetan language. According to Lewis Doney, while his historical authenticity was questioned by earlier Tibetologists , it
1798-525: The Guru is said to have done long penance combining the practices of Yangdak Heruka and Vajrakilaya , and attained the ultimate Mahamudra (or "the Great Seal"). The Tibetan Buddhism also mentions that Guru Rinpoche meditated at Muktinath (lord of liberation) temple in western Nepal before departing for Tibet. The nuns residing in the temple complex of Muktinath are revered as female goddesses and offspring of
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1856-515: The Indian monarch who is believed to have first invited Guru Rinpoche to Bhutan in 746. The current building is said to have been constructed by Tertön Dorje Lingpa in the 14th century. According to the Jakar foundation myth, a roosting white bird signaled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549. The settlement thus earned the moniker Jakar, meaning "white bird." There are many significant Buddhist sacred sites nearby
1914-548: The Kunzang drag temple. One of Pema Lingpa's most renowned treasure discoveries took place in Bhutan at Mebartso [burning lake], where before a large crowd he leaped into deep water with a Burning butter lam in his hand, later emerging with a term in one hand and the still burning butter lamp in the other. His works are popular and have flourished in each and every corner of the Himalayas. Many of these hand -made treasures are on display at
1972-549: The National Museum of Bhutan in Paro. 27°33′N 90°45′E / 27.55°N 90.75°E / 27.55; 90.75 This Bhutan location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Jakar Jakar ( Dzongkha : བྱ་ཀར་ , romanized : Bya-kar ) is a town in the central-eastern region of Bhutan . It is the district capital ( dzongkhag thromde ) of Bumthang District and
2030-578: The Nyingma school. Padmasambhava is widely venerated by Buddhists in Tibet , Nepal , Bhutan , the Himalayan states of India, and in countries around the world. One of the earliest chronicle sources for Padmasambhava as a historical figure is the Testament of Ba ( Dba' bzhed , c. 9th–12th centuries), which records the founding of Samye Monastery under the reign of King Trisong Detsen (r. 755–797/804). Other early manuscripts from Dunhuang also mention
2088-557: The Padmasambhava hagiographical tradition. The narrative was also incorporated into Nyima Özer's history of Buddhism, the Flower Nectar: The Essence of Honey (chos 'byung me tog snying po sbrang rtsi'i bcud) . The tertön Guru Chöwang (1212–1270) was the next major contributor to the Padmasambhava tradition, and may have been the first full life-story biographer of Yeshe Tsogyal . The basic narrative of The Copper Palace continued to be expanded and edited by Tibetans. In
2146-571: The Princess consort Mandarava, one of his two main consorts. who arouses the wisdom of bliss and emptiness, concealed as the three-pointed khatvanga. Other sources say that the khatvanga represents the Lady Yeshe Tsogyal , his primary consort and main disciple. Its three points represent the essence, nature and compassionate energy (ngowo, rangshyin and tukjé). Below these three prongs are three severed heads, dry, fresh and rotten, symbolizing
2204-553: The Tibetan spirits and gods, and concealing various secret texts ( terma ) for future tertöns . Nyangral Nyima Özer (1124–1192) was the author of the Zangling-ma (Jeweled Rosary), the earliest biography of Padmasambhava. He has been called "one of the main architects of the Padmasambhava mythos – who first linked Padmasambhava to the Great Perfection in a high-profile manner." In modern Tibetan Buddhism , Padmasambhava
2262-521: The age of nine, the young Pema Lingpa began to apprentice as a blacksmith. It is said that he would often pretend to be seat on a throne, giving initiations and teachings, and performing ritual dance [cham]. Pema Lingpa was one of the five sovereign treasure of Guru Padmasambhava who hailed from Bumthang, Bhutanese people believed him to be a fully master who brought both cultural and spiritual reforms in Bhutan. He reveled numerous treasures such as scrolls, ritual objects, statues and so forth in accordance with
2320-475: The airport had not been opened for operations. Further complications have arisen from legislated land and property compensation schemes for those who have been forced to move to accommodate the airport. Both Drukair and Tashi Air conducted inaugural flights to Bathpalathang on 17 December 2011—coinciding with the national day of Bhutan . The first commercial Drukair flight between Paro and Bathpalathang occurred on 23 December 2011; it failed to make
2378-485: The court of Trisong Deutsen. She was among Padmasambhava's three special students (along with the King, and Namkhai Nyingpo ) and is widely revered in Tibet as the "Mother of Buddhism". Yeshe Tsogyal became a great master with many disciples and is widely considered to be a female Buddha. Padmasambhava hid numerous termas in Tibet for later discovery with her aid, while she compiled and elicited Padmasambhava's teachings through
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2436-467: The death of Trisong Detsen, Padmasambhava is said to have travelled to Lanka in order to convert its blood thirsty raksasa demons to the Dharma. His parting words of advice advocates for the worship of Avalokiteshvara . According to Tibetan Buddhist legends of the local Monpa tribe, Chumi Gyatse Falls , also known as the '108 waterfalls' got created after a mythical showdown between Guru Padmasambhava and
2494-497: The eight vidyadharas of India, the twenty-five disciples of Tibet, the deities of the three roots, and an ocean of oath-bound protectors His pureland paradise is Zangdok Palri (the Copper-Coloured Mountain). Padmasambhava said: My father is the intrinsic awareness, Samantabhadra (Sanskrit; Tib. ཀུན་ཏུ་བཟང་པོ). My mother is the ultimate sphere of reality, Samantabhadri (Sanskrit; Tib. ཀུན་ཏུ་བཟང་མོ). I belong to
2552-568: The eight principal forms were assumed by Guru Rinpoche at different points in his life. Padmasambhava's eight manifestations, or forms (Tib. Guru Tsen Gye ), represent different aspects of his being as needed, such as wrathful or peaceful for example. The eight manifestations of Padmasambhava belong to the tradition of Terma, the Revealed Treasures (Tib.: ter ma), and are described and enumerated as follows: Padmasambhava's various Sanskrit names are preserved in mantras such as those found in
2610-408: The end of the 12th century, the Padmasambhava narrative grew to dominate the others, becoming the most influential legend of the introduction of Buddhism to Tibet. The first full biography of Padmasambhava is a terma (treasure text) said to have been revealed by Nyangrel Nyima Özer, abbot of Mawochok Monastery. This biography, The Copper Palace (bka' thang zangs gling ma), was very influential on
2668-418: The expanse of great equanimity with perfect understanding and can do anything. Everything is flexible, anything is possible. Enlightened beings can appear in any way they want or need to. In The Copper Palace, King Indrabhuti of Oddiyana is searching for a wish fulfilling jewel and finds Padmasambhava, who is said to be an incarnation of Buddha Amitabha . The king adopts him as his own son and Padmasambhava
2726-478: The females who were taught and initiated by Padmasambhava. A statue of Padmasambhava, which is believed to have built by him in his own image, currently resides in the Mharme Lhakhang Gompa and is taken care of by these nuns. Padmasambhava hagiographies also discuss the activities of Padmasambhāva in Tibet, beginning with the invitation by King Trisong Detsen to help in the founding of Samye. Padmasambhava
2784-402: The flooding of a Buddhist temple and lightning striking the royal palace had caused some at the Tibetan court to believe that the local gods were angry. Śāntarakṣita was sent to Nepal, but was then asked to return after the anti-Buddhist sentiments had subsided. On his return, Śāntarakṣita brought Padmasambhava who was an Indian tantric adept from Oddiyana . Padmasambhava's task was to tame
2842-465: The kingdom to Vajrayana Buddhism. Padmasambhava and Mandarava are also said to have travelled together to the Maratika Cave in eastern Nepal to practice long life rituals of Amitāyus . It was the place where, after the penance, they achieved the blessing of immortality from lord Amitāyus , the Buddha of long life. In the village of Pharping , located on the southern edge of Kathmandu district,
2900-409: The local king's daughter. The king found out and tried to burn both him and his daughter, but it is said that when the smoke cleared they were still alive and in meditation, centered in a lotus arising from a lake. Greatly astonished by this miracle, the king offered Padmasambhava both his kingdom and Mandarava. Padmasambhava is then said to have returned home with Mandarava and together they converted
2958-507: The local spirits and impress the Tibetans with his magical and ritual powers. The Tibetan sources then explain how Padmasambhava identified the local gods and spirits, called them out and threatened them with his powers. After they had been tamed, the construction of Samye went ahead. Padmasambhava was also said to have taught various forms of tantric Buddhist yoga. When the royal court began to suspect that Padmasambhava wanted to seize power, he
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#17328847681063016-402: The location of Jakar Dzong , the regional dzong fortress. The name Jakar roughly translates as "white bird" in reference to its foundation myth, according to which a roosting white bird signalled the proper and auspicious location to found a monastery around 1549. The town is the site of Chakhar Lhakhang, a small and unassuming temple which marks the site of the "Iron Palace" of Sindhu Raja,
3074-600: The posing of questions, and then reached Buddhahood in her lifetime. Many thangkas and paintings depict Padmasambhava with consorts at each side, Mandarava on his right and Yeshe Tsogyal on his left. Many of the Nyingma school's terma texts are said to have originated from the activities of Padmasambhava and his students. These hidden treasure texts are believed to be discovered and disseminated when conditions are ripe for their reception. The Nyingma school traces its lineage of Dzogchen teachings to Garab Dorje through Padmasambhava's termas. In The Copper Palace, after
3132-609: The prophecy of Guru Padmasambhava for the benefit of all sentient beings. He was a great artist and a visionary lama who contributed to much positive changes with far reaching impact in Bhutanese history and culture. He was a preeminent Teron [discover of spiritual treasures] and is considered to be foremost of the five Treton Kings.in the history of the Nyingma school in Bhutan, Pema Lingpa is second in importance only to padmasambhava himself. He left several impressions of his feet on solid rocks in and around his birthplace, Chel Baridrang ,below
3190-435: The teachings of Padmasambava are said to include an oral lineage ( kama ), and a lineage of the hidden treasure texts ( termas ). Tibetan Buddhism holds that Padmasambhava's termas are discovered by fortunate beings and tertöns (treasure finders) when conditions are ripe for their reception. Padmasambhava is said to appear to tertöns in visionary encounters, and his form is visualized during guru yoga practice, particularly in
3248-625: The town, such as Kurjey Lhakhang , which holds a body print of Guru Rinpoche; Jambey Lhakhang, one of the 108 monasteries that in mythology were miraculously constructed by King Songten Gampo in one night; and Tamsshing Lhakhag established by Tertön Padma Lingpa (1450–1521). In addition, one of the country's largest monastic colleges, Lhodrak Kharchhu Monastery, overlooks Jakar. Jakar is located in Bumthang (Choekhor) Valley within Chhoekhor Gewog in central Bumthang. Administratively, however, Jakar
3306-457: Was already seen as the enlightened source of tantric scriptures up to 200 years before Nyangrel Nyima Özer (1136–1204), the primary source of the traditional hagiography of Padmasambhava. Lewis Doney notes that while numerous texts are associated with Padmasambhava, the most likely of these attributions are the Man ngag lta ba'i phreng ba ( The Garland of Views ) , a commentary on the 13th chapter of
3364-413: Was asked to leave by the king. The Testament of Ba also mentions other miracles by Padmasambhava, mostly associated with the taming of demons and spirits as well as longevity rituals and water magic. Evidence shows that Padmasambhava's tantric teachings were being taught in Tibet during the 10th century. Recent evidence suggests that Padmasambhava already figured in spiritual hagiography and ritual, and
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