Gruphai: the Suppose to be Phurbi Drupchen of Sumthrang

A tradition of Sumthrang to be revived to its past glory in coming years..........

Sumthrang Chojey presiding over the Gruphai ritual

The first annual ritual of Sumthrang monastery is one day ritual ceremony known as the ‘Gruphai’ by the locals, which was suppose to be an annual Phurbi Drupchen on the 25th day of the first lunar month of every year.

Sumthrang Chojey Ngawang Sonam's arts among now the best murals in the world

A mural of Great yogi the Phajo and his sons.
One of the mural works of Sumthrang Chojey
Penchen Ngawang Sonam
(Pic: Tashi Lhendup)

Tango Monastery is a national heritage as we all know. Not just because it is a monastery founded by a great saint but also because it houses century old precious arts and paintings beside the places and relics of sacred importance.

Tango is quite internationally known for its well preserved age old ancient arts and paintings of great skills.

The murals in Tango are recognized as the best murals in Bhutan and in the world and are greatly appreciated by national and international conservationist and the art experts. These paintings according to the national conservationist Tashi Lhendup have the best materials, superb in artistic skills and techniques. The mural conservation in Tango is expected to start in May this year(2015).

Therefore I would here like to highlight a piece of information on a part of paintings  of Tango Monastery which was quite untold.

An article published in English (Probably translated) by Centre for Bhutan Studies (CBS) authored by Tshenyed Lopen Kuenleg explicitly says that all the paintings of Tango Monastery is the work of painter Jangchub Sempa. “The wall paintings on all the 3 stories are the real work of the great painter Jangchub Sempa,” Tshenyed Lopen has said in his article (English version, CBS) unlike the different attribution mentioned in biography of Desi Tenzin Rabgye.

Thank You All for your Support!

As it was the 'Thanks Giving' holiday else where around the globe, Sumthrang Monastery would like to take the opportunity of the day to Thank Mangduechu Hydroelectric Project Authority (MHPA) and the Code of Culture (CoC) for granting few thousands that would make a great difference on the cultural preservation of Sumthrang. Had it not been your generous though small financial support, the world as a whole is at the edge of losing the over eight century old tradition and cultures that included most unique and sacred dances lived with Sumthrang. World would have suffered a loss of a culture, if this revival could have began.  The cham dances of Sumthrang would not be any where on earth since the dances are by origin the dances of Sumthrang and not adopted from other dances. Some of the dances even predate the dances of Pemalingpa origin.

Sumthrang moves a step towards revival...

Drupthob Melong Dorji Drup Phug
(retreat cave) at Sumthrang cliff

Sumthrang has been a monastic seat where retreat was the focus according to Sumthrang Chojey Lam Gyamtsho.

As you see around the cliff at the north, there are as many ruins of ancient retreat centers, where forefathers of Sumthrang Choje family led as many followers on retreat at these places. The cliff also houses a retreat cave of Drubthob Melong Dorji, the oral accounts has it that, the Drupthob flew from this cave. 

His Holiness Chabgoen Chetsang the supreme head of Drikung's visit to Sumthrang

The Zhugtre to remain: HH sits on a stone made
rest seat on the way to Nubling

On September 25, the supreme head of Drikung, His Holiness Chabgoen Drikung Chetsang rinpoche visited Sumthrang monastery founded by Nyoton Trulzhing Chojey the son of Nyo Gyelwa Lhanangpa reconnecting the history of this monastic existence to Drikung.

His Holiness on the morning of 26^th also visited the Nubling (western part) hermit of Sumthrang where he also did a brief check on the ruins of hermits around the Nubling part of the Sumthrang cliff.

Sumthrang's Horse Dance (tsencham)

In this 13 century built monastery of Sumthrang, Kangsoel is the main annual event, a tradition left by the founder Nyoton Trulzhig Chojey who was a great kilaya yogi (Phurbi nyeljorpa).

He was the only son of Nyo Gyelwa Lhanangpa who is one of the most earliest Buddhist scholars and practioners to have established monastic school in the country.  His father was the first buddhist scholar who have intrduced first establishment of Buddhist monastic complex in the territory of Bhutan by establishing Chelkha dzong in late 12th century, which is also considered as the first dzong in Bhutan.

Lam Jamtsho: Shades some clear light on Pemalingpa and Nyo at ILCS

Lam Jamtsho: current incumbent of Sumthrang at the seminar

Speaking at the Local Scholars Seminar,  first of its kind in the country, organized by centre of culture and research unit of Institute of Language and Culture Studies (ILCS) in Taktse on 29th october, Lama Jamtsho, of Sumthrang Monastery talked about the linage history of Terton Pemalingpa in Bhutan.

He took the plate form to clear the misunderstanding and some information that he claimed as  wrong in some of the history textbook of lower classes, where the blacksmith, Garwa Yonten Jangchub was considered as Pema Lingpa's grandfather and the father to his Mother Drogmo Pema Dolma. 

Let's Calculate...!

Let me bring the calculation of date that contradicts two major claims that we see in Bhutanese histories and many who speak following the same.

1. Let us see if Lam Lhapa who resisted Phajo was Nyo Lhanangpa.

Phajo was born in 1184 that is 20 years after the birth of Nyo Lhanangpa who was born in 1164. At the age of 7, that is in 1191 Phajo started his study under Nyingma tradition of buddhism, and at the age of 12, that is in 1196, he has met the Nyingma master Tharpalingpa from whom he got the name Dhondup Gyeltshen (some other has Tharpa Gyeltshen as the name given by Tharpalingpa).

Kile wang, the blessing of Vejrakilaya

The wonderful gift of nature and spirituality..... the Kilaya manifested woods and bamboos. Locals call it the Kila wang which means the blessings of Kilaya.

These are some wonderful amazing shapes of natural gift that reamin as a sacred artefacts of the Sumthrang monastery an apiritual gift gathered by Nyo Gyelwa Lhanangpa, Sangay Raychen.
He collected all these wonderful pieces when he was  in Tsari (south east Tibet  bordering with Arunachal Pradesh, India) sent by Drikung Jigten Sumgoen for retreat and to open the undiscovered sacred locations of Tsari along with two other friends, Gardhampa and Pal-Choe.

HE Choeje Ayang Rinpoche's visit to the Sumthrang Monastery

Rinpoche, blessing a local woman at the reception 

His Eminence Choeje Ayang Rinpoche the living master of phowa visited Sumthrang Monastery on April 14^th with his family on pilgrim.

While on his pilgrim, Rinpoche also blessed the poeple of the village with oral transmission of the choe-long-trul sumgi zung-nag, the mantaras of loard Amitabha, Avalokiteshvara, and the Guru Rinpoche.

His Eminence, Chojey Rinpoche also offered truesol to the nangtens the sacred relics of the Sumthrang monastery founded by one of the great scholars and main disciples of Drikung Gigten Goenpo, Nyo Gyelwa Lhanangpa.

New or old, what do we chose..?

An old folk of sumthrang making round the Temple/
 the top part of a stone pillar in front of the temple
believed to have brought by the dakinis
when  the original temples was first built.

Yes, I know, you know and the world is told that Bhutan is culturally rich and it cares so much so far.

This is yet another trend that there are as many new monasteries, Temples and Stupas being built around which is by faith and devotion to a religious sect is wonderful and applaudable. 

And the one who builds also gets name and fame for its action and of course why not appropriate.

But are we thinking of its implications on the country in future to safe guard, protect and conserve our old valuable monuments.

Saamy's thoughts into words: The spring joy......pictorial tour..!

Saamy's thoughts into words: The spring joy......pictorial tour..!: This may be joyous picture today but may not be tomorrow... so enjoy! Ah! the atmosphere is changing around the small cottage I l...

Significance of Sombrang (sumthrang) Brag (cliff)

Sumthrang village is surrounded with Five sacred significant landscapes. A cliff like a piled text at north, conch shaped landscape at the south, pure holy spring water at the west and swastika (yungdrung) shaped rock bed at the east.
Here let me explain a little i know about the this wonderful cliff overlooking the village from its north which is one of the five sacred landscapes (with others to follow later).

Saamy's thoughts into words: Running water: Health Indicator of our environment...

Saamy's thoughts into words: Running water: Health Indicator of our environment...: Ice block believed to be the indicator once upon a time (picture given from diff angles): Sumthrang village is just below a huge cliff...

Very Happy Birth Day Your Majesty! Prayers and Wishes for your long life Because We the people and Drukyul Love you with all of our Heart....

Do-Ngoen (blue stone) dzong: Does our history tell us the truth........?

Dechenphodrang monastery at the location
where the do-ngoen dzong was built

I am of not sure if it is true when I read to learn that the Do-ngoen(bule stone) dzong (fortress) was built by Nyoe Gelwa Lhanangpa in the works of Bhutan's history tellers.

More over, it is untrue to my knowledge to claim that do-ngoen dzong as the first ever dzong built in Bhutan, because as far as I know Chelkha dzong (it is in ruins) is said to be the first dzong built in Bhutan by Nyo Gyelwa Lhanangpa.

Who have the right date and justification to support the ascertain that the Do-ngoen dzong was built by Nyo-Gyelwa Lhanangpa. To be precise there should be more appropriate dates supporting one another.

What is this skull and the chest bone....you will find in Sumthrang Monastery?

The skull and the chest bone

Ngoe Gyelwa Lhanangpa after having spent some years in Chelkha monastery, headed back to Tibet leaving one of his disciple to take care of the monastery which later known as the Chelkha Dzong.

In This regard, to hight light a little on where about of the Chelkha Dzong, my own believe is that the Chelkha dzong is located below the Nubri village where there is a ruins of a dzong at the end edge of a mountain range standing high from the meeting point of two streams.

Pictorial updates of Sumthrang Samdrup Choedzong

Finally yet another step ahead.... the court yard of the monastery is getting a face lift....

Lochoe: the annual offering an annual gathering........

As for the family, it is at that time you enjoy the togetherness. When we the children could not walk . By the time when we start walking it make it tough for the parents to guide and guard for our safety, therefore if you are blessed with strong, healthy and without any defects on your body after your birth, thank your parents.

At our tender age, they don't let you go out, in fear of getting hurt as we play, and as we grow up, first time we depart if one may know is when you complete your schooling at home and have to go away for higher studies. One may not feel, but it's too cold for the parents.

 Never mind, it may be for the whole summer that time and to return on winter vacation back home. But suddenly, now you are in to a job, no way....... how terrible for your loving parents to miss you all time but how many of their children miss them?

Kangsoel

Sumthrang Kangsoel, the annual festival of Sumthrang Sumdrup Choedzong began from the evening of 25th day of 9th month of the Bhutanese calendar (21st Nov) with the Gigtred performance( driving the evil spirits away and clearing the obstacles of dharma activities). The word Kangsoel means offering (offering to appease the deities). The great saint and the linage holder of the Galwa Lhanangpa is beyond our doubt that he had left a strong tradition in the form of kangsoel, which is performed annually as a symbolic offering to Dharmapalas and his person

al deities.