Our
country is landlocked by nature, but it is sovereign country listed as one of
the members of the United Nations Organization (UNO). The Hereditary Monarchy
system of government instituted since 1907. Ever since the Kingship instituted,
the country’s name and fame had flown over the neighboring countries and third
world countries. The hereditary Kings then rein the country systematically.
The
all the countries of the world have its own identities to ensure the
sovereignty. The identities are national anthem, day, language, games and sports,
flag, bird, animal, tree, etc.
Out
of which I will express the importance and something about our national tree of
Bhutan is so called as Tsenden (the Cypress Tree). As and when we travel to the
places of various altitudes, we can see several cypress trees. The cypress
forest along the lateral highways and longitudinal highways are national tree
of Bhutan.
Religiously,
the tree has great significances over other trees. It smells good, use for
making incense powder or sticks, use for making shrine or its room, and so on.
The
Cypress Tree of Changzamtog is famous for the Cabbies to pick up and drop the
passengers, it has become a landmark; it is the place where people can trace
the location of the particular residence, etc.
Standing
nearby the road to core Thimphu city, it is tallest of all the buildings in
Thimphu, is believed to have grown from the walking stick of Lam Drukpa
Kuenley, who is called as Divine Madman, who taught in various parts of the
country.
Around
the trunk of cypress tree, the Bhutanese style chorten (Stupa) built and installed
prayer wheels, where tens of devotees come there to circumambulate the chorten
and offer butter lamps. Today, this place gains reputation keeping in mind the
religious significances.
When
asked the caretaker about the relics and of the chorten, he shared me that he
is not sure of it. “The actual history of the chorten is unknown, so, I am sure
there must be some relics inside. It is believed that Lam who has constructed
the Chorten was short of relics and kept top of the chorten is wide open.
Today, we consider the Tsenden Shing as its relics,” said caretaker.
“I
was born in this place, and brought in this place, but I haven’t seen or heard
any history written in history books about Tsenden Shing,” said 81 years old Ap
Daw, adding that the history is passed down to them orally, which will fade
away one day.
Regarding
the chorten’s life span, caretaker says it is unknown. It is said that Divine Madman,
who was meditating in Ralung, Tibet, had a vision about the incomplete chorten
in south of Ralung. In his vision, someone in the south was in need of help to
complete the chorten.
Then
Lam Drukpa Kuenley voyaged to Bhutan from Tibet in 15th Century with
a walking stick. Divine Madman, then reach the place and told the old Lam who
need help need not have to worry. Drukpa Kuenley ultimately placed his walking
stick into the open chorten. He told old man, not to remove it or cover it. From
the walking stick, placed by Lam, the Tsenden Shing grew, which is his acumen
power.
Later
on, when Tibetans heard about it, they came to the place and tried to cut down
the small tree grown from walking stick. However, due to acumen power of Divine
Madman, no scars shown on it. “It’s believed to have religious significances as
a relic, so, it is important in the place,” caretaker pronounced smilingly.
The
people of whole Changzamtog areas own the chorten and they are responsible for
it. The name of the chorten is ‘Zamtog Chorten’, which is derived from
‘Changzamtog’.
Although,
the chorten is older than tree, the prayers wheels around was installed later
on. One of men from this area installed it in the memory of departed soul of
his son. No one today is aware of such an important place, but rather commuter
pass via this place apparently without devotion.
Over
the years, this place has been growing in congested new settlement and
constructions of the houses are mounting. The road pass below the tree and
shops located nearby attracts people but not chorten. The un-spacious space is
major problem for the devotees. Sometimes, the place is crowded. It would be good
to conduct some religious rituals there providing that there is spacious space
to pitch the tent around it or build a temple.
It
is simply left untouched for several years after installing the railing around
it. If concern authorities could do some additional site development works
would be better for the devotees.
