Om Bha Nye, Trashi Yangtse

In 1989, I was born in Tongzhang, under Trashi Yangtse, Eastern Bhutan. Had I was not born there, I would have not known about such Nyes (Sacred places), visited and blessed by Guru Rinpoche in 8^th century. It is Nye Guru Rinpoche visited physically. Read below to discover the fact about Nyes in Trashi Yangtse.

In TrashiYangtse, there are several Nyes, Dzongs and Temples, such as Gomphu Kora, Chorten Kora, Pemaling, Dechen Phodrang, Gongza, Om Bha, Tsenkharla Dzong, Dongdi Dzong, Trashi Yangtse Dzong, Rigsum Goenpa, Thrichu Goenpa, and many more.

Today, I will introduce Om Bha Nye to discover it completely with other references in future. The Om Bha Nye is one of the many Nyes left unexplored until a decades ago. The reason behind for above is remoteness of the district.

Om Bha Nye is located on the Rocky cliff like Taksthang, where one has to walk for about two hours from Tsangpochen, Trashiyangtse.The footpath runs through the pebblyoak forest, passing through various hills and valleys of Toetsho Gewog. Upon reaching Om Bha village below the Nye, we can see the Temple and Guru Statue beautifully perched on the rocky cliff.

The Nye-Yig (Detail about the sacred place) is not clear about when Guru Rinpoche visited and blessed the Nye, but the people in the locality believe in two ways. Some believe that the place was blessed after the Gomphu Kora and Gongza Nye, in same district. It is believed that Guru Rinpoche came to Om Bha nye, following his vision, which he perceived in Mon-Yul Shao Taktshang in Arunachal Pradesh in India.

It is also believed that Guru Rinpoche, as prophesied, visited to Om Bha Nyeto subdue a Snake Demon that tormented people in that locality. Whatsoever, the Nye is one of the most important Nyes in Trashi Yangtse.

After blessing and turning the place into sacred site or the Om Bha Nye, then Guru Rinpoche, headed to Aja Nye, situated in Sherimung in Mongar. Om Bha Nye derives its name from the holy ‘Om Aah Hung’syllable of compassion mantra. ‘Om Bha Nye’stands for ‘Om’. Before reaching the main Nye, we can see with our naked eyes, the inscription of ‘Om’ on the rocky cliff. It is believed that there are more than 100 ‘Oms’ inscribed on the rock and name of the Nye is derived then.

At the site, Guru Rinpoche meditated for two months in a cave on the left flank of the rocky cliff. He subdued the snake demon by riding on a pony, Guru Rinpoche then began concealing the treasures in Om Bha nye. The hidden treasures would discover one day to flourish dharma in the region and to the world as a whole. According to the locals, treasures left undiscovered today.

Apart from the holy inscriptions on the rocky cliff, there are other sacred sites like the Cave Guru Rinpoche meditated in, imprints of chortens (stupas) on the rocks, Rinchen Terzoed, Guru Tendrom and Guru Rinpoche’s chakar (walking staff).In addition, newly built open space Guru Rinpoche statue on the rock above Temple.

The people across the country visit Ombha nye, to see the inscription, is a religious wonder people, which should see at least once in their lifetime. However, the one-third of the Nyes left uncovered today because the locals do not know the exact explanations.