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| Statue in front of Machen Lhakhang, Punakha Dzong |
Zhabdrung Kuchoe is widely
observed in the country every year in the memory of Death Anniversary of our
great leader Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal. It is marked on 10th day of
the 3rd month of Bhutanese calendar. This year, it falls on 9th
May. The central monastic body performs the prayer ceremonies such as
recitation of Zhabdrung’s zhabten (prayer for stability of life) and offer
thousands butter lamps in every dzongs and monasteries across the country.
Today mark the day, the
government, organizations, corporations, NGOs, private sector offices and
schools are closed for the day as holiday. Read more about Zhabdrung Ngawang
Namgyal in below, to know the fact:
Brief
Biographical History of Zhabdrung
Zhabdrung Rinpoche was born
in 1594 to Yab Tenpai Nyima and Yum Sonam Pelkyi in central Tibet to the family
of religiously powerful. He belonged to the family of Gya who ruled the Drukpa
Kagyud School in Ralung. His grandfather, Mipham Choegyal was driven out of
Tibet by the rival. Mipham Choegyal was seventeenth abbot of Drukpa Kagyud
School in Ralung. Zhabdrung was trained
by his grandfather, in every religious phase to be eighteenth abbot of Ralung
School.
In 1606, his grandfather
died, when he was only 12 years old. He, without any choice had to take over
the throne as 18th abbot of Ralung monastery in Tibet. He took over a
powerful position as Ralung was the traditional seat of the Drukpa Kagyud order.
He then devoted most of his time in religious studies and artistic skills in
traditional paintings and sculpturing. As he was young and small, he collided with
the rulers of Tsang province, who then challenged his recognition as the reincarnation
of the esteemed 4th Gyalyang Drukpa, Pema Karpo.
There was another person who
claimed to be incarnation of the same, the problem arose. They try to replace
Zhabdrung, which leads to kill him. The Tsang Desi Tensung Wangpo supported
Pagsam Wangpo’s claim to be incarnation of Pema Karpo. New Tsang Desi Phuntsho
Namgyal was against Zhabdrung and supported Pagsam Wangpo. Phuntsho Namgyal
succeeded his father after he abdicated the throne.
To unravel the crisis
incarnation of 4th Gyalwang Drukpa, Pema Karpo, Zhabdrung wrote a
letter to Tsang Desi requesting to recognize him as true incarnation for the
same, based on evidence. But Desi did not reply or reacted on his request.
Later on, Desi arranged the meeting at Shigatse Dzong, which did not resolve
the problem. So, Zhabdrung headed back to the home with disappointed.
The
problem didn’t solve but matter became tougher and tougher with strong support
from Tsang Desi on Pagsam Wangpo. They had several problems related to
incarnation. The court case was also brought against him, and he was asked to
pay fine for relics. The problem arose day after days. One day, Tsang Desi
planned to attack the Ralung Monastery and assassinate Zhabdrung which compel
him to make decision to save himself from such.
Then he
made decision to settle in Bhutan. His decision to settle in Bhutan was which
he was prophesized in his dream and visions the guardian deities offering him
land of Bhutan. This is how Zhabdrung was decided to fled to Bhutan.
In
1616, at the age of 22, the Zhabdrung escaped Tibet and fled to the south, the
land of thunder dragon. He passed through rugged mountains, hills and valleys,
finally reached the territory of Mon-Yul. He was the welcomed by Hobtsho lam,
who had close marriage and religious ties with Gya family, and the people of
Laya and Gasa. Lam also invited him to Bhutan.
Before
Zhabdrung came to Bhutan, while he was packing his various religious relics he
also packed the prestigious relic, Rangjung Kharsapani. He brought it with him
to Bhutan and its now kept in the Punathang Dewa Chenpoi Phodrang. Rangjung
Kharsapani was self-created image of Chenzayzi, which was appeared from the
backbone of Tsangpa Gyarey, while cremating him.
He held
a night at Laya and then proceeds to Gasa. The people of Laya and Gasa paid him
respect and declared their loyalty and he was welcomed by people northern
Bhutan. He then followed to upper Thimphu valley via Karbi to Pangri Zampa.
There the temple was built by his great, great grandfather who visited Bhutan.
He also visited Dechenphug temple, the house of Protective guardian deities
Drukpas since 14th Century. Zhabdrung paid homage to the deities in
the temple; the sole deity paid back respect to him. He then travelled to Paro valley vai Je-la
and set Druk Choeding in the valley.
His
contributions
Unification
of the Country
Zhabdrung started unifying
the country as soon as he arrived in Bhutan after establishing Druk Choeding in
Paro valley. During his time of unification he faced the Tibetan invasion which
was sent by Tsang Desi. First Tibetan invasion was took place in Paro valley in
1617. The reason for invasion followed him, because Zhabdrung brought sacred
relic Rangjung Kharsapani. The Desi sent one of his greatest generals to lead
men into battle where Bhutanese managed to drove them rancid assassinating the
general.
The Zhabdrung visited the
Tango monastery in upper Thimphu. He was warmly welcomed by Tshewang Tenzin who
was grandson of Drukpa Kuenley, and offered monastery and lands its possesses.
He meditated there and reciting prayers, he composed a poem Ngachudruma
(Sixteen I’s). Meanwhile, Tsang Desi in Tibet was preparing stronger force to
assassinate Zhabdrug. Later, the news reached the Zhabdrung that Tsang Desi and
his wife died in Tibet.
Then he visited Chapcha
and on his return to Tango, he was informed that his father Tenpai Nyima was
died in Ralung. He then sent a group of loyal entrourage to TRalung to bring
dead body of Yub Tenpai Nyima to Bhutan. However, he established a seal with
his poem Ngachudruma.
Then Zhabdrung established
Chari Monastery in 1620 and started first monk body. His father’s dead body was
brought to Bhutan. The Chari monastery became the permanent resident for
Zhabdrung. He invited his teachers and scholars from Ralung to teach in
monastery. Then after completion of works, Zhabdrung went into retreat for
three years.
With this, his trouble did
not end with defeating Tsang Desi’s troop, and establishing monastery. The
opposition from within the country called Lam Kha Nga. He was opposed by groups
of Lam Kha Ngas, such as Lhakpas, Nyingmapas, Barawas, Kathogpas and Chazampas,
while he was invited to other valleys and paid him loyalty. The first assail
was happened in 1629, when Zhabdrung was busy building Simtokha Dzong. The
leader of troop was assassinated but did not crushed completely.
Then, followed by other
several invasions; firstly, Lam Kha Nga called on Tsang Desi’s son for their
help to assassinate Zhabdrung. In 1634 the Tibetan invaded once again in
different places but they were defeated and invasion ended there. Secondly, in
1639, Tibetan invasion again strikes over Bhutan to defeat or assassinate
Zhabdrung, in the invitation of Lam Kha Nga. But it was however not successful,
which lead to conformity between Tsang Desi and Zhabdrung, where Desi accepted
the rule of Zhandrung in Bhutan.
The groups of Tibetan
invasions were experienced in mid seventh century. Back to Tibet, the Tsang Desi’s
power was fallen and Tibet was ruled by Gelugpas leaded by successive Dalai
Lama who was the temporal and spiritual leader. Due to same notions in mind of
spread their power in neighbouring countries, Gelugpa with combination of
Mongol armies attacked Bhutan in 1644. After four years, Bhutan faced two
consecutive invasions in 1648 and 1649, again invaded Bhutan from several and
different directions. The invaders reached as afr as Thimphu, Paro and Punakha.
It was managed to defeat the invasions. even after Zhandrung’s death, they
invaded but always failed and defeated by Bhutanese.
Zhabdrung
built Dzongs in Bhutan
Apart from facing the
various stages of the invasions, he also built numerous dzongs in the country. In
1627, Zhabdrung built Simtokha Dzong at the entrance to Thimphu valley, which
we can still see beautifully positioned on the hill. It was first Dzong built
by Zhabdrung in Bhutanese land. Semtokha Dzong then served to wield his control
over traffic between the powerful Paro valley to the west and Trongsa valley to
the central Bhutan.
In 1637, Zhabdrung started
building Punakha Dzong and Wangdiphodrang Dzong in 1638. In 1641 he seized old
Lhakpa dzong of Thimphu, where present day Dechenphodrang stand. Those time, or
before Zhabdrung’s arrival in Bhutan, the Lhakpa sect of religion was famous in
the country. He then abolished the Lhapa sect of Thimphu and established Drukpa
Kagyud sect of religions. In 1645, the old Drukpa family of Hungrel in Paro
presented their small dzong to Zhabdrung, where he replaced it with bigger and
with new name, Rinpung Dzong.
The Nyingmapa sect of
religion offered him the monastery of Taktshang to Zhabdrung. He then built
Drukgyel Dzong to guard Paro valley against Tibetan invaders in future. The
daong was also said to be built in order to celebrate victory from Tibetan
invasion.
Zhabdrung did not move to
Eastern Bhutan but still his power and supremacy extended to Trongsa and built
Trongsa Dzong with the name Druk Choekhor Rabtse Dzong. In 1651, he built Daga
Tashi yangtse Dzong in Dagana. With construction of Dzongs, he almost covered
the whole country. He also divided into three region, ruled by three Poenlops,
the eastern, western and central.
Setting
of the Administration
After building Daga Tashi
Yangtse Dzong in Dagana, Zhabdrung completely brought Bhutan under him divided
into three regions. They are allotted with specific regions to be ruled. The
poenlops are appointed for three regions, Daga Poenlop, who was assigned to
look after South-Central region, Paro Poenlop, the West and South-West and
Trongsa Poenlop, the East and South-East.
The Je Khenpo was
appointed as overall leader of the religion and Desi as political leader. The
dual system he established with two people with two different responsibilities.
This is called as the Choe-Si system. Zhabdrung act as supreme leader of both
religious and political arena of the country.
Apart from unifying the country,
he also secured independence. He faced many Tibetan invasions and invasions
from within the country and established Drukpa Kagyud as the state religion in
the country. The systems of administration an religious was created by
Zhabdrung when he came to Bhutan and his stay here for 35 years.
He established not really
same practices and systems which were in Tibet, during his reign. He espoused
the title for him as Zhabdrung (at whose feet one submits). Then Bhutanese
people referred him as Zhabdrung Rinpoche, the precious Jewel at whose feet one
submits. He was and is greatest ever personality in the history of Religion and
Political systems. He is well known and respected personality where we bow him
very time.
Zhabdrung
Rinpoche passed away
The Zhabdrung Rinpoche not
only ruled the country but also devoted his time in construction of Dzongs in
several regions. He ruled the country until his death in 1651, at Punakha Dzong.
To avoid political chaos and future external invasions, in the wake of his death,
his closest advisors conceal the news of his death for several years. During
this stipulated time he was said to be ruling the country while in privacy, not
sensible explanation given the extended silent retreats he was known to take
during his life, although the length of his retreat must have seemed more and
more incredible as the decades already passed.
The Zhabdrung Rinpoche’s dead
body lies preserved in a sacred internal cavity in Punakha Dzong, present day
called as Machen Lhakhang, where it has been under perpetual watch since his
death in the 17th century. The task of watching over him is one of
the most sacred duties in the country, carried out by two high lamas. Not even
the Poenlops are high level officials were allowed in the internal cavity.
Today, only Kings, Je Khenpo and Machen Zimpoen are allowed to enter. The
sacred five colored scarf fro Kings and during King’s wedding should always
receive from there.
The death of Zhabdrung
Ngawang Namgyal was disclose only after 25 years and believed that he was still
under meditation. Then, Zhabdrung Kuchoe was observed since then every year on
the 10th day of the third Bhutanese Calendar.
Thousands of devotees also
received blessings and offered prayers to the Rangjung Kharsapani, which was
displayed by the Central Monastic Body for public to scrutinize the day. The
day is celebrated all over the country to commemorate the Death Anniversary of
greatest leader of the country. To pay tribute to his ardent interest to unify
and established Choe-Si systems or other legacy in the country, the people
visit monasteries, chortens, holy places, religious sites, etc. to offer
prayers. The people not only visit such places, but also offer butter lamps in
the name of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal’s death anniversary.
The Rangjung Kharpani was
then displayed to the public for the first time after it was stolen and
recovered in 2000. It is one of the most sacred relics in the country.
