Friday, July 22, 2011

The Sights, Sounds and Souls of Shingkhar; -The Origin of Shingkhar Naktsang

Current Shingkhar Lam Nidup and Dasho Shingkhar Lam
 during one of five day Shingkhar Rabney
Shingkhar is a small village in Bumthang. It has around 30 households and population of little over 500 people. The locals speak native Bumthap and are known for their.....well nothing. The folks are easy going people. More than wealth, they are people who like humor in abundance. Besides rearing yaks and cattles, its a place also known for the great plains and abundant fir trees.

The current location of the village is believed to have been the place from where the great Nyingma Scholar, (popularly known as the Kuenkhen Longchen Rabjam) meditated and propagated Buddhism to his followers in 13th century. Historically, the main village of Shingkhar, also known as the Rinchengang was located  in the South, about a mile from the current location. However the ruins of Rinchengang are still visible. Dechenling and lamas residence were the only dwelling that time. Of eight such 'Lings' which Longchenpa established to also pursue his writings about the Zogpaphenpo, including 'dzoduen', Shingkhar Dechenling happens to be one among them. "Dzoduen" is the most remarkable book written by Longchenpa.

Later, the great grand son of Longchenpa, popularly known as Tsezang Thaye Drakpa became the first Shingkhar Lama.  He was succeeded by his Son, Lama Jaboedm. He later curved wooden statue of his late father, along with the statues of Guru and Drolkar. They are still preserved in Shingkhar Lhakhang. Also the mask of Lhamo and Gyempo along with the the masks of chhoejong (except the horns) are widely believed to have been made by Lama Jaboedma himslef. Today these objects have become the main Nangten of  Shingkhar Lhakhang.

The house in which successive Shinglhar Lams lived was known to locals as 'Naktsang', -the house of lama and his family.


Shingkhar Naktsang.

3 comments:

  1. Choki Wangmo7/22/2011 3:03 PM

    hi Acho...Choki here, great article...thanks ...I can help you with more information of my grand parents...keep going...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Kunzang, the statue of the 1st Shingkahr Lama, tsezang, is said to have been curved by his son, the 2nd Shingkhar Lama,Jaboedma. He also curved Guru, Drolkar, Lhagon and probably chochong except for the horns

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dechenling along with the Lama's residence were the only dwellings during that time. The village, about a mile below, was known as Rinchengang (ruins are still visible).

    ReplyDelete

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