Located near lobesa, it stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th drukpa hierarch, ngawang choegyel, after the site was blessed by the divine madman the maverick saint drukpa kunley 14551529 who. As an effective and profound antidote to the overenthusiastic devotion that western vajrayana buddhists tend to bestow upon their lamas, the drukpa kunley legends are, perhaps, more relevant now than in the period immediately after the original publishing date of this english translation. This temple is also known as the temple of fertility. All along i could see the roof of the temple, but it never seemed to get any closer. Visit the temple of the divine madman the temple of the divine madman is a pilgrimage site for childless couples who are blessed in the temple in the hope of becoming fertile. Drukpa kunley 14551529, also known as kunga legpai zangpo, drukpa kunleg tibetan. Since the mad monk was known for his uncontrolled lust and womanising, one of his greatest gifts to countless beneficiaries. Drukpa kuenley was a tibetan monk, revered throughout bhutan. Drive over dochula pass at an altitude of 10,200 feet, travelling through forests of pine festooned with hanging lichen, and stopping to take in aweinspiring vistas of the snowcapped himalaya. Drukpa kunley has become in bhutan almost a timeless figure presenting similarities with two other folk heroes, ap wang drugye of western bhutan and the tibetan akhu tonpaa khu ston pastories of akhu tonpa are widely popular throughout the himalayan world and across the plateau where akhu tonpa is an archetypal trickster figurethey have their share of ribaldry and illicit sexual. He was born in tibet, trained at ralung monastery, and was a contemporary and disciple of pema lingpa. Next visit chimi lhakhang, temple of the divine madman by way of a. Gain insight into bhutans arts and crafts and visit the impressive voluntary artists studio, and drive past the tashichho dzong known as the fortress of the glorious religion.
Lama drukpa kunley is one of the strangest religious and historical characters in the exotic land of bhutan. Jul 26, 2011 arirang prime the mysterious country of bhutan, where earth meets sky, duration. Chimi lhakhang was constructed by ngawang chogyel, the 14th drukpa hierarch. We visited the main altar bearing the statue of the divine madman, where we were surprised when approached by a monk who gently patted our head with a footlong wooden phallus.
This is actually the most visited temple in bhutan, no doubt owing to the audacity of the man it is dedicated to. Dochula memorial site, punakha dzong, temple of the divine madman, painting school, national chorten, thimphu dzong, buddha dordenma, as well as several other temples and monasteries in the paro, thimphu, punakha areas see your itinerary for details much more detailed information on traveling in bhutan from an experienced expert. Go to the weekend market and visit cheri goemba or tango goemba in the upper thimphu valley. Next embrace the highlight, punakha dzong, containing rich buddhist collections and with its beautiful bhutanese architecture located by the pho chu and mo chu rivers, with rich buddhist collections. Lama kunley, chimi lhakhang lama kunley, also known as the divine madman or the saint of 5,000 women was known for his unconventional teachings. When i asked the abbot at the chimmi lakang temple, why he did this he mumbled drukpa kuenley, his face creasing into a nervous giggle. The divine madman and the phallus symbol our next stop was the chime lhakang, a famous monastery where the divine madman, lam drukpa kuenley practiced his crazy wisdom during the 15th century. The best of bhutan explore thimphu and tango goenpa monastery. It houses over 3,000 works of bhutanese art, covering more than 1,500 years of bhutans cultural heritage.
This afternoon you walk through a small village to chimi lakhang the temple of the divine madman. Arirang prime the mysterious country of bhutan, where earth meets sky, duration. Drukpa kunley divine madman of bhutan bhutans divine madman. Eccentric and only one of his kinds, drukpa kunley was born in tibet in 1455. The fertility temple chimi lhakhang, also known as the temple of the divine madman, is a favourite with couples who seek blessings for an auspicious beginning of their life. Lhakhang means monastery or temple in the bhutanese language so you will hear and see a lot of lhakhangs here in bhutan. Born in tibet, he was an incarnate of the indian mahasiddha shawaripa and studied with a variety of persons, from ordinary individuals to religious masters like pema lingpa, kinga choki jamtsho, sonam chokden and choda jamtso 7 th karmapa, to name a few. A large statue of guru padmasambhava stood at the center of the altar along with one of the divine madman in a reclining pose next to it. Drukpa kunley, also known as kunga legpai zangpo, drukpa kunleg, and kunga legpa, the madman of the dragon lineage, was a buddhist monk and missionary in the tibetan mahamudra tradition, as well as a famous poet, and is often counted among the nyonpa. He travelled throughout bhutan and tibet as a neljorpa.
He also mentioned that the temple was made in memory of the divine madman. A temple dedicated to an outrageous lama, drukpa kunley chimi lhakhang is located on a small hillock hardly 15 kms away from punakha. The shifting sands of mongolias mystical gobi desert, sandstone. The divine madman is the secret biography of one of tibets bestloved saints, the buddha drukpa kunley.
Day 4 hike to the khamsung yuley namgyel temple, visit the. A compilation of anecdotes and songs gro ba i mgon po chos rje kun dga legs pai rnam thar rgya mtshoi snying po mthong ba don ldan by the bhutanese scholar, geshe chaphu, in 1966. Archery in bhutan is a way of socialization, communication, and development of relations between people. An intimate journey through bhutan, the last remaining. Day 4 hike to the khamsung yuley namgyel temple, visit the punakha dzong, and visit the nalanda buddhist institute to meet with the young monks who reside there. Late this afternoon we reach punakha, which sits at the confluence of the mo chu mother and pho chu father rivers in a subtropical valley. The climate allows for two rice crops per year, and is also suitable for growing fruit, with oranges, bananas, and guavas in abundance. According to the kiosk outside the monastery, this renowned bhutanese monk was a social critic who practiced a nonconventional style of buddhism. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in punakha day 06. While visiting bhutans capital, thimphu, the esteemed indioanglian author and journalist khushwant singh heard numerous references to what he called a wandering ascetic who combines preaching religion with sex and liquor.
The best of bhutan explore thimphu and tango goenpa. To ask other readers questions about the divine madman, please sign up. Punakha thimpu paro breakfastlunchdinner morning, drive to yabesa village and hike through the rice fields and up to khamsum yueley namgyal chorten. Jul 25, 2017 he also mentioned that the temple was made in memory of the divine madman. The stricken demon was captured in a chorten stupa by the divine madman and he uttered the words chi mi meaning no dog. Proceed to chimmi lhakhang, a temple dedicated to the divine madman and a sacred place where people pray for children. This divine madman was, as singh recounts in his book, the freethinkers prayer book. It sits on top of a hillock, in the middle of paddy fields and orange orchards. It houses over 3,000 works of bhutanese art, covering more than 1,500 years of bhutan s cultural heritage. Visitors to drukpa kunleys monastery in bhutan are welcome to enjoy a short. But of all of its unique characteristics, none seems more peculiar to us than the history and legends of the great religious teacher and holyman, lama drukpa kunley, known throughout bhutan as the divine madman. The chimi lhakhang temple close to punakha was built in 1499 in honor of drukpa kunley.
If you go to bhutan, to chimilhakhang his temple, they bonk you on the head with. This is one of the oldest temples in bhutan with its magical orange tree that. Drukpa kunley 14551529, also known as kunga legpai zangpo, drukpa kunleg and kunga legpa, the madman of the dragon lineage tibetan. The temple is small and simple by bhutanese standard. Oct 10, 2014 drukpa kunley has become in bhutan almost a timeless figure presenting similarities with two other folk heroes, ap wang drugye of western bhutan and the tibetan akhu tonpaa khu ston pastories of akhu tonpa are widely popular throughout the himalayan world and across the plateau where akhu tonpa is an archetypal trickster figurethey have their share of ribaldry and illicit sexual. Evening, hike to chimi lhakhang to visit the temple of the bhutans foremost saint, lama drukpa kunley, also known as the divine madman. Temple to learn about the unorthodox teachings of bhutans legendary divine madman. Choegyel, after the site was blessed by the divine madman the maverick saint drukpa kunley 1455 1529 who built a chorten on the site. Chimi lhakhang tales of the fertility temple in bhutan. It is a temple dedicated to one of bhutans revered saint and cultural hero, drukpa kunley.
The temple was calm and almost subdued and seemed very much in contradiction to the divine madmans colourful legacy. Drukpa kunley and nicknamed the divine madman made bhutan worship the phallus. Soon however we realised that serenity is the characteristic of all buddhist temples in bhutan. Apr 18, 2009 chimmi lakhang is the temple that the lama had predicted. From the junction of roads into punaka it is a long drive, skirting the fields. After undergoing training in ralung monastery under siddha pema lingpa, he introduced buddhism to bhutan and established the monastery of chimi lhakhang there in 1499. Chimi lhakhang or monastery or temple, is a buddhist monastery in punakha district, bhutan located near lobesa, it stands on a. Hotel lobesa or same grading hotels with category b meal.
But in bhutan he became more than an icon, he still is the patron saint of a country where the phallus is revered as a religious icon. And some words to live by, the most unconventional holy man the. Kunga legpi zangpo 14551529 popularly known as drukpa kunley is one of the most revered spiritual masters in bhutan. Discover bhutan and nepal, two himalayan countries little touched by the passage of time, and view stunning tigers nest monastery, stroll through kathmandus bazaar. Discover the temple of the divine madman at chimi lhakhang and hike to the khamsum yuelley namgyal chorten in punakha. Chimi lhakhang is also known as the divine madmans temple. The phallus is a sign of fertility, of the fight of the divine madman against the demons and in a more philosophical sense, his fight against hypocrisy and letting his true form out. Hike up to chimi lhakhang temple of the divine madman, built in 1499 to honor the lama drukpa kunley. Visit the chime lhakang temple to learn about the unorthodox teachings of bhutans legendary divine madman. It is about 30 minute walk across field from the road to the temple.
This temple is also referred to as the temple of fertility and infertile couples come from all over bhutan to receive a blessing to help them conceive a child. Oct 10, 2006 the temple of lama drukpa kunley divine madman, one of bhutan s favourite saints, at punakha dzong. Discover bhutan and nepal, two himalayan countries little touched by the passage of time, and view stunning tigers nest monastery, stroll through kathmandus bazaar and attend a spirited debate between buddhist nuns. The divine madman the sublime life and songs of drukpa kunley translation and commentary by keith dowman.
Day 1 welcome to ulaanbaatar the contrast between ancient traditions and a 21stcentury democracy is most visible in ulaanbaatar, where traditional gers and buddhist monasteries sit side by side with modern highrises. Located near lobesa, it stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th drukpa hierarch, ngawang choegyel, after the site was blessed by the divine madman the maverick saint drukpa kunley 14551529 who built a chorten on the site. Chime lhakhang the temple of the divine madman backpack. The chorten is said to be on top of a mountain in the form of a womans breast and it is at this sacred spot that the fertility temple was built.
The temple of lama drukpa kunley divine madman, one of bhutans favourite saints, at punakha dzong. The temple of the divine madman and his ubiquitous. Chimi lhakhang, punakha bhutan attractions fertility. Somewhere along the way, our guide sangay had pointed out that next morning our walk to the fertility temple would begin from a particular place. It is widely believed that couples who do not have children and wanting one, if they pray at this temple, they are usually blessed with a child very soon. On the same day we visited the majestic punakha dzong, we also got to visit another highlight in punakha valley the chimi lakhang. This temple is called the temple of fertility as it is believed that childless couples who come here to pray for a child is usually blessed with a child. One of the great religious teachers and holy men, drukpa kunley, is known all over bhutan as the divine madman. The temple is quite small compared to a lot of others that i had already visited in bhutan. Chimi lhakhang, also known as chime lhakhang or monastery or temple, is a buddhist monastery in punakha district, bhutan. Zuri dzong, a former fortress, now a temple complex, dates back to the 14th century and houses temples to the local protective. The littlevisited country of bhutan, nestled in the heart of the himalayas, offers those few visitors fortunate enough to explore its timeless villages and picturesque valleys a travel experience like no other. May 16, 2017 the phallus is a sign of fertility, of the fight of the divine madman against the demons and in a more philosophical sense, his fight against hypocrisy and letting his true form out.
Drukpa kunley divine madman of bhutan bhutans divine. Located near lobesa, chimi lhakhang stands on a round hillock and was built in 1499 by the 14th drukpa, ngawang choegyel, after the site was blessed by the divine madman the maverick saint drukpa kuenley who built a chorten which is a moundlike structure containing buddhist relics on the site. These include paro taktsang, punakha dzong, trongsa dzong, bhutan textile museum, buddha dordenma, chorten kora, and the national library of bhutan. The divine madman of bhutan and his enchanted penis. At tsechen monastery below gyangtse, where the monks were conducting the. Divine madman, the life of drupka kunley, translation and commentary by keith. Bhutan breakaway 7 days printable pdf usd on the go tours. Wayfaring in bhutan the legend of the divine madman. Chimi lhakang in punakha the temple of divine madman. Bhutan kingdom in the himalayas 2016 country walkers.