Legends of Bhutan

For more than a 1000 years this tiny kingdom has survived in self-imposed isolation, cut off from the world by it’s own deliberate policy. This is perhaps why so many of Bhutan’s legends still remain so clear.

The main building of the village of Punaka is a monastery castle that was strategically built at the meeting of two rivers. Punaka Dzong was Bhutan’s winter capital for over 300 years. Legend says that Guru Rinpoche blessed this land and predicted the construction of a fortress here. In 1637, Rinpoche came here to set up camp and on the same night had a prophetic dream. This prompted him to build a dzong here and to store within it a most sacred relic that he had brought with him from his monastery in Tibet. This relic was the Avalokitesvara statue, a relic that was claimed to have miraculously appeared from no-where. Angered by the relocation of this relic, the Tibetans attacked the monastery; however, the Bhutanese successfully defended it. This victory is celebrated each year between February-March at the ‘Sacred Victory Festival’ in Punaka.

Situated on a hill in the Punaka Valley and surrounded by paddy fields is the idyllic Chimi Lhakhang, a temple that is a place of pilgrimage for infertile women. In 1499, a monastery was built over an existing stupa that had been created by the controversial saint Drupka Kunley. Also known as ‘The Saint of 5000 Women’, Drupka Kunley believed that it was possible to refrain from celibacy, despite being enlightened, and even argued that sex could be a means of imparting enlightenment. It is for this reason that women seek Drupka Kunley’s blessing at Chimi Lhakhang.

Just off the only road in the Paro valley lies a path that leads to one of the most remote monasteries in the world. From curve to curve, the Tiger’s Nest Monastery slowly comes into view to the visitor who embarks on the arduous ascent up to this mountain monastery. At 2950m above sea level, this monastery is said to be the spot where Guru Rimpoche landed triumphantly on the back of a flying tigress. Rimpoche, who is credited with introducing the tantric strain of Buddhism to Bhutan, arrived here around the 8th century. On arrival, Rimpoche was said to have meditated in the network of caves here for over 3 years, a process that made the mountainside sacred and tamed the tigress.