GOMPHUKORA

INTRODUCTION:

Located 32Km from Tashiyangtse and 2Km from Duksum is one of the Bhutans sacred place blessed by Guru Rimpoche. It falls under Tongshang Gewog of Trashiyangtse and situated near to Tashiyangtse Tashigang highway.

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THE VISIT OF GURU RIMPOCHE TO GOMPHU KORA

Gomphu Cora is a site where Guru Rimpoche subdued the demon and legend has its story that Guru Rimpoche meditated in Gomphu Kora Stone for Three months and some would say Guru meditated three days at Gomphu Kora and Three Months at KapaliPhu. No books or source is available and cannot be acertain about this legend. It is possible that the documents of Gomphucora could be available with some of the people of Tawang. The Document/manuscript of Gomphucora got burnt when the resident of the caretaker caught fire.

The demon Mongkhapa also locally called as SewangNagpo escaped from Tibet Samye during Guru's visit to Tibet following through Tawang and through Duksum and on reaching GomphuCora, he stopped fleeing further and took the hiding place near the river in the Black Big Stone. (It is also said that the demon was called Gyenen Chophel alias Yonglha who was a classmate of Guru Rinpoche at Nalanda University who attained high level spiritual powers which took guru long time to subdue.Yonglha was misled and he followed the wrong path and thus went against the Buddha Dharma.)
It is said that when the Guru was meditating near the stone the demon attempted various tricks to escape from there and showed all demonic manifestations which even he pierced the stone from inside and made his way through underground and even scared away Guru Rimpoche. Thus we can still see the Print of Gurus Hat in the entrance to Stone. The demons menifestation and power includes piercing of the Rock and transformation of himself into fericious snake standing like Cobra. Guru Rimpoche transformed himself to Garuda and tamed the Demon. Still the imprint can be seen on the stone. From there the Demon escapes peircing through the stone and in early days it said that the demon made his way underground from the stone to nearby river. It is said that later the underground tunnel was being blocked after people being lost who goes into the tunnel. Guru Rimpoche blessed the tunnel and transformed into sacred tunnel and people who ever enters the tunnel; his/her sins be cleansed. According to the Legend it is said that the demon escaped from GomphuKora cave and then its subdued forever in the stone cave and elevated as the protector of Gomphucora after reaching Tsergom, 3kms from the Cave. Still we can see the seal of oath at Tsergom cave as a RED seal of Guru. Sometimes it is said that devotee who visit the tsergom cave with faith and devotion can see the image of Guru in the Thumb print on the stone.

Some people would also say that the Gomphukora demon and the Tsergom Demon are different. And due to absence of written text/manuscripts it is not sure wether they were same or different. The entrance to the stone tunnel can be found to the North Part of the Stone. And the exit from a different hole.

While Guru Rimpoche was residing at GomphuKora, Tibets King, Thrisong Deutsen became seriously ill and bed ridden. The message was being sent to Guru and then sent his Disciple Atsara Salaioo to Meratika in Nepal to get the tshebum. When his disciple returned from nepal to Gomphukora with Tshebum, the king passed away and then concealed the Tshebum brought from Meritaka inside the stone as gTer and meditated for three days. During Auspicious days we can still see the drupchu/holywater coming out of Stone as considered the holy water coming out from hidden gTer, Tshebum.

Som artifacts like statue of Buddha, Dragons Egg, Dhamze Rilbu, Guru's footprint, Trangtring(small hand drum) of Guru, Guru's Pony and Footprint of gurus khandro can be seen at Gomphucora Lhakhang.

THE GOMPHU KORA FESTIVAL

The famous festival of the east, Gomkora or Gomphukora is celebrated on 10th day of Bhutanese 2nd Month. The festival which draws people from whole Bhutan was being started 400 years ago after Lhakhang was built by Lam Ngagi Wangchuk. And the practise of wooeing and marriage still previals during these three day Festival. Right after the Chortencora festival, people folk down for Gomphu kora festival including the people from Tawang. The businessman, People from all over would make Gomphukora Tshechu one of the most famous Festival in Eastern Bhutan. As most people gather for the festival the business ventures during those festival runs good. Grocery,Dhaka sales, Resturant, Gambling,Health exibitions,etc can be seen during these festival.

Of the many place visited by Guru Rimpoche, The Gomphu Kora meaning Gom=meditation,Phu=cave, Kora=circumambulate, is one of the blessed sacred sites. Some places where Guru visited are unknown to us or is not known or lost to us. Pilgrims and devotee who visit and pay homage where Guru Rimpoche has resided is a key and a seeds to liberation. Visiting sacred sites of Guru with faith,devotion would be blessed and wishes fulfilled and will be taken the path to pureland of SAMSARA.