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.

CHORTENCORA

Located 52Km from TashiGang and 567Km from Thimphu on the bank of nearby flowing river from the Tibet-bhutan border Kholongchu is one of the bhutans stupa- chortencora and a image resemblence of Bodnath Stupa of Nepal and Stupa Of Pangchanang, Tawang- Gorzam Chorten.

The chortencora dates back to 1740, built by 3rd Abbot Lama of RigsumGonpa, Ngawang Loday. The Legend follows about the Chortencora. Each person has their own stories. Lam Ngawang Loday and his friend Lam Zangpo from Tawang brought the structure and the design from Bodnath Stupa in NEPAL. Some legends say that the structure of Bodnath stupa was curved/made from the radish and brough to Trashiyangtse. By the time Radish reached trashiyangtse due to osmosis the radish got shrink and it is said that the chortencora of trashiyangtse is smaller then the Bodnath Stupa. No source has the details about how long it took for the people to built the Chorten and how many labours were engaged but some source say that it took 12 years to complete the chorten. Before the Road came to Trashiyangtse the trashigang-trashiyangtse highway was through the chorten and everytime the people passed through the highway, the demons there attacked people and were never been in peace before the chorten was built. During Lam Ngawang Loday, he built the chorten to subdue the demons and take the path towards religion for the people of upper, middle and lower kholungchu valley and also in memory of his late uncle Lam Jangchub Gyeltshen. It was known as Duerong Chorten meaning "Due=Demon,Rong=Forest/valley,Chorten=Stupa".It is said that during the construction of Chorten, a 15year Girl from Moen, Tawang was concealed in the chorten on 15th day of 1st month. Legend also says that a OX and Roaster was also being concealed there and no text can be found regarding that but most of the people who trust and prays at chortencora say that they dream of ox and roaster during new born baby. Therefore the festival on 15th day of 1st Month is called the Chenga Kora or Dakpai Kora meaning Circumbulance of dakpas where they concealed the Girl from Tawang (Dakpa). It is said that longtime back when the Tawang People didn't visited Chortencora, The voice from Chortencora was heard asking the people about Dakpas( The tawang people). So therefore the people from Tawang never fail to visit Chortencora on the festival.

photo taken 1990

The chorten was completed on 30th of 1st month of the Bhutanese Calendar and the festival on the day which last for 3days is known as the Namgang Kora or the Drukpai Kora (The circumbulance of drukpas) its the the festival of inaguration. No dates specify when the festivals were started but people say that the festivals started after the khandroms voice being heard from the chorten in past.
In 2002-2008 the Chorten was renovated with helps from Dzongkhag and devoted public.
In the year 2000?? the stone slabs around the chorten were liad by the Dzongkhag and In 2002 the MaJor renovation of Prayer Wheels and Gliding of Gold were initiated by Dzongkhag, Chortencora Moelam Chenmo Tshokpa, Insitute for Zorig Chusum and the Public. Later the House for Butter Lamp and Gates were built. In 2006, Mr. Tandin a contractor cemented the slabs of prayer wheels and glided the prayer wheels with Gold. And the paintings were done by the passed and present Instructors and trainees of Trashiyangtse Institute for Zorig Chusum (TIZC).

"Chorten- Stupa" "Cora- Circumambulation" is one of the sacred place in Trashiyangtse. It is believed that devotees and pilgrims who go around the stupa would bring in substantial merits for them and wishes come true. Legend say that the chorten had the opening door to get inside where the interor part was known to be a Lhakhang. Later due to robbery cases the Door was closed with stones permanently.
The Legend of SERTO/ Golden Cupola and Pinnacle.

As per the legend it is said that the serto is being put by Khandroms ( dakinis) when it was left on the ground where people were unable to put on the top. And its said that before it was assembled correctly it was dawn and khandroms had to leave before the serto was built straight. Before this serto a Stone pinnacle was on the top. Still the stone pinnacle can be seen. Legend also says that Lama Shacha Gyelpo from Punakha,of Rigsum Lam replaced it with a gilded Cupola. It is said that the people who were involved in the work could not think of a way to bring down the stone pinnacle. So, Lama Shacha Gyelpo performed prayers during the day and it is believed that the stone miraculously descended by itself at night.
It is also said that after circumambulating the Chorten its necessary to circumambulate the stone pinnacle. Later in 1999 the Trashiyangtse Dzongkhag Tshechu Tshokpa glided the cupola with Gold.

Some small holes can be seen on the stone pinnacle where people test their trust and devotion. From few metre distance you close your eyes and just try to locate the hole on the stone with your thumb. If you can locate the hole it is said that you are devoted and fulfil the expectation of parents.

Can be seen three holes on the pinnacle. For elder, young and children. Never forget to test your devotion and wishes while visiting Chortencora next time.

THE FAMOUS CHORTENCORA FESTIVALS.

The dakpai cora or the Chenga Cora falling on the 15th day of 1st Bhutanese Month is mainly regarded as the cora/festival for Dakpas (Tawang people). During the construction of Chorten it is said that a 15 Year girl from Tawang (Anuracheal Pradesh, India) which known to be a Khandrom( dakinis) has been brought to chortencora and concealed as TEN prophesied in Lams vision and for the protection of Upper, Middle and Lower valley of Kholung Chu. Therefore the people of Tawang are high regarded and respected. Dressed like the people from Merak and Sakteng they speak a native language similar to Yangtsep Language and speak Hindi or some can speak English. The festival is being celebrated for three days, 14th,15th and 16th. People Circumambulating around the chorten chanting Bazaguru or Mani. They stay till the end of Namgang cora and Gomkora.

On the 30th day of 1st Bhutanese month another chortencora festival continues known as Drukpai cora or Namgang cora. This is the festival of Inaguration after completing the construction of Chorten. The chorten would be surrounded with pilgrims from bhutan and tawang during day and during Night the chorten would be seen surrounded by young boys and girls called the SEN'KORA (Evening circumambulance).

Due to gatheration of so many people the business man from all over the country will be seen selling their products, Bars and Resturants, Grocery, Utensils,etc in nearby built tents.After 10days of Chortencora all people flock down to Gomkora Tshechu.

Countless generations of pilgrims, local as well as from outside visit Chortencora during festival or other days. If a devotee approaches and visits sacred sites with faith, respect ones wishes will be fulfilled and the merits accumulated in this life will mature and take him or her to the pure lands of SAMSARA. Even a butterlamp at Chortencora would bring liberation in owns life. Also visit GOMKORA.