Goen Tshephu Ney is a sacred cave of longevity where Guru Rinpoche first met Buddha Amitayus, heard his message, and empowered longevity blessings. The Ney is located in Goenshari Gewog under Punakha Dzongkhag at 2413 meters above sea level.
This sacred cave of longevity is considered the Third Maratika and is believed to be as good as visiting the Draphu Maratika of Nepal. Goen Tshephu Ney is popularly known as Bhutan’s Draphu Maratika.
The sacred site of Goen Tshephu derived its name from the cave where the naturally formed stone treasure in the shape of the long-life vase (Vase of immortality- འཆི་མེད་ཚེའི་བུམ་པ) appeared after Guru Rimpoche meditated here for 3 months in the 8th century.
How to Reach Goen Tshephu Ney
Driving 25 km from Punakha towards Gasa, we reach the Goenshari Bridge. Diverting from the bridge towards Goenshari for another 10 km we arrive at the Goen Tshephu Ney. You’ll drive more than 40 km from Khuruthang town to reach the Ney. Then, walk for 5 minutes from the parking.
Sacred Relics to See at GoenTshephu
- Guru Rinpoche Suung-Joen (self-spoken) Statue;
- The Long Live Vase with the self-arisen letter ཨ (Ah);
- 21 Tara’s Mandala;
- Guru Rinpoche’s Throne;
- Guru Rinpoche’s Kitchen and a cooking oven (Guru’s Soelthab);
- The self-embossed Guru Mantra “OM AH HUNG”;
- The wish-fulfilling tree (Pasam Jinshing);
- Chhimed Tshe Chu (holy water of longevity);
- The gold-plated replica of Zhabdrung’s hat;
- The upper lip of the Mara;
- Three footprints of Guru Rinpoche;
- Dakini meditation cave;
- Wangchu chenpo with male and female conch.
Also Read: Guru Rinpoche’s Visits to Bhutan and His Sacred Sites
Historical Significance of Goen Tshephu Ney
Goen Tshephu Ney or the Pungkha Goen Tshephu is a sacred cave of Guru Rinpoche. It is said that Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal requested Guru Rinpoche to travel to Goen Tshephu when Guru was meditating in the cave of Draphu Maratika, where he attained immortality. After Guru’s retreat, they traveled to Goen Tshephu via Tshelung Ney.
Guru Rinpoche meditated in Goen Tshephu for 3 months in the cave of longevity and he was able to see the full form of Amitayus “Buddha of Long Life”, heard his message, and was empowered. As a result, the cave is sometimes referred to as the third Maratika, while Tshelung Ney is considered the Second Maratika.
The Goen Tshephu was also blessed by so many Bodhisattvas including Terton Dorje Lingpa, Gyalse Gyaltshen, Yongzin Ngawang Drakpa, Thukse Dawa, Trulku Gyaltshen Pelzang, Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, and many more. Terton Pema Lingpa visited and blessed it and left his footprint which is still visible. Terton Dorji Lingpa visited and discovered a ritual dagger (phurpa), now one of the inner relics of the Goen Tshephu Lhakhang.
As per the Guru Rinpoche’s prophecy, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel traveled to Punakha in search of a location for the Drukpa seat, leading him to Goen Tshephu Ney. He meditated at Goen Tshephu Ney. While meditating, the jealous Shangpa progenies, using their occult power crashed down meteors. But the Zhabdrung’s power diverted them to the cypress tree in front of the room where Zhabdrung was putting in. The split tree can still be seen today.
In Goen Tshephu, Guru Rinpoche appeared in person and advised Zhabdrung to construct Pungthang Dewa Chenpoi Phodrang to propagate Buddha dharma. Guardian deities of Palden Drukpa too appeared and submitted to support this noble mission.
Description of GoenTshephu Ney
A boulder near the Monastery’s entrance is said to be the upper lip of the Mara conquered by Guru Padmasambhava. Guru Rinpoche has imprinted three footprints on this stone face while flying to Tshechudra. It is said that he stepped on it and flew to Tshechudra in Gasa. Terton Dorje Lingpa’s footsteps are also seen on the same stone. The wish-fulfilling tree (Pasam Jinshing) is also seen nearby which bears fruits throughout the year.
The main treasure of Gon Tshephu Ney is the Life Vase with the self-arisen letter ཨ (Ah) in a small cave. The life vase is believed to have flown from the cave of Maratika in Nepal. It is now housed in a glass house to preserve the sanctity. A continual trickling of Chhimed Tshe Chu (holy water of longevity/no death) can be seen from the top, which is thought to emanate from an elephant’s tongue. This longevity water is channeled in a tap at the entrance from the main Tshe Bum (Life Vase or the Vase of Immortality) cave.
The Long Live Vase, 21 Tara’s Mandala, Guru Rinpoche’s Throne, Guru Rinpoche’s Kitchen, and the self-embossed Guru Mantra “OM AH HUNG” will bless you as you enter the mystical cave.
There is an iron ladder that leads to Dakini Meditation Cave, which is located near Life Vase Cave.
Aside from the Dakini meditation cave, there is a cave (Dedh Drib Ney) where good and bad Karma can be determined. Returning to the monastery and rising higher, a self-arisen 21 Tara’s pictures may be observed in a cave face, thought to be hidden there.
A cooking oven (Guru’s Soelthab) is on top of the large rock above the monastery, that Khandro used to prepare food for Guru Rinpoche. The anchoring rope or ladder to reach the top is a tiny plant with several long creeper-like roots. When ascending or remaining at the top, extreme caution is required. Any unintentional slip could have disastrous consequences.
A stunning self-arisen letter ཨོཾ་ཨཱཿཧཱུྂ: can be seen below the Monastery on the backside of Mara’s top lip. All of the letters are raised letters if you look closely. This is very incredible. Mara’s heart is thought to be part of the stone.
There is a tiny boulder by the butter lamp offering room. Wangchu chenpo with male and female conch can be observed.
On the stone’s face is a small hole where Terton Dorje Lingpa extracted Phurbi Ter.
Goen Tshephu Lhakhang
Tsephu Trulku Gyeltshen Pelzang, a follower of Saint Goe Tsangpa, founded the Goen Tshephu monastery. Since the temple was old and small, the Royal great-grandmother, Late Queen Azhi Phuentsho Choden Wangchuck renovated and enlarged it in 1958 to accommodate increasing devotees while conducting rituals and prayers on auspicious days (yarngo- 15th day and marngo- 30th day).
The main statue in the Monastery is Guru Suung-Joen Thoed Threng Rig Nga. Thoe Threng Rig Nga (གུ་རུ་ཐོད་ཕྲེང་རིགས་ལྔ) refers to Guru’s Body, Speech, Mind, Quality, and Activity. Pentsa Deva, the Nepali sculptor crafted this statue in Punakha Dzong to be taken to Bumthang Kurjey Lhakhang. However, the statue of Guru Rinpoche spoke, “Place me at Goen Tshephu instead of taking me to Bumthang”. Thus, this statue is considered the most revered relic at Goen Tshephu.
Sculptured by Pentsa Dewa in Punakha Dzong, the other two statues of Guru Rimpoche who spoke are that of Paro Taktshang and Ragoe Ney in Paro.
Among the temple’s countless relics, the gold-plated replica of Zhabdrung’s hat is also considered one of the key treasures.
Best Time to Visit Goen Tshephu
Any time of the year is suitable for a pilgrimage to Goen Tshephu Ney. Going on a pilgrimage during the summer months is possible, but it is not usually recommended because the weather in the hilly countryside is unpredictable and changes rapidly. Winters are bitterly cold, and some routes are closed due to severe snowfall, making travel extremely hazardous. As a result, early spring (March, April, May) and autumn (late September, October, and November) are the safest times to visit Goen Tshephu Ney.
You can contact Lam Chhimi Nidup at 17421897 or the site manager, Tshokey Dorji at 17705802.
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