Ta Rimochen is the holy site where Guru Rinpoche meditated and hid many Treasures. It is located on the west bank of the Tang Chhu at Rimochen village under the Tang Gewog of Bumthang Dzongkhag at an altitude of 2676 meters. This cliff has numerous marks that look like tiger stripes, and the Ney was named Tag Remochen, meaning “an impression of tiger’s stripes“.
Pema Lingpa built the Tang Rimochen Lhakhang in the 15th century at the foot of a cliff. This sacred Ney is also known as Ta Rimochen or simply Tang Rimochen Lhakhang. The Lhakhang is worshipped as Kay-lha Yi-lha by the Tang communities.
According to oral history, Ta Rimochen Lam first constructed the Lhakhang as his home in the fifteenth century. As Lam had a wife and family, the community decided to build a new residence for him so that they could keep the sacred place clean and pure. The community built another house which is located a few meters away from the Lhakhang as his new residence and converted his old residence into a Lhakhang.
Later, in the 19th century, the temple was restored by Penlop Dorje Tsoke, a distant descendant of Dorje Lingpa.
How to Reach Ta Rimochen
The Ta Rimochen Lhakhang is located four kilometers from the base of the Kunzangdra cliff, Bumthang. The distance from Chamkhar Town to Taag Rimochen is 29 kilometers. Initially, after crossing a bridge across the Bumthang Chhu, the road goes down to Dechen Pelrithang at an elevation of 2,800 meters, then passes the famous Mebartsho gorge of the Tang Valley. From Mebartsho, climb up steeply and you’ll reach Kungzandra Monastery before reaching the Taag Rimochen Ney.
Sacred Relics to See at Ta Rimochen
- Tiger stripes on the rocks;
- Footprints of the 8-year-old daughter, the “Lotus Princess” of king Thrisong Detsen;
- The bathing tub of the Guru Rinpoche;
- Imprints of Guru Rinpoche and his consort, Yeshey Tsogyal in an embrace during an epic bout of tantric lovemaking;
- Handprints and footprints of the Guru and his consort Yeshe Tsogyal on the cliff face;
- Painting of Milarepa;
- Two large rocks that represent male and female Jachung;
- Duethro Sewotshel (cremation Grounds).
Also Read: Guru Rinpoche in Bhutan: His Visits to Bhutan and Sacred Sites
Historical Significance of Tang Rimochen
According to legend, Guru Rinpoche meditated on a giant rock with his two consorts Mandarava and Yeshe Tsogyal, and hid many treasures there. It is said that the local deity attacked Guru Rimpoche in the form of a tiger and that Guru Rinpoche subdued and turned it into a rock. Tiger stripes are linked to Ney’s name. Taag Rimochen Ney which means ‘an impression of tiger’s stripes’ is derived from the vertical yellow stripes that resemble tiger stripes on the dark rock cliff behind the Lhakhang.
Longchenpa, a religious master had a vision and prophesied the establishment of the monastery at the site where Guru Rinpoche meditated. Terton Dorji Lingpa, who began his descent in Tang Ugyenchoeling, visited Ta Rimochen. Later, in the 13th century, Terton Sherab Mebar discovered the text called Gyud Bum Chung (little son tantra), in a box concealed beneath a snake-infested rock.
In the 15th century, Terton Pema Lingpa discovered a text and a Buddha statue. Some source says that Pema Lingpa discovered a “treasure” in the form of a vase filled with long-life water.
Description of Ta Rimochen
A stupa gate marks the road leading to Ta Rimochen. You can see the Guru Rinpoche’s bathing tub by the roadside. Imprints of Guru Rinpoche and his consort, Yeshey Tsogyal in an embrace during an epic bout of tantric lovemaking are also seen on the rock.
On the cliff face are the Guru’s and Yeshe Tsogyal’s handprints, footprints, and various wish-fulfilling stones and spiritual symbols. More footprints are at the top of the steps leading to the Lhakhang. Two large rocks below the temple are stated to “represent male and female Jachung.”
On the rock face, at the backside of the temple is a footprint of Lhacham Pemasel, the 8-year-old princess of Thrisong Detsen. The “Lotus Princess” is claimed to have taken a pilgrimage to the site with Guru Rinpoche.
The cremation grounds are roughly 200 meters from the temple, beside a “two-legged khonying” or “two-legged archway chorten.” Duethro Sewotshel is thought to be a re-enactment of Guru’s Zangthopelri. The Jakar district monastic authority, which appoints a Lama for the temple, now looks after it.
The monastery is known for its rock markings. Among many markings, the vertical yellow stripes resembling Tiger are the main wonders.
Tang Rimochen Lhakhang
Taag Rimochen lhakhang is a two-storied structure constructed using stone masonry walls with mud mortar on the outside and the doors, windows, and the roof structural members are made up of timber. The extended structure on the outside of the Lhakhang has a mani dungkhor. The smaller prayer wheels surround the outer part of the Lhakhang for the people to circumambulate in a clockwise direction. On the right side of the Lhakhang, there is a Karmikhang (butter lamp place). Other secondary structure includes the Lama’s residence, toilet, and a common kitchen which has been built recently. The Lhakhang has a gabled roof with jamthok on the top.
The symbolic element sertog is also mounted on the top of jamthok roof. The red kheymar band runs around the Lhakhang like any other Lhakhangs. The front elevation of the Lhakhang has three go-mang rabsel projecting from the first-floor level from the outside. One can also notice two narrow double-eyed windows on the ground floor of the Lhakhang. At the rear elevation, one can notice a narrow corridor created by the tapered cliff surface and the rear blank wall of the Lhakhang. The approach toward the interior part is from the center of the front elevation led by a three-sided
steps leading towards the main entrance door.
Ground Floor
On the ground floor, one can notice the dark room which is mainly used as a lobby room and store at its rear end. The rooms are dark due to narrow windows at their front elevation and a lack of opening at their rear end. The pillars are being consolidated by stone masonry walls to a certain height of Zhu. Most of the rooms on the ground floor are used for storage purposes.
First Floor
The entrance to the first floor of the Lhakhang is from the sleep traditional wooden steps located on the extreme left of the ground floor. On the first floor, a small lobby area with two doors can be noticed. One leads to a small room where butter lamp preparation is done (Torkhang) and another door leads to the main Lhakhang. The main relics are Guru Rinpoche and his eight manifestations. There’s also a statue of local protector Lhamo Remaley inside the main sanctum.
Besides the main altar, there is a newly converted altar room called Dema Lhakhang which was previously used as a living room for lama. The interior part has some of the unique and important paintings of Jutsen Milarepa painted on canvas. The go-mang rabsel provides good lighting on the interior part of the Lhakhang. The intricate wood carving on kachen makes the altar room look unique.
Tang Rimochen Lhakhang Festival
The festival known as Prichoe is the oldest festival conducted for generations coinciding with the birth anniversary of Guru Rinpoche. The festival is conducted for three days for the well-being and the good harvest. The Tshechu is conducted collectively by the communities of Dazor, Pralang, and Rimochen. It is conducted for three days starting from the 10th to the 12th day of the 4th Bhutanese calendar.
Best Time to Visit Bumthang Tang Rimochen Lhakhang
You can visit throughout the year. For pilgrimage, there’s no season to visit sacred places. You don’t need the perfect time to pilgrimage to Taag Remochen Ney in Bumthang. However, visiting during the time of the Prichoe festival would be a bonus blessing. You can visit many major pilgrimage sites of Bumthang with the Bhutan Pilgrimage Package.
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