Tshechu Dra is one of the “four cliffs” Guru Rinpoche entrusted to Phajo Drugom Zhigpo in his prophetic vision. This sacred cliff of longevity is located in the Panikong village of Khamaed Gewog under Gasa Dzongkhag at an elevation of 2335 meters above sea level.
Guru Rimpoche flew from Goen Tshephu Ney to Tshechudra, where he is said to have extracted longevity water from a cliff to benefit sentient beings. Tsechu means “longevity water” and Dra means “cliff“. Therefore, Tshechudra translates to a cliff of longevity water.
How to Reach Tshechu Dra
To reach Tshechudra, you must travel 42 kilometers from Punakha to Panikong village. From Panikon, it takes an hour on foot to Tshechudra Ney.
Sacred Relics to See at Tshechu dra
- A spot to make a mandala offering;
- A cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated;
- Self-arisen letters Ah;
- Guru Rinpoche’s seat;
- Walking Stick of Guru Rinpoche;
- Longevity water or Chimed Tse Duetsi;
- Ney Sarpo;
- The Zangdopelri of Guru Rinpoche.
Also Read: Guru Rinpoche in Bhutan: His Visits to Bhutan and Sacred Sites
Historical Significance of Tshechudra
Tshechudra was blessed by Guru Rinpoche in the 8th century. The sacred cliff was called Duetsi Drak. It is mentioned that “At Duetsi Drak, Guru Rinpoche meditated for one month, during which four Khandroms—female gods—conducted feast offerings to Guru Rimpoche. The ceremony was marked by auspicious signs, such as the drizzling of immortal rain for three days.
Later, Guru Rinpoche entrusted Phajo Drugom Zhigpo with his twelve meditation places. According to the biography of Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, “The Current of Compassion”, Phajo Drugom Zhigpo traveled to Taktsang Senge Samdrup Dzong in the 13th century following a prophetic direction from Tsangpa Gyare. While Phajo was meditating in Taktsang Palphug, Guru Rinpoche appeared to him in an unmistakable clear vision one early morning and said:
“I am entrusting to you twelve of my meditation places which consist of four Dzongs (Fortress), four cliffs, and four great caves; you have to plant the Victory Banner of Practice in all of these.”
According to Tshechu Dra’s history, Phajo meditated at Tshechudra for a month conducting Ganachakra of the Four Types of Khandromas, and for three days a rain of nectar fell from the sky.
Therefore, Tshechudra is one of the four cliffs out of the twelve meditation places which consist of four Dzongs, four Cliffs, and four Caves entrusted to Phajo Drugom Zhigpo by Guru Rinpoche. The other three cliffs are Thujidra in Thimphu, Gomdra in Paro, and Dechendrak in Wangdue Phodrang. It is believed that anyone who meditates here will become enlightened.
Description of Panikong
The nearest road point to reach Tshechudra is Panikong village. Here, you can see the holy water sources of Drubthop Nagi Rinchen. There is also a seat of Drubthob nearby. It is said that when Drubthob Nagi Rinchen traveled from Dho Jhaga Lam to Gasa, he reached Panikong village. The local people offered food. While having the food, Drubthob asked for Pani (water). But the place is said to have no water source. So, Drubthob had struck his walking stick and extracted three water sources there. You can still see his cypress walking stick. Therefore, the place came to be known as Panikong.
Description of Tshechu dra
After Traveling for a while from Panikong towards Tshechudra, there is a plain area, where the local people offer Goen Zhey during the Tshechudra festival. Here people offer Marchang and songs to Guru Rinpoche. As you gradually climb up, you will reach the Neygo of Tshechudra (sacred door to Tshechudra Ney). Here, people offer Marchang to the local deities a day before the Tshechudra festival. From the Neygo, people are not allowed to carry any tobacco products towards Tshechudra Ney. It is believed that many bad omen occurs if one carries it.
You can also see Guru Rinpoche’s Uzha or the key to Tshechudra Ney. People offer Khadar to the hat before continuing their journey to Tshechudra. After traveling for a while, you reach a waterfall from a small cliff known as Shelkar Dra. It is believed that when Guru Rinpoche came to Tshechudra, the local deities offered this water to him.
From there, you will reach a place called Mendrelgang. It’s a place of Mandala offerings. Here, you can see the whole of Tshechudra Ney. You can see the cliff said to be the Zangdopelri of Guru Rinpoche, the cliff from where Guru extracted the longevity water (Tsechu), and many more. Before proceeding further, people offer Mandala and prostrate to Tshechudra.
Tshechu Drak
Tshechu Drak is a cliff with a cave where Guru Rinpoche meditated. Just beside the temple, there are many self-arisen letters “Ah“. It is said that treasures are hidden under these letters to be revealed in the future. There is also a walking stick of Guru Rinpoche on a cliff. After walking for a few minutes from the Lhakhang is the Ney Sarpo. It is one of the meditation caves of Guru Rinpoche. The way is a bit risky and difficult for older people and children. This sacred cave was discovered much later. The cave is narrow and dark. A torch is a must.
After passing through a tight cave passage, you reach the main cave of Guru Rinpoche. The main cave is large and spacious with Guru’s footprint, the hearth of Khandro, and many more. During auspicious days and your lucky days, the holy water drips from this cave.
Once you come out of the Ney Sarpo from its exit point, you proceed to the place where there is the seat of Guru Rinpoche, the meditation site called Zangdopelri Phodrang, and the longevity water. The meditation site, Zangdopelri is mostly inaccessible. It faces Goen Tshephu from where Guru Rinpoche flew to this meditation site.
The main attraction of Tshechudra is the Chimed Tse Duetsi or the longevity water of Guru Rinpoche flowing from the cliff. Therefore the sacred site came to be known as Tshechudra, the cliff of longevity water. The longevity water is believed to have healing powers too.
Tshechu Drak Lhakhang
There was no Lhakhang till 2013. There was only a hermitage of Phajo Drugom Zhigpo. The former minister from Gasa with the support from Jigme Dorji National Park built a community Lhakhang. The main statue of Tshechu Drak Lhakhang is Chenrigzi flanked by Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Rinpoche. Inside the temple, you will see the representative of Guru Rinpoche in the form of a monolith.
Tshechudra Festival
On the 10th day of the 2nd month of the lunar calendar, a Ganachakra Feast Gathering (Tshokhor) rite is celebrated at Tshechudra. Locals of both Chazhi and Goen Tshephu believe that Phajo Drugom Zhigpo stayed there for a month conducting Ganachakra of the Four Types of Khandromas, and for three days a rain of nectar fell from the sky. The feast gathering is conducted by the villages of Khatoed on a rotation basis.
Best Time to Visit Tshechudra
A pilgrimage to Tshechudra can be made at any time of year. It is also possible to go on pilgrimage during the peak summer months, although it is not encouraged due to the unpredictability of the weather in the hilly terrain. Winters are severely cold, and excessive snowfall blocks certain highways, making travel extremely dangerous.
As a result, early spring (March, April, and May) and autumn (September, October, and November) are the best times to visit this sacred cliff of Guru Padmasambhava. You can visit many major pilgrimage sites of Gasa with the Bhutan Pilgrimage Package.
You can contact the site managers of Tshechu Drak Mr. Chado and Mrs. Rinchen at 17320925 and 17409945 respectively.
Accommodation at Tshechu Drak
There are village Home Stays in Gasa.
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