Tshelung Ney is the second Draphu Maratika where Guru Rinpoche received life empowerment (Tse Ngodrup) from Tsepakme. It is located in Tshaluna village, west of Thimphu at an elevation of 3063 masl. Guru Rimpoche and Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal blessed Tshelung Nye and concealed many sacred religious treasures in the 8th century.
After Guru’s retreat in Draphu Maratika in Nepal, he came to Tshelung Nye and meditated there before flying to Goen Tshephu, the third Draphu Maratika of Bhutan. Therefore, Tshelung Ney is considered the Second Maratika.
The other two sacred sites you can visit along the way are Domtsang Ney and Jagar Damkelsa Ney.
How to Reach Tshelung Ney
Tshelung Ney is located 33 kilometers away from the capital city of Thimphu in Mewang Gewog under Thimphu Dzongkhag. From Thimphu one needs to travel toward Chudzom on Thimphu-Phuntsholing national highway. It is located about 18 km away from Khasadrapchhu. Take a diversion from Khasadrapchu towards Gidakom Hospital and you will take 1 hour to reach the parking. Walk 5 minutes to reach Tshelung Ney.
Sacred Relics to See at Tshelung Nye
- Drupkhang (Hermitage) of Guru Rinpoche;
- Lhacham Pemasal’s Skull filled with the water of longevity;
- Life Lake (Lhatsho) where Guru Rinpoche believed to have hidden the sacred religious treasures;
- Religious Medicine Pill;
- A cave that defines our virtue and sin;
- A Rocky Tent Place where Guru Rinpoche did His contemplation;
- “Tse-chhu”, a Hundred Dakinis’ holy water for long life;
- A Skull of celestial beings;
- Hermitage of Khandro Namkha Drolma;
- A statue of Guru Rinpoche created by the 32nd Je Khenpo;
- Hand Print of Guru Rinpoche;
- Rosary Bead, Wisdom Eye, and Gold Fish;
- Resting Place of Guru Rinpoche;
- Crown of Guru Rinpoche;
- The beak of Garuda;
- stone vase;
- Guru Rinpoche’s Riding Horse.
Also Read: Guru Rinpoche in Bhutan: His Visits to Bhutan and Sacred Sites
Historical Significance of Tshelung Ney
During the 8th century, Guru Rinpoche and Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal visited the site, leaving their imprints and many other eye-catching artifacts on the rocks. It is said that after Guru’s retreat in Draphu Maratika in Nepal, he came to Tshelung Ney and meditated before flying to Goen Tshephu, the third Draphu Maratika of Bhutan. Therefore, Tshelung Ney is considered the Second Maratika and is equally sacred as visiting the Maratika Cave of Nepal.
Guru Rinpoche meditated in the hermitage of Tshelung Nye for 4 months. Here, Guru Rinpoche had a vision of Amitayus (Tsepakme) and offered a pair of longevity vessels while meditating there. Thus, the holy site’s name was Tselung Ney, a sacred place of prophetic longevity.
On his way to Paro via Pumola and Drela, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal is also said to have personally visited the site.
Terton Drukdra Dorji received many prophecies from the Dakinis, and he came to Tshelung Ney to discover many powerful treasures. Many other prominent religious masters also blessed the Ney.
Description of Tselung Ney
The Ney is on a gentle slope, lopsidedly bifurcated by the river. The real pilgrimage starts by visiting a fascinating cave that defines our virtues and sins below the parking area. In the past, people used to see the cock and hen in the middle of the river. Toward the other side of the river is the remarkable Rocky Tent Place where Guru Rinpoche did His contemplation.
Sipping a palmful of “Tshe-chhu”, a Hundred Dakinis’ holy water for long life, ascend through the paved footpaths. On the right side of the Tse-chhu, on a minute walking up, there’s a majestic Skull of celestial beings.
Before entering the Mani Dungkhor, on the right side, is a sacred Hermitage (Drupkhang) of Guru Rinpoche where Guru Rinpoche meditated for 4 months. Here, Guru Rinpoche had a vision of Amitayus (Tsepakme) and offered a pair of longevity vessels while meditating there.
In front of the Lhakhang is a Guru’s Seat, where dharma treasure is hidden with a seal on the big rock. On the left side of the Lhakhang, is the rock on which Guru Rinpoche performed the long-life ritual. Above the main temple, is Lhacham Pemasal’s Skull filled with the water of longevity and Lhatso or Life Lake where Guru Rinpoche is believed to have hidden the sacred religious treasures.
Crossing the river through a wooden bridge is a large rock with dints of different prints, namely the Hand Print of Guru Rinpoche, Rosary Bead, Wisdom Eye, and Gold Fish. Besides, there is the Resting Place of Guru Rinpoche and the enormous Crown of Guru Rinpoche.
Further up is the magnificent Beak of Garuda crafted on the rock, and walking further, there are the exciting footprints of cow and calf on the rock. Further up, you will find a stone vase where Guru and Khandro are believed to have taken a bath. Guru Rinpoche’s Riding Horse is toward the right of the Beak of Garuda.
On the opposite side of the stone vase, is one of the most important legacies, the Religious Medicine Pill.
Drupkhang of Khandro Namkha Drolma
Toward the far left from the Skull of Celestial Being, you will find an appealing Hermitage of Khandro Namkha Drolma of Pa-Chang who formed her rainbow body.
The biography of Lam Drukpa Kuenley mentions that Tsheluna is a hidden place in Pema-Gatshel, where he visited the site and asked the locals where Namkha Drolma was. As the locals replied that she was in the cave, Lam Drukpa Kuenley found her in contemplation. When Lam Drukpa Kuenley asked her about signs and symptoms, she suddenly stood up and held Lam’s leg on her forehead without uttering any word. In the middle of her esteem devotion, the blessing of the lam and her devotion turned the same, and Lam Drukpa Kuenley said that within a few days, her body would turn into a rainbow, after which Lam Drukpa Kuenley returned.
Later, her body turned into a rainbow on the 15th Day of the First Month. If one is fortunate, one can hear the sound of dharma activities during the auspicious days.
Tshelung Nye Temple
Once inside the temple, you will be mesmerized by the religiously sacred paintings and the holy Nangtens. The main relic of the Ney is the statue of Guru Rinpoche created by the 32nd Je Khenpo as per the prophecy. With the support of Her Majesty Queen Mother Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck and Ten-Sung-Lopen Dasho Wangchuck, the current monastery was renovated in the 1990s.
The 32nd Je Khenpo Tsheltrim Gyaltshen extended the meditation quarter, known as the Place of Gathering of the Dakinis.
Best Time to Visit Tshelung Ney
It is advisable to visit during the autumn or early winter seasons though visiting all seasons is possible, you cannot see all the sacred sites due to the swollen river. During summer, the road conditions get worse.
While returning from the Ney, don’t forget to visit Domtshang Ney, Jagar Damkelsa Ney, and Khandrom Ney on the way back to your destination. Both the Neys are located on the way to Tshelung Ney.
You can contact Lam Rinzin and Dawa Gyeltshen at 77880023 and 77726096 respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Tshelung Nye important?
Tshelung Ney is an important sacred site in Bhutan for several reasons. Firstly, it is a holy site of Guru Rinpoche and Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal who meditated for 4 months in the hermitage and had a vision of Amitayus (Tsepakme) while offering a pair of longevity vessels during the 8th century. Secondly, Guru Padmasambhava came to Tshelung Ney from a retreat in Draphu Maratika in Nepal. Thirdly, Tshelung Ney has many concealed sacred religious treasures, making the location holy.
How do people promote the Tshelung Nye?
People promote Tshelung Nye through various means, including the promotion of Tshelung Nye through various government initiatives, such as the Bhutan Pilgrimage Tour, offering guided tours to Tshelung Nye by local guides and tour operators and the local communities and monasteries around Tshelung Nye actively promote the site through festivals, rituals, and other cultural events.
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