Memorial Chorten, Thimphu

The Memorial Stupa, Thimphu, also known as the Thimphu Chorten, is a stupa (Dzongkha chöten, cheten) in Thimphu, Bhutan, located on Doeboom Lam in the southern-central part of the city near the main roundabout and Indian military hospital. The stupa, built in 1974 to honor the third Druk Gyalpo, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck (1928–1972), is a prominent landmark in the city with its golden spires and bells.[1] In 2008, it underwent extensive renovation. It is popularly known as "the most visible religious landmark in Bhutan".[2] It was consecrated by Dudjom Jigdral Yeshe Dorje.[3]

Memorial Chorten
National Memorial Chorten
Religion
Affiliation	Tibetan Buddhism
Sect	Nyingma
Deity	Jigme Dorji Wangchuck
Location
Location	Doeboom Lam, Thimphu
Country	Bhutan
Location within Bhutan
Geographic coordinates	27°27′59″N 89°38′16″E
Architecture
Founder	Thinley Norbu
Date established	1974

This stupa is unlike others as it does not enshrine human remains. Only the Druk Gyalpo’s photo in a ceremonial dress adorns a hall in the ground floor.[2] When he was alive, Jigme Dorji wanted to build "a chorten to represent the mind of the Buddha".[4]

History

The Memorial Chorten of Thimphu was conceived by Thinley Norbu Rinpoche (1931–2011),according to the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.[1] It was erected in 1974 in memory of Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, 3rd Druk Gyalpo, who had died in 1972. The main patron was the Druk Gyalpo's mother, Phuntsho Choden.

Prayer wheels

Architecture

golden spire above the front porch.

The architecture of the chorten has been designed to present it as “one of the most visible religious structures in Thimphu”.[2] The Memorial Chorten, in the heart of the city, is designed is a Tibetan style chorten, also called the Jangchup Chorten, patterned on the design of a classical stupa, with a pyramidal pillar crowned by a crescent moon and sun. The feature that is distinct here is the outward flaring of the rounded part to give the shape of a vase (a pyramidal shape), unlike a dome shape.[3][5] The chorten depicts larger than life size images of wrathful deities with their female consorts in large numbers, and many in explicit Yab-Yum sexual poses (one count puts the number of such images at 36).[6]

Exterior

The chorten is a large white structure with a golden spire crowning it and a smaller golden spire above the front porch. It is approached through a small garden and a gate decorated with three slate carvings. On the exterior of the gate are representations of the three protective bodhisattvas – Avalokiteśvara (the symbol of compassion), Mañjuśrī (the symbol of knowledge) and Vajrapāṇi, the symbol of power.[1] On the interior are slates engraved with the image of Ngawang Namgyal, Gautama Buddha and Padmasambhava. Large prayer wheels are located to the left.[1] The chorten attracts many elderly Bhutanese on a daily basis who circumambulate the chorten, whirl the large red prayer wheels and pray at the shrine.[2] It has four entrances but only one entrance is open for devotees to visit the shrine.[4]

Interior

Sculpture inside the chorten

The chorten is decorated with richly carved annexes facing the four directions, and contain mandalas, statues and a shrine dedicated to the third king.[2] The ground floor of the chorten is consecrated to the teachings of Vajrakīlaya. It has four shrines, each with different pictures of the king; with the eastern shrine housing a Buddha image. From the ground floor, a staircase leads to two more floors and each floor has four shrines. A centrally placed large wooden carving covers all three levels, behind the shrines; a large number of wooden carvings mostly depict wrathful looking protective deities. The roof of chorten is accessed from the second level and a protective railing covers the terrace on the third floor.[2][4] The second floor is dedicated to teachings of the Drukpa Lineage of the Kagyu school to subdue eight varieties of evil spirits and the top floor is dedicated to the teachings of Lama Gongdü (Wylie: bla ma dgongs 'dus ). Combined, these three floors form the esoteric teachings of the Nyingmapa sect.[1] All of the texts were once hidden by Padmasambhava and were rediscovered by tertöns in the 19th, 12th and 14th centuries respectively.[1] The top floor has paintings depicting various deities of the Nyingma school, and visions which appear in the bardo. Above the top floor there is a gallery, which can be walked around the circumference of the chorten and which has views of the city.[1]

Religious practice and festival

The Chorten, held in great religious fervour, is circumambulated only in a clockwise direction (reciting prayers and whirling the large red prayer wheels), as is the rule for any religious structures in Bhutan.[2] The Monlam Prayer Festival is held here when the Je Khenpo (the religious head of Bhutan) addresses and blesses those who congregate for the occasion.[4]

References

1. Pommaret, Francoise (2006). Bhutan Himalayan Mountains Kingdom (5th edition). Odyssey Books and Guides. pp. 171–2.
2. "National Memorial Chorten – Thimphu". Bhutan360.com. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
3. Mason 2008, p. 186. sfn error: no target: CITEREFMason2008 (help)
4. "The National Memorial Chorten". Archived from the original on 2012-12-15. Retrieved 2010-04-05.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
5. Brown, Lindsay; Mayhew, Bradley; Armington, Stan; Whitecross, Richard (2002). Bhutan. Lonely Planet. p. 82. ISBN 1-86450-145-6. Retrieved 2010-04-05.
6. Carpenter 2002, p. 142. sfn error: no target: CITEREFCarpenter2002 (help)

Bibliography

• Carpenter, Russell B.; Carpenter, Blyth C. (January 2002). The Blessings of Bhutan. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-2679-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Rennie, Frank; Mason, Robin (2008). Bhutan: Ways of Knowing. IAP. ISBN 978-1-59311-734-4.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)