Local NameNyimalung Gonpa (Shedrub Dargye Choeling)
Date of Construction1938
CategoryHeritage sites – Monastery
Geographical LocationChhume valley, Bumthang district
Description
Nyimalung is located on a forested hill, half an hour’s walk above Prakar. There is now also a motorable road (unpaved) reaching the monastery from Kakaling in Chhume.
History
Nyimalung was founded in 1938 by Doring Trulku (Dorling Khyentrul) (1902-1952) a Tibetan Lama who came from Dartsedo in Kham (Eastern Tibet) and was the third mind incarnation of the great Jime Lingpa (1729-1798). Nyimalung is closely associated with Prakar as the lay patron of this lama was Dasho Gonpo Dorji, the Lord of Chhume who was residing in Prakhar and supported the construcion. The inside of the buildings were completed by the 2nd King whose wives were from Prakhar.
The monastery was completely restored in 2002: the living quarters of the monks were improved and the temples enlarged.
Architectural style / school and related art works:
The beautiful paintings of the temples, some of them executed by Lam Pemala (1926- 2009), a disciple of Doring Trulku, and abbot of the monastery from 1993 to his death, represent the Dzogchen and Nyingthig religious lineages of the founder.
Social cultural function
Nyimalung is a monastery of the Nyingma tradition with a strict monastic school (shedra). It has about 100 monks who transfer to their winter residence in Gelephu in southern Bhutan and only caretakers stay in Nyimalung during the winter period. The monks of Nyimalung are famous dancers and musicians and go to Prakar to perform at the annual festival.
Nyimalung Tsechu
This festival takes places from the 8th to the 10th day of the 5th Bhutanese month (June or July), which coincides, with the birth of Guru Rinpoche. Performed in the courtyard of the monastery, it consists of masked dances (such as the Black hat dance, the Three Ging and the drummers of Drametse) and recitation of the Lama Norbu Gyamtso; a famous “treasure text” from the great saint Pema Lingpa (1450-1521). The thongdroel is shown to devotees on the 10th day of the festival.
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Nyimalung Gonpa
Description
Nyimalung is located on a forested hill, half an hour’s walk above Prakar. There is now also a motorable road (unpaved) reaching the monastery from Kakaling in Chhume.
History
Nyimalung was founded in 1938 by Doring Trulku (Dorling Khyentrul) (1902-1952) a Tibetan Lama who came from Dartsedo in Kham (Eastern Tibet) and was the third mind incarnation of the great Jime Lingpa (1729-1798). Nyimalung is closely associated with Prakar as the lay patron of this lama was Dasho Gonpo Dorji, the Lord of Chhume who was residing in Prakhar and supported the construcion. The inside of the buildings were completed by the 2nd King whose wives were from Prakhar.
The monastery was completely restored in 2002: the living quarters of the monks were improved and the temples enlarged.
Architectural style / school and related art works:
The beautiful paintings of the temples, some of them executed by Lam Pemala (1926- 2009), a disciple of Doring Trulku, and abbot of the monastery from 1993 to his death, represent the Dzogchen and Nyingthig religious lineages of the founder.
A large (9 x12 m) appliqué banner, thongdroel, which “liberates by sightâ€, is hung on the facade of the main temple on the morning of the 10th day of the Buthanese 5th month for all to see. It represents Guru Rinpoche, his two consorts and his eight manifestations, as well as important historical and religious figures of Bhutan such as Pemalinpa, his son Thugsey Dawa, Doring Trulku, Dasho Gonpo Dorji and the Shabdrung. It was crafted in 9 months with financial support from a Japanese lady and consecrated in 1994.
Social cultural function
Nyimalung is a monastery of the Nyingma tradition with a strict monastic school (shedra). It has about 100 monks who transfer to their winter residence in Gelephu in southern Bhutan and only caretakers stay in Nyimalung during the winter period. The monks of Nyimalung are famous dancers and musicians and go to Prakar to perform at the annual festival.
Nyimalung Tsechu
This festival takes places from the 8th to the 10th day of the 5th Bhutanese month (June or July), which coincides, with the birth of Guru Rinpoche. Performed in the courtyard of the monastery, it consists of masked dances (such as the Black hat dance, the Three Ging and the drummers of Drametse) and recitation of the Lama Norbu Gyamtso; a famous “treasure text” from the great saint Pema Lingpa (1450-1521). The thongdroel is shown to devotees on the 10th day of the festival.