Amai Ugyen Pelzom – A Mournful Tribute to Kheng Buli

Local NameAmai Ugyen Pelzom - à½¨à¼‹à½˜à½ à½²à¼‹à½¨à½¼à¼‹à½¢à¾’à¾±à½“à¼‹à½‘à½”à½£à¼‹à½ à½›à½¼à½˜à½¦à¼
CategoryIntangible Heritage-Folk song
Practiced AtKheng Buli, Nangkor Gewog, Zhemgang Dzongkhag
CommunityKheng Buli

Description

Amai Ugyen Pelzom is a song of sorrow (à½ à½à¾²à½´à½£à¼‹à½‚à¾³à½´) that is sung in Kheng Buli in Zhemgang Dzongkhag. The song is actually a eulogy that is sung in praise of all the natural elements such as the land, trees, local deities, lake, and chorten of Kheng Buli; however, it is not a popular song in the community because of the mournful nature of the song. Unlike Boedra and Zhungdra, the song is usually sung in a seated position with a hand placed on the cheek.

History

The oral source said that no one really knows the exact date of when the song was composed, or on what occasion it was sung. However, it is believed that the song was composed by a woman named Ugyen Pelzom, who came from Kheng Gungdu in Mongar as a bride to Kheng Buli. She, apparently, composed this song during the time when the people were made to pay heavy taxes to the government, which purports that the song was probably composed in the 19^th century.

According to the oral source, Ugyen Pelzom was the only woman in the household, who had to perform all the household chores alone. It became arduous for her to shoulder all the responsibilities. It is said that she became disillusioned with the mundane world and the suffering that came with it; she abandoned her life, her marriage, and the village, and became a dharma practitioner. She is believed to have meditated at a place called LugiRawa, Chokor toe in Bumthang, and eventually, attained enlightenment.Â Because of her devotion to spiritual life, people of Kheng Buli believe that she was an extraordinary woman, who had the qualities of a dakini.

Nevertheless, the song is an expression of her emotions, which she supposedly sang when she left Kheng Buli. People believe that Ugyen Pelzom left the place with a heavy heart and sang this melancholic song describing the beautiful places, land, trees, local deities, temple, lake, and Chorten of Kheng Buli. Although, the song is mournful in nature, there is an underlying message that life is more than being tied to a place, even if the place is beautiful.Â Evidently, the song is an illustration of her ability to detach from this physical world; instead, she makes her life more meaningful by devoting to spiritual life. Unfortunately, the community people hardly sing this songâ€”Amai Ugyen Pelzomâ€”because it is a sorrowful song, and people do not prefer to sing this on happy occasion, or any other important events.

Original Lyrics and the English TranslationÂ

Oh! I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Shall leave to practice the Dharma.

If not, the life of daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Will be wasted in this mundane world.

Oh! The Stupa of Duethropong

Resembles the offerings of a Mandala.

But I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Shall leave to practice the Dharma.

Oh! The sandalwoods of the high mountains

Infuse the surrounding with its fragrance.

Oh! The Stupa of Chorten Pong-

Resembles the gestures of female dancers.

But I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Shall leave to practice the Dharma.

If not, the life of daughter Uygen Pelzom

Will be wasted in this mundane world.

Oh! The lotus land of Berpang

Is the abode of Mermaid.

But I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Shall leave to practice the Dharma.

If not, the life of daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Will be wasted in this mundane world.

Oh! The lotus land of Zargang

Is the mat-fit for Dralha.

But I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Shall leave to practice the Dharma.

If not, the life of daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Will be wasted in this mundane world.

Oh! The water- driven prayer wheel at Traphe

Resembles the offerings of water bowls.

But I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Shall leave to practice the Dharma.

Oh! The great deity of high mountains

May you dwell unchanged.

Oh! Inside the lotus lhakhag of Buli

Resides the dharma protector, Mahakala.

Reside forever to protect our Dharma!

Oh! Supreme Mother, Pelden Lhamo

Reside forever to protect our Dharma.

Oh! The lotus Lhakhang of Buli

Is the seat of Dorji Lingpa

Oh! The beautiful flower of kurku meto

Blossoms beautifully in the heart of plains.

No matter how magnificent it is, it is transient.

I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Shall leave to practice the Dharma.

If not, the life of daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Will be wasted in this mundane world.

Oh! The cairn of the Malaya

Resembles a golden saddle.

But I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Will not cross the cairn.

Oh! Langbi-the abode of Vajrapani,

Be the guardian at the northern gate.

Oh! Dramna-the abode of Sangnga Rinchen,

Be the guardian at the eastern gate.

Oh! The lowland of Mermaid,

Be the guardian at the southern gate.

Oh! Obi-the place of Dhigparachen,

Be the guardian at the western gate.

Oh! The lotus land of Gangbi,

Resembles the base of a pan.

Oh! The lotus land of Phobi

Resembles the golden bowl

That equals the wealth of the Nagas.

Oh! The lotus land of Pangbrag

Resembles the pillars of the Sky-

That bring blessings to the people

But I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Shall leave to practice the Dharma.

Oh! I, daughter Ugyen Pelzom

Is finally crossing the place called Bratiya Lhasai Bumpa.

Informant

Tsundru Gyeltshen, 50, caretaker, Kheng Buli

Researcher

Tshering Dema, Associate Lecturer, College of Language and Culture studies, Taktse, Royal University of Bhutan, 2019