SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday March 15-21, 2014

Email: jigmekazi@gmail.com; Blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

Fight is between ‘people power’ and ‘money power’: Golay

Cong Prez Kunga Nima joins SKM, says corruption rampant in Sikkim

Gangtok, March 14: Rebel leader and Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) President PS Golay has set the agenda for the coming Assembly and Lok Sabha polls in the State. “This election is a battle between people power and money power,” Golay said during a party meeting in Martam, east Sikkim, this week.

“This election this time is not a simple election. It is a battle between Janta Shakti (People Power) and Kalo Dhan ko Shakti (Power of Black Money),” Golay said.

“Many attempts have been made by Pawan Chamling to suppress our movement for change. He has lied continuously. First he said our party was not registered when it was, then rumours were spread that we would not get a symbol.

Golay waves party symbol (lamp)

He even wrote to the Election Commission of India to deregister our party. Many letters were sent. But here also it was a victory for truth,” Talk Sikkim reported.

“I thank the Election Commission and the Government of India for not believing in the false stories and fake letters sent by the SDF party and allotting us the symbol of a lamp,” Golay added.

“This symbol is important to us as it symbolizes light over darkness, the victory of truth over lies.”

Meanwhile, a host of heavyweight leaders from the Bhutia-Lepcha (BLs) community led by Sikkim Congress unit President Kunga Nima Lepcha joined the SKM at the Martam meeting.

The Kaleons, a powerful clan among the BLs, also joined the SKM. They included former minister Sonam G. Kaleon, former Secretary Dechen P. Kaleon and Dup Tshering Bhutia. Former SIDICO General Manager Nedup Tongden Lepcha and DB Gautam also joined the SKM.

Kunga Nima Lepcha

“I am not happy with the way the SDF government is functioning in Sikkim. There has been rampant corruption and mismanagement in the State administration. I feel SKM is a party that can bring a change for good, so I have extended my support by joining the SKM today," said Kunga Nima Lepcha, who quit the Congress recently.

During its meeting, the SKM unveiled the party’s election symbol, a table lamp. Golay said the acquisition of an election symbol from the Election Commission was an achievement for the party which was moving ahead “despite concerted efforts by the ruling party to put obstacles”.

The party symbol was released in the presence of party supporters, locals and 913 persons who joined the SKM. (see edit on page 2)

SDF to make Sikkim ‘self-reliant’: Dahal

Lachenpas feel neglected, remain defiant 

Gangtok, March 14: The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), which is making concerted efforts to make a comeback for the fifth consecutive term, will focus on making the State ‘self-reliant’ if voted to power again.

“One of the main targets of next term will be to make Sikkim self-reliant,” said SDF spokesperson Bhim Dahal at a press conference held here yesterday.

“Our manifesto has been one of the best over the past 20 years which resulted in remarkable growth all over Sikkim. Most of the promises made in the past manifestos have been implemented,” he asserted.

Declaring that SDF will release its election manifesto soon, Dahal said, “Like earlier, this year too we will focus on rural development with 70 % of the budget earmarked for that. Also many hydel projects will be commissioned in coming SDF government.”

The SDF this week declared all its candidates for the coming polls. The list has many former ministers and MLAs and very few new faces. Former ministers such as Ram Bahadur Subba, SB Subedi, KN Rai and Somnath Poudyal have been given party tickets while present ministers DN Takarpa, NK Pradhan, Ran Bahadur Subba and CB  Karki have been dropped.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling will contest from two constituencies: Namchi and Yangang in south Sikkim.

Meanwhile, a large section of SDF supporters have voiced disappointment over allotment of party tickets. Their main grievance is that the old guard has been retained while neglecting the youth.

While Lachen Pipon Cho Rabjor has reportedly welcomed SDF candidate from Lachen-Mangan constituency the Lachenpas feel let down and neglected.

“Young youth from Lachen are really disappointed with the declaration of candidate list whereby no Lachenpa comunity has given a chance to b a representative in SLA not only this time but since from the time when Sikkim join with the mainstream republic of India,” a section of Lachen youths said in a press statement.

“Lachen/Mangan constituency has given a representative from Mangan, Lachung, Chungthang, Singhik but not a single one from Lachen. Are we a second class citizen or neither we have right to choose candidate from SDF side. This shows how much SDF is neglecting the people of Lachen from all point of view.

We have not allowed a hydel project to protect our motherland from exploitation but it doesn't mean that we should be subjected to neglect. Time will come to give a befitting reply in future.” (see edit on page 2)

SDF sabotaging my LS poll campaign: Bhaichung

“Chamling Govt did not give me land for football academy”

Gangtok, March 14: It is not only the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in Darjeeling which is opposing Bhaichung Bhutia in the coming Lok Sabha polls but the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, too, is anti-Bhutia.

Former Indian football captain has accused the SDF of attempting to sabotage his Lok Sabha election campaign.

This revelation came during an Bhaichung’s interview with Sikkim Express.

“SDF sabotaging my election campaign. Why is it always trying to create hurdles for me?” the Express reported.

According to Baichung, the SDF is wooing some TMC Hills functionaries and promising to finance them should they contest as an independent candidate against him.

“SDF is strong in financial resources and is trying to sabotage my campaign by offering money to independents to stand against me,” Bhaichung said.

In the interview Bhaichung also revealed how the Chamling government failed to offer him land to set up a football academy in the State. “I tried my best to set up a football academy in my home state despite offers from other state governments. The Sikkim government did not give me land for the academy. Other sports persons also did not get land for their academies. They create hurdles in everything and then accuse us of not doing enough for the home state.”

“Earlier foreign players used to come and play in Sikkim freely but the moment my club got promoted into I-League, the state government imposed restrictions on foreign players coming to Sikkim.”

“The SDF government only talks about cash awards for sportsperson of Sikkim but does not help in making sports persons capable of winning.”

GJM to support BJP’s Alluwalia

Ahluwalia

In its third list for Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday night named 75 candidates for West Bengal, Bihar, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam, Jharkhand and Maharashtra. Seniors leaders like Sushma Swaraj from Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh, SS Ahluwalia from West Bengal's Darjeeling and Kirti Azad from Darbhanga in Bihar feature in the list.

The list has seven candidates who will contest from West Bengal including Ahluwalia with the Gurkha Janmukti Morcha pledging its support for him.

Earlier, Morcha  chief Bimal Gurung  said Trinamool Congress’s candidate from Darjeeling Bhaichung Bhutia will face defeat.

Gurung said on Wednesday that the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal has not done anything for the hills people so far. 

Gurung said, he had full faith in the BJP, which has promised separate Grokhaland state in its manifesto. In 2009, veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh won the Darjeeling seat with the backing of the GJM.

Media is 'sold', paid to promote Modi: Kejriwal

New Delhi, March 14: Kicking off a fresh controversy, Arvind Kejriwal has alleged that the whole media is "sold" and "heavy amounts" have been paid to promote BJP's prime ministerial nominee Narendra Modi.

But he later denied having made the accusations against the media after his remarks came under attack from Congress, BJP and CPI.

"Since the last one year, we have been told that Modi is here, Modi is there. Since one year, Modi has also been saying that. Even some TV channels have been saying that 'Ram Rajya' has come and corruption has vanished....

"Why did they do it? Because money has been paid to TV channels. Heavy amounts have been paid to promote Modi," Kejriwal alleged in a video aired by a TV channel.

"Around 800 farmers have committed suicide in Gujarat in the past 10 years, but none of the channels showed it," he alleged and added that farmers have sold their land to a company for just "one rupee but even this has not been shown by any channel."

Hitting out at the media for focusing on his security deployment, he charged that the "whole media is sold this time, it is a big conspiracy, it is a huge political controversy. If our government comes to power then we will set up an inquiry into this. And along with the media people, all will be sent to jail".

Editorial

SIKKIM POLLS

Old Guard Vs Young Turks

Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) chief PS Golay ought to be happy man to see his former mentor Pawan Chamling, Chief Minister and ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) President,  field the old guard for the coming polls, including the lone Lok Sabha seat. For a party which has promised change in how Sikkim is being run the nomination of the ruling party’s old guard for the Assembly as well as the Lok Sabha seat has given much hope and confidence to the Opposition in the ensuing polls. Much of Sikkim’s sad state of affairs can be placed on those who were in power with Chamling ever since SDF formed the government in December 1994. In fact, some of them have been three-term ministers in the Chamling Government. Chamling, therefore,  cannot alone be faulted for reducing Sikkim into a ‘one party system and one-man rule’ State  in the past two decades. His colleagues, who have been allotted Assembly seats, are equally responsible for not speaking up and becoming mere sycophants.

People do not have much hope on Chamling’s old team and will enthusiastically support the SKM. Infact, many SDF supporters have joined SKM after the announcement of SDF candidates this week. The fact is there are very few people in Sikkim who are fit to be elected to the Assembly. Many responsible personalities have opted out of electoral politics mainly because of the corrupt and irresponsible manner in Sikkim has been run in the past so many decades. The Aaam Aadmi Party fever has not come to Sikkim and unlike in the rest of India responsible individuals are not responsive to political situation in the former kingdom. Hopefully, the new breed of young turks in the SKM seeking change will provide the right atmosphere for a more open, free, just and democratic society in Sikkim.

Areas around Sikkim sanctuaries to get ‘eco-sensitive’ tag

New Delhi, March 14: Areas surrounding Sikkim's three sanctuaries, which are home to carnivores, herbivores, birds and magnificent rhododendron forests, will soon be declared as Eco-Sensitive Zones by the Centre.

The Union Environment Ministry this week issued draft notifications inviting suggestions on the proposals to declare environmentally-fragile areas surrounding the Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, Kitam Bird Sanctuary and Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary as Eco-Sensitive Zones.

The move is aimed at conserving and protecting the ecologically-fragile areas bordering these sanctuaries from developmental activities like mining, PTI reported.

Barsey Rhododendron Sanctuary is a trans-boundary protected area in the West District of Sikkim bordering Nepal. The sanctuary, spread over an area of 104 sq.Km, is a rich storehouse of flora.

Kitam Bird Sanctuary in South Sikkim harbours a unique association of Sal and Chir Pine forests which nestle a large number of peafowl, the national bird.

It also houses the common leopard, Assamese macaque, Rhesus Macaque, barking deer, wild boar, Himalayan Palm Civet and Indian rock python.

Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary, lying over an area of 35.34 sq.Km is home to wildlife, dwarf bamboo thickets, rhododendron forests, patches of chestnut and oak and still undiscovered epiphytes.

China plans taking Tibet rail network near Sikkim

New Delhi, March 14: China last  Thursday announced that an extension of the Qinghai-Tibet railway network will reach Xigase in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), the hometown of the 11th Panchen Lama and located close to the Indian border in Sikkim.

“An extension of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, the world’s highest, will reach the residence of the Panchen Lama at Xigaze, Tibet, the contractors confirmed on Thursday,” the official news agency, Xinhua, said, The Hindustan Times reported..

The headquarters of Beijing-backed 11th Panchen Lama Gyaincain Norbu is based at Xigaze, also known as Shigatse, located close to North Sikkim border.

China projects the Panchen Lama as an alternative to the India-based Dalai Lama, termed a separatist by Beijing. The announcement of the railway network extension comes during the ongoing sessions of China’s rubber-stamp Parliament, the National People’s Congress and the country’s top advisory body, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

The report said the extension will help the faithful to worship “Buddha in Lhasa and Xigase”. Quoting Tob Chung, a lama at the Tashihunpo monastery, the seat of the Panchen Lama, the report said: “It is the common dream of all the Tibetan faithful to worship the Buddha in Lhasa and Xigaze. The railway will make the journey safer and easier.”

The Qinghai-Tibet Railway began service in July 2006 and, according to the report, had positively impacted on Tibet’s tourism, hospitality and manufacturing sectors.

The plateau railway which covers 1,956 km from Xining in Qinghai Province to Lhasa carried 11.7 million passengers and 57.8 million tonnes of cargo in 2013. The announcement comes at a time when the government says that the economy of TAR grew 12.2% in 2013.

Don’t play politics with death, Gurungs tell SDF

Gangtok, March 14: Members of Gurung community from various parts of the State have alleged that the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front is using the death of NK Gurung to gain political mileage.

“The entire Gurung community across Sikkim is deeply moved by the loss of one of the members of the community but the most disheartening part is that NK Gurung’s death is being used by the ruling front for political mileage,” said TT Gurung at a  press conference held this week.

“We appeal to all political parties to remove posters of NK Gurung put up all over the State. We also demand a fair and independent enquiry,” said Bikram Gurung.

 NK Gurung, said to be member of the ruling party, was killed on March 4, the day SDF celebrated its anniversary.

The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha has demanded a CBI probe on the death.

Press under threat in Sikkim, no action taken

Shangrila Times office vandalized

Gangtok, March 14: Media-bashing in India’s youngest State has come to stay. Despite the condemnation and protests the authorities stubbornly refuse to pay heed to press freedom in the State.

Last week, Pappu Mallick, a photo journalist working for UB Photos (A News Agency) in the State, was threatened by “unknown persons” at Indira Gandhi Bye Pass. Mallick’s photographs appear in various publications in the State and outside.

Mallick, in a press release, said he was threatened with “abusive language and warned me to leave my profession as a media person.”

“They warned me to not do any kind of reporting and photo journalism,” Mallick said.

He has lodged a FIR here at the Sadar Police Station.

Earlier this week, the printing press of Shangrila Times, a Nepali daily published from Gangtok by political activist and writer DN Nepal, was “vandalized”.

The office of Nepali daily Sangrila Times was vandalized in what is being said was another attack on the media.

“I am ashamed to say that none from the media [except for SIKKIM EXPRESS] acknowledged or condemned the threats and warnings that we at Talk Sikkim have been receiving and which we complained about publicly or the vile rants on me personally on social media,” said Talk Sikkim editor Mita Zulca recently.

Talk Sikkim, a monthly newsmagazine that highlighted activities of Sikkim Krantikari Morch (SKM) led by PS Golay, closed down recently, leaving Zulca to bring out her own publication, Sikkim Talks.

Recently, the printing press workers of Sikkim Express and Himali Bela, were assaulted by a member of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front.

Sharmila released from custody, supports AAP

“I’m a simple protester”

Imphal, March 13: Manipur’s anti-AFSPA activist Irom Chanu Sharmila was freed from detention on Thursday afternoon, a day ahead of her 42nd birthday.

Sharmila, who has been on hunger strike for the last 13 years and is force-fed, demanding repeal of the AFSPA, is ritually arrested on the charge of attempting to commit suicide on an annual basis.

   She had been similarly released on completion of jail term in past years, but re-arrested after two-three days for refusal to withdraw her fast.

Sharmila, who is confined to a Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) hospital security ward during detention, had launched her fast on November 4, 2000, two days after security forces killed 10 people at Malom on the outskirts of Imphal.

Minutes after being freed following a district court order, Sharmila informed that she will continue her strike.

Meanwhile,  the rights crusader rejected chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s offer to join the Congress and instead extended her support to the Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal.

“The chief minister came on an unannounced visit in February and asked me to join his party for jointly taking up the issue of repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. I did not give any response to the invitation,” Sharmila told reporters on Thursday.

“I am simple protester. I don’t want to join politics. But I want to see a government run by the AAP installed in New Delhi.”

 BJP threatens to review AADHAAR card scheme

“Illegal immigrants granted citizenship”

Bangalore, March 14: Terming the manner in which the Aadhaar project is being implemented as dangerous to the country’s security, the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday indicated that it may review some of its aspects if it comes to power.

Speaking to presspersons here on the sidelines of an interaction with college students on election issues, BJP national spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi also sought a CBI probe into various aspects of the Aadhaar project, including the manner in which finances had been allocated for it.

When asked if the BJP would scrap the project if it comes to power, Ms. Lekhi said, “Aadhaar needs a re-look to see if anything has gone wrong and to know who stores and shares the biometric data of citizens.”

Earlier, at the interaction, she launched an attack on Unique Identification Authority of India chairman and Infosys cofounder Nandan Nilekani, who is taking on BJP’s five-time MP Ananth Kumar in Bangalore South on the Congress ticket. She said Aadhaar was a project for which one had to be condemned rather than appreciated.

“I will be ashamed to take credit for such a project,” she said.

Without taking Nilekani’s name,  Lekhi alleged that the Aadhaar project was dangerous and also posed a threat to the country’s security as it regularised the stay of illegal immigrants from other countries by granting citizenship to them at the cost of the welfare of genuine residents.

Aadhaar project had violated the Parliamentary norms and the direction issued by the Supreme Court to ensure that it was not made mandatory for offering services and foreign citizens were not enrolled under it, she said.

She also accused the UPA government of ignoring the country’s security interests by providing political positions to some of those who allegedly had links with Maoists.

HIMALAYAN HERITAGE Sikkim

SIKKIM: Sacred Hidden Land of Guru Rinpoche

Statue of Guru Rinpoche in Namchi, South Sikkim.

Guru Padmasambhava was known in Tibet as one of the founding fathers of Tibetan Buddhism, who appeared in Tibet in 749 A.D, and spent 54 years. Other two founders were Acharya Shanta Rakshita and prevalent King Thisong Deotsen. Padmasambhava’s birth in this world was mixed with myth and legend. The Buddha Shakya Muni’s prophecy about the emanation of Padmasambhava in this world was found recorded in various Sutra and Tantra Texts. Following is one of the records maintained in a Sutra called- “Myang-hDas-mDo”:

“OH MY ASHUSMAN DISCIPLE ANANDA AND OTHERS! AFTER MY PASSING AWAY, THAT IS TWELVE YEARS LATER, (It may perhaps referring to twelve hundred years) A PERSON FAR SUPERIOR TO ME WHO WOULD BE THE LORD OF MASS, NAMED PADMASAMBHAVA WILL BE EMANATED. LIKE A GEM FROM THE SEA LIKE USHNISHA VIJAYA AMONG MEDICINAL DIVINITIES LIKE SUN AND MOON AMONG THE CLUSTERS OF STARS LIKE A LION AMONG THE BEASTS AND LIKE A GAUDA (king of birds) AMONG THE BIRDS.”

It is said that from the Western Blissful Paradise, Buddha Amitabha had committed to take birth in the incarnate form of Padmasambhava for the welfare of sentient beings in the Jambu Dwipa , the spiritual country of Buddha Shakya Muni. The lord Amitabha chooses his birth-place in ‘Dhanakosa Lake ’ in ancient Urgen Country, which is spiritually believed to be a sacrosanct place of Vidhya-dhara, cardinal cemetery of eight great cemeteries and also regarded a centre of Ten Abodes of Heruka Deities.       

As per the text called- ‘rNam-Thar- Zangs-gling’ the Buddha Amitabhava further chosen King Indra Bhuti of Urgen country as his father since he was a Chakravarti Raja embodied with the knowledge of both civil and religious laws, and untouched by denigration to his nature and character. The so called king had no heir although he possesses a large number of queens. As advised by his courtiers the King used his wealth in charity to get himself blessed with child. Obviously, at the end, his entire treasures were exhausted. But he still finds the beggars and mendicants in ques.

In order to procure more wealth he proceeded to Naga Island in the Sea to meet the Serpent Queen to beg for the wishful filing gem. The Serpent queen after having listened to the story of the king felt pity and gave away her most precious gem which produces wealth. While on his way back to Palace he and his crew members came across a lake where a wonderful child about 8 years old was sitting inside a multi-coloured Lotus. Amazingly, the child talks like that of a matured person.

 The king, after interaction with this divine-child, asked him to be his heir, which the child agreed. As per the text called- ‘Phurpa gNam-lChag spu-Gri’ it is described thus:- “Untouched by the defilement of mother’s womb, the Lord took a miraculous birth from the Lotus” After reaching the Palace, the child was ceremoniously placed on the golden throne. Afterwards, king made his wishes by rubbing the gem and his treasure house was refilled with wealth. Then he resumed his charity and satisfied all who came for alms.

 Time went by and Padmasambhava has been grown up to a young man. He thought, if he becomes a king he cannot give mass spiritual benefit to human kind. If he deserts the kingly possession and gain spiritual knowledge, he could disseminate Esoteric Doctrine to lot of yearning practitioners. So in order to get out of the palace he performs a mystic dance on the terrace of the palace with a trident in hand and pretended it fallen off from his hand, which killed the son of a malevolent minister, below.

Following which, Padmasambhava was banished to ‘Silwa-Tsal cemetery, situated in the eastern direction of Urgen country as per the law of the king’s court. Padmasambhava did his mystic practices in number of scary cemeteries like Silwa tsal, Gawo Tsal, Sosaling etc. living his life on cloths and food stuffs of deceased and thereby enhanced his spiritual power. He acquired intensive knowledge on three folds of Yoga tantra from various Buddhist Tantric Saints living in different holy places of India. He earned eight different names in different deeds as ‘Guru Tsen- Gyad’. He specialized in the teachings of Ka-gyad Dershek Dupa, which is a collective term used to denote the group of the deities of eight Sadhana teachings associated with Eight Chief Tutelary Deities of the Mahayoga Tantra.

Guru Padmasambhava obtained these Sadhana Teachings from Indian Buddhist Masters or Vidhyadharas and later transmitted to his chief Tibetan disciples for practicing upon this Sadhana. During the erstwhile Kingdom, Ka-Gyad was adopted as Chogyal’s (King) Tutelary Deity and its ceremony was held at Royal Chapel at Gangtok. During which time Government declared two days holidays in the name of ‘Ka-Gyad dance’ to enable the employees to attend the festival.

   One of the magnificent deeds he had performed in Himachal Pradesh is at present Riwalsar Lake where he was burnt alive upon the piles of Sandal wood with large amount of mustard oil by the order of then King. But as a matter of surprise to the king, he was unaffected by the fire and converted the mustard oil to a lake, and himself seated on Lotus petal floated on the surface of the lake. The king deeply impressed with his feat and embraced Buddhism.

 His arrival in Tibet: In 8th century A.D. Then King Thisrong Deotsen who was incarnate of Lord Manjushri at his twenty became a staunch admirer of Buddhism and in order to propagate the same in Tibet he invited a learned Indian Teacher Shanta Rakshita. The master began his teaching on rTen-hBrel bChunyi (twelve dependent origination) and Gewa Chu (ten Virtues). As an oath of loyalty to the cause of Buddhism, The King committed to construct a monastery and soon started its construction. But local demons and evil spirits cast obstacles and hindered its progress. Whatever was built in the day time by human beings was destroyed by demons at night. This incident disheartened the king but Shanta Rakshita consoled the king to keep courage and advised him to invite Guru Padmasambhava to tackle the evils.

Although Shanta Rakshita was well versed in outer and inner Doctrine yet it was his inability to deal with the powerful local demons. He further narrated to the king about the relation of both of them with the Guru Padmasambhava in previous life and destined to meet in Tibet to consolidate Buddhism. After having learnt this fact the King sent an envoy called Bami Thiser with present to invite Guru Padmasambhava. The Guru however knew about this and went swiftly from Nepal to the Dzara bagya cave in Mangyul, a district in upper Tibet bordering Nepal, where the envoy met him and apprised the guru of king’s wishes. In Tibet Guru subjugated all the evils under his domain and succeeded in completing Samye Monastery. From this monastery he propagated Buddha’s doctrine with the help of Shanta Rakshita fulfilling the wishes of King Thisrong Deotsen.

His visit to Sikkim: Guru Padmasambhava after completing his spiritual mission in Tibet selected four major hidden lands and four minor hidden lands around Tibet. During his quest for hidden lands around Tibet, paid visit to this land along with his twenty five disciples. The purpose of looking for hidden land was to prepare spiritual resorts for the Dharma practitioners who would be taking refuge in these lands in future when Dharma declines with the approach of degenerate age (sNyigs-ma lNga) in Tibet. Guru made his first visit to present Guru Dongmar Lake in North Sikkim to test an omen in the Lake. After finding a favourable sign in the lake, he miraculously landed on Tashidhing hill in west Sikkim, along with his 25 disciples and thereby sanctified entire landscape while marking this hill as a navel point of the sacred land- ‘De-jong’. Thereafter, the Guru explored the entire parts of De-jong blessing and sanctifying caves, rock, lakes, streams and left his foot prints on the rocks.

    Gurudongmar Lake, Lachen, North Sikkim.

He also concealed many religious treasures in its major places of worship for future spiritual followers. At the same time exorcised a number of Demons, Nagas and Yakshas who attempted to hinder his spiritual works and thereby inducted them in the class of the “Ney-Dag Cho-Sung” (the guardian of the sacred places and the defender of Dharma). After consecrating entire holy places he made his last wish to reappear in this sacred land in three incarnate forms in times to come as ‘Naljor Che-Zhi’ to disseminate Buddhas doctrine to his future followers.

About 1372 A.D, one treasure revealer lama called Rigdzin Goedem visited this land, revealed many treasure-texts for restoring Gurus precious teachings and also wrote about the location of the Sacred places, which had been useful to the lamas of later eras. In1642 A.D, arrived three Noble Saints from Tibet who were known as (i) Gyalwa Lhatsun Chenpo, (ii) Ngadag Sempa Rigzin Phuntshog and (iii) Kathog Kuntu Zangpo. They entered this sacred land from north, south and western gates as a religious way of opening a sacred land in order to carry out their holy mission to introduce Buddhism.

Coronation throne in Norbugang, Yuksam, West Sikkim.

The three Lamas first assembled at a place called NORBU GANG in western Sikkim which was later called “Yuksam” by the then living Lepchas. The lamas, acting in anticipation of Lord Guru’s prophecy, sent a search party towards the east direction to find the fourth person destined to be the Chogyal or Dharma king of this land. The party wandering through the stiff hills and valleys reached finally at present Gangtok and found the man called “Phuntshog” as mentioned in the prophecy text. They first conveyed to Phuntshog the message sent by the Noble Saints.        

  Shortly afterwards, Phuntshog left for Yuksam with his family and attendants. The Three Lamas welcomed him and accordingly consecrated “Phuntshog” as Chogyal of Demo-jong in Water-Horse year which corresponds to 1642 A.D. Four of them were known in the history as “rNal-hByor-mChed-bZhi” or Four Yogi Brothers”.

The stone thrones of the four Yogi Brothers are still stand at Norbugang at Yuksam as a milestone in the history of Sikkim. In the same year, the three lamas built a stupa at Norbugang incorporating rocks and soils collected from all parts of Sikkim to mark this important event and called it “TASHI-HODBAR CHHOEDTEN”. This Chodten may be a first Buddhist Stupa ever built in Sikkim. With the blessing of those three pioneer lamas Six premiers monasteries were founded i.e. Pemayangtse (West),Tashiding(West), Phensang (North), Ralong (South), Rumtek (East) and Phodang (North). In course of time, many other sub monasteries and religious monuments were built by the lamas and Devotees.

Today images/idols of Guru Padmasambhava are found enshrined in each and every monastery in Sikkim as main worshipping objects by the lamas. Especially on tenth day of every Tibetan month Guru Tsechu puja is performed to mark his birth anniversary as well as to pray for peace & prosperity of this land. (Ecclesiastical Department, Government of Sikkim)

The Lepchas campaign for PS Golay’s Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) in remote Dzongu, North Sikkim. 

Just Out!!

Book: The Lone Warrior: Exiled In My Homeland

Publisher: Hill Media Publications, Gangtok, Sikkim

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