LACHEN GOMCHEN Ngedup Chholing District Mangan P.O. Lachen North

I would like to explain in short how Rathong Chu is connected with the four hundred and fifty three year old Bum Chu ceremony of Tashiding. In the very begining Gunr Padma Sambawa appeared miraculously accompanied by five main disciples. He blessed and confirmed this land as the most important hidden land of all the four hidden land all through Himalayas.He predicted that this land will provide to all beings in future at the time when comes under danger. In the mid century, Rik Zin Goe Dem Pa visited this land. He reminded all the protecting deities of this land about the words given to them by Guru Padma Sambawa. He reaffirmed their commitment to further protect this hidden land. In 1600 as per prediction of Guru Rinpoche, four great saint gathered at Yuksam and opend the sacred land. They collected sample of earth and stones from all over this land and built a called Tashi Odbar at Norbu Gang. Especially the great saint Lha Tsun Chenpo uncovered and affirmed all the sacred and holy siteslike the four main cavesin four direction of Tashiding. There are nine cave in between those four caves, and there are one hundred and eight smaller caves scattered around the nine caves. There are more than hundred foot print and hand printon rocks and stone throne belonging to Guru Rinpoche and the five disciples. Including eight Ye Dam Ka Gyat La Tso there are one hundred and nine La Tso (holy lakes). There are more then hundred different kinds cypress trees. There are naturally formed statues and letters of on the rocks and cliffs. Most of these above mentioned creation which are miraculous, spell bound and authentic are in existence along the banks of Rathong Chu.

LACHEN GOMCHEN RINPOCHE Ngedup Chholing Lachen Monastery District Mangan P.O. Lachen North Sikkim

This is written in the autobiography of Lha Tsun Chenpo called Dak Nang Khen DzotJahod Khur Khang. In the fifth volumn Padma Lingpa’s treatise, in Dorjee Lingpas treatise in Gongdue and many other treasure texts. Now about Bum Chu. Among the four saints, Nagb Dak Sempa Chenpo established . At that time Dam Chen Dorjee Legpa ( according to buddhist mythology he considered as Viswakarma) offered Nagb Dak Sampa Chenpo a vase which neither made of metal nor of earth. The great Nagb Dak Sampa Chenpo filled the vase with water from Rathong Chu and performed meditation prayer of one billio n of Avalokitesorwa( the god of compassion). Since then on the full moon day of the first month of the Buddhist almanac at around one o’clock in the morning the of Tashiding monastery perform Mani Thung Drup ritual as per Chang Ter tradition to reaffirm the blessing. The vase is then opened in front of the king,govrnment officials and the representatives of Pema Yangtsi monastery. First they check the seal then they open the vase. They take out two ting (measuring boel) of water from the vase. The teo ting of water from Rathong Chu is poured back in the vase. The vase is then rewrapped in brocade and each layer of cloth is marked with the royal seal so as to detect any manupulation or tempering. The wra pped vase placed in a box to be opened next year with the prayers and ceremony, by the lamas. Out of two tings of holy water, one ting is offered to the , ministers and the government official and the lamas. The second ting is mixed with water from Rathong Chu and distributed to all the devotees gathered from all over Himalayas. The water in the vase shows us what will happen within the coming year. Sometimes the water over floes the vase and even fill the plate placed under the vase. Sometimes the water is filled to the rim of the vase. Sometimes the volumn of the water decreases by a few tings. Taking notice of this omen or prediction we perform ceremony and pujas to avert any disastrous situations. LACHEN GOMCHEN RINPOCHE Ngedup Chholing Lachen Monastery District Mangan P.O. Lachen North Sikkim

This is how we have been able to preserve the properity and harmony of our land. In conclusion, since we depend on the Bum Chu to tell us about the ups and downs of our land and soceity, I appeal to all the people to protect The Rathong Chu as one’s own heart since this river is the basis of this miraculous Bum Chu.

Offered with sincere prayers

Lachen Gomchen.