| Her
Majesty Gayum Phuntsho Choden |
 |
Bhutan Royal Family |
|
|
|
| Her
late Majesty Gayum Phuntsho Choden's life |
 |
Her
late Majesty
Gayum
Phuntsho Choden
1911-2003 |
|
| Ashi
Phuntsho Choden was born in 1911 at Wangdue Choling Palace to Chumed Zhalgno
Dasho Jamyang of the Tamzhing Choeje family and Ashi Decho, daughter of
Ashi Yeshey Choden who was the sister of Druk Gyalpo Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck. |
Her
Majesty Ashi Phuntsho Choden was known for her love and concern for the
country and the Bhutanese people. Over a period spanning nine decades,
she conducted herself with stately grace and dignity and with a clear perception
and protectiveness of the geater interests of Bhutan.
She
was kind-hearted, generous and accessible to her people, with whom she
never lost touch. She was greatly loved and respected by everyone. Her
Majesty Ashi Phuntsho Choden was the precious link between the first Druk
Gyalpo Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck to the present Druk Gyalpo. She will be
deeply mourned and affectionately remembered by generations of Bhutanese
people. |
The
passing away of Her Majesty Gayum Angay Phuntsho Choden represents the
transition of a special era in the unique history of the kingdom of Bhutan.
At
the age of 15 Ashi Phuntsho Choden was enthroned as the Queen of the second
Druk Gyalpo King Jigme Wangchuck. In 1928, at the age of 18, she gave birth
to the third Druk Gyalpo, His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, at Thrupang
Palace in Trongsa.
From
an early age, Ashi Phuntsho Choden received a traditional education including
lessons on Buddhism. She pursued Buddhist studies and, over the years,
she received teachings, empowerment, and reading transmissions in the Drukpa
Kargyu, Karma Kargyu, Dujom, Peling, and Nyingthig traditions from renowned
Buddhist lamas.
The
deeply ingrained spirituality that she developed became a foundation for
the responsibilities that she took on herself and Ashi Phunstho Choden
played an important role in maintaining and strengthening Bhutan's rich
Buddhist heritage. She built a legacy of religious institutions, established
spiritual learning centres, and preserved the rich imagery that formed
a core of Bhutan's religious history.
When
she was in her 20s, Ashi Phuntsho Choden was the first devotee to renovate
the Kurje Lhakhang in Bumthang along with the wall-size images of the Guru
Tshengyed. At Prakhar Nagtshang in Chumed, she built the Kudung chhorten
of Thugsey Dawa Gyaltshen, and an image of Jo Jampa.
top
| Ashi
Phuntsho Choden established great monuments |
 |
Ashi
Phuntsho Choden established great monuments like the National Memorial
Chhorten in Thimphu which she built in memory of her son, His Majesty
Jigme Dorji Wangchuck, for the well being of the nation and the people.
The chhorten, a Ka-Gong-Phur-Sum stupa, is a landmark with imagery of Tantric
deities.
In
the Kuenrey of Tashichhodzong Ashi Phuntsho Choden built the
three-storey statue of Lord Buddha together with the assemblage of
deities as well as murals depicting the 12 stages of Buddha Sakyamuni's
life.
In
Paro, she built a three-storey Zangto Pelri Lhakhang at Taktshang Ugen
Tsemo and offered sacred objects for the lhakhang. To avert misfortunes
and degeneration of spiritual values Ashi Phuntsho Choden built a Guru
Yidam Lha at the Chang Manyeg Lhakhang in Choetse, Trongsa.
In
the Punakha Dzong, she built a silver image of Lord Jampa (Maitrya).
In PhuentsholingGonpa Ashi Phuntsho Choden built the Kunga Choling Lhakhang with
eight Desheg Dhorten (Sugata Stupa) on the premises.
Ashi
Phuntsho Choden also built a Lhakhang at Sherubtse College in Kanglung and a three-storey chhorten in Dechenchholing for the well being
of sentient beings.
top
| Ashi
Phuntsho Choden also provided support to Buddhist heritage |
|
Ashi
Puntsho Choden, who was an avid student, considered it important to strengthen
Buddhist learning and sponsored the printing and distribution of thousands
of volumes of religious texts and rare mandala miniature paintings. She
established the Drubdey (meditation centre) in Tango and ensured
that it was sustained by a religious estate.
SAshi
Puntsho Choden built the Tshogkhang Lhakhang of Gangtey Sangag Choling where she initated the establishment of the shedra. In Tharpaling, she
established a meditation centre for the nyingthig tradition and
at Kunzang Choling she established a new meditation centre of the Peling
tradition.
Ashi
Phuntsho Choden also provided support to Buddhist heritage outside Bhutan.
She built the Namgyel Choling Lhakhang in Darjeeling (India) and the
Dongag Choling Lhakhang in Phagpa Shingkum in Nepal. She established
a shedra of the nyingma tradition at the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang in Kalimpong
(India).
|
