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Bhutan's Religion Tashichodzong |
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Bhutan's Religion Tashichodzong |
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| Tashichhodzong |
| Tashichhodzong - The
Neten Chudrug Thongdroel |
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Ceremony
of Thubwang Neten Chudrug Choga
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The Neten
Chudrug (16 Arahats) Thongdroel has to be unfurled in a sacred ceremony
to celebrate Lord Buddha's Maha-parinirvana in Tashichhodzong. As
Bhutan celebrated Buddha's Maha-parinirvana, His Majesty the
King, Their Majesties the Queens, the council of ministers, and senior
government officials take part the ceremony, dedicated to Buddha and his
16 followers, Neten Chudrug (16 Arahats), and offer prayers.
Every
year in June:
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The Neten Chudrug Thongdroel was unfurled
in
Tashichhodzong |
Led
by His Holiness the Je Khenpo, lopon zhips and monks of the central
monk body are conducting a special religious ceremony of Thubwang Neten
Chudrug Choga, dedicated to Lord Buddha and his 16 followers, Arahats.
Thousands of Thimphu residents also offered prayers and received blessings
from the Neten Chudrug Thongdroel.
This
special religious ceremony was initiated by His Holiness the Je Khenpo
in 2001 with the creation of Neten Chudrug Thongdroel and the financial
support from the Menjong Choethuen Tshogpa. |
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top
| Neten
Chudrug (16 Arhats) |
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The
16 arhats (those who had extinguished all defilements) originated from
India during the time of Buddha Shakyamuni. It is believed that the Buddha
entrusted his teachings to the 16 great arhats when he was about to pass
away. The Buddha instructed them to remain in this world, dwell in different
lands, and disseminate his teachings to benefit all sentient beings.
The Duechhen
Ngazom (Buddha's Maha-parinirvana), is considered auspicious by all
Buddhists because on the 15th day of Saga Dawa month (Bhutanese 4th
month), Buddha was conceived and born, attained enlightenment, subdued
demons and entered Nirvana (liberation).
According
to a dratshang lhentshog's spokesman such sacred ceremony, dedicated to Guru
Rinpoche, will also be introduced in Tashichhodzong. The Saga
Dawa month is also called as Vaisak or Wesar in other Buddhist countries
and is widely celebrated. It is beleived that one good deed or virtue done
on this day will be rewarded with one hundred thousand merits.
Lord
Buddha was born in 560 B.C. to Suddhodana, king of the Sakhyas and
Maya who died seven days after her son's birth in Lumbini, near the city
of Kapilavastu in Nepal. He died at the age of eighty in 480 B.C. in Kusinagara,
India.
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| This
article was contributed by KUENSEL, Bhutan's National Newspaper |
| Information on Bhutan |
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