Bhey Langdrag Nye (sacred place) in Wangdue Phodrang is one of the many places blessed by Guru Rinpoche, the Great Indian Buddhist Master who spread Buddhism in Bhutan in the 7th century. He has blessed numerous places and left hidden treasures in those places.
Bhey Langdrag Nye: A Sacred Place in Bhutan
Throughout the ages, in the heart of a hidden valley lay a sacred secret site. The destined discovery of this spiritual legacy is flourishing with an undefiled vibrancy today. The legacy of Bhey Langdrag is embedded in the esoteric traditions of Vajrayana Buddhism. In 1950, the renowned yogi Togden Shakya Shri was in Tsari, Tibet. There, he witnessed an oracle of butter lamps that were lit by them.
The Togden revealed to Lama Sonam Zangpo that the event foretold the dakinis prophecy. Lama Sonam Zangpo was asked to locate a sacred site between the ‘three sertos,’ which were the three dzongs of Trongsa, Wangdue, and Punakha.
Guru Rinpoche and the Hidden Treasures of Bhey Langdrag
Later, Lama Sonam Zangpo passed on the instructions to Lama Serpo, a renowned Dzogchen master Subsequently in 1981, Lama Serpo instructed Lungten Trulku to visit the site and make ‘tsok’ offerings there. Lungten Trulku reported to Lama Serpo about all the sacred imprints and landmarks of Guru Rinpoche. He also apprised that there were no standing structures of any sort at the place. Two years after Lama Sonam Zangpo passed away, Lungten Trulku discovered details about the site in sacred texts.
It was stated that Guru Rinpoche returned from Zangdopelri for a seven days sojourn in Bhey Langdrag. On his arrival, Terdak Langdrapa, a local deity, caused obstacles to the Guru, However, manifesting as Ugyen Dorji Guru, the Guru transformed the deity and appointed him as the protector of the treasure teachings. The Guru has hidden about 60 treasure teachings there.
The Prophecy of the Dakinis and the Discovery of Bhey Langdrag
Kuenkhyen Longchen Rabjam visited Bhey Langdrag in 1356 followed by his son Tersey Drakpo Waeser. Later in Shaa Kunzaling, the seat of Kuenkhyen Longchen Rabjam, Terdak Langdrapa instructed Terton Dorji Lingpa to visit Bhey Langdrag. After visiting the place and staying there for seven days, Terton Dorji Lingpa was disappointed for not finding any spiritual indications.
When he was about to leave, a Dakini appeared before him and instructed him to look at the cliff. On the cliff, he saw Guru Rinpoche as an eight-year-old boy emanating from a rainbow. The Guru thus instructed him: “My son, do not leave. You are the destined treasure revealer.” The Terton then entered into a retreat.
On the tenth day of the eighth month in retreat, the Guru again appeared to him. The Guru instructed him that if one saw Bhey Langdrag, one would be freed from samsara; if one visited it, all defilements would be purified; if one practiced dharma here, one would find spiritual fulfillment and realize all the yidam practices; if one makes offerings here, all aspirations for all lifetimes would be fulfilled.
Bhey Langdrag: A Gateway to Zangdopelri and Fulfillment of Spiritual Aspirations
Bhey Langdrag is also a gateway to be reborn into Zangdopelri or Dewachen. The Terton then discovered the treasure teaching called ‘Chenrezig Nyensong Khenchop.’ This has led to the annual Mani Dungdrup being held every year in the 8th month. The belief holds that Chenrezig himself stated: “If one sponsored the whole Dungdrup for a day, a meal, tea or just made offerings of firewood, one would be freed from samsara. If the Mani Dungdrup is held for one year, it is equivalent to holding the 16-day Nyungnay Karpo Chagay.”
Despite Guru Rinpoche and many great Tertons like Pema Lingpa and Sherab Mebar consecrating Bhey Langdrag, it remained hidden even to Bhutanese throughout the ages. In 1986, Lungten Trulku went to Yourmo in Nepal and approached Chabje Chatrul Rinpoche. In 1988, Chabje visited Bhutan and petitioned His Majesty King of Bhutan about spiritual discovery. He then stated that although there were many sacred spiritual places in the world, the discovery of Bhey Langdrag was very significant; firstly, it had a very sacred legacy, and secondly, it had not been defiled over time.
He also remarked that all Bhutanese who could now visit the site had more merit than those who had passed away. On his instructions, a retreat center named Drubdra Waeser Samteling was constructed at the foot of the valley in 2000, he appointed Lungten Trulku as the destined lama, to construct a temple in Bhey Langdrag.
The temple housed a ten-foot-tall statue of Ugyen Dorji Guru, and two six-foot-tall statues of Khandro Yeshey Tshogyal and Khandro Mendarawa. On every auspicious month of Choethri and Tendra, the fourth and ninth month, and the Guru’s auspicious days, thousands of people visit the site regularly.
