As per the historical accounts, the 33rd Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo built 108 temples in one day. This herculean task was executed to subdue an ogress residing in the Himalayas who was thwarting the spread of Buddhism teaching in the region. These 108 temples were built in and across the Tibetan borders. It is also believed that these temples were built over the ogress’s body that spread across Tibet and Bhutan to suppress the demoness.
Many of these 108 temples built can be seen in Tibet with Jokhang Lhakhang in Lhasa being the most popular as it is believed to have been constructed over the ogress’s heart. The best known temples in Bhutan are the Kichu Lhakhang in Paro and Jampa Lhakhang in Bumthang. These temples are one of the oldest and most sacred sites in Bhutan.
Kichu Lhakhang
The Lhakhang is a ten minutes drive away from Paro town. Originally built as a small structure, over the course of many centuries, various Buddhist saints have visited the place and either blessed or contributed in expanding the place. The main relic includes a statue of future Buddha Jowo Jampa (Maitreya) and a statue of Buddha Sakyamuni which dates back to 7th century.
Jampa Lhakhang
The other Lhakhang is Jampa Lhakhang derived from the temples main relic, Jowo Jampa. Jampa Lhakhang is located in Bumthang valley. In 1885, Gongsa Ugyen Wangchuck, the first King of Bhutan constructed a Kalachakra – wheel of time in the temple to commemorate the victory over what is considered the last significant civil war in the history of Bhutan, the battle of Changlimithang.
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