| His
Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck |
| The 5th Druk Gyalpo |
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Bhutan Royal Family The King |
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Bhutan Royal Family |
| The
Coronation 2008 Links |
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His
Majesty The Druk Gyalpo received the Dar Na Nga |
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The
Coronation Celebration Day of His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel
Wangchuck is scheduled to be held on 6, 7 and 8 November 2008 .
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| The 5th Druk Gyalpo, HM Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck |
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was the ultimate empowerment of a Dharma King. In a ceremony, that was
deeply spiritual, richly traditional, and shrouded in sacred mystical truths,
His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the fifth hereditary King of
Bhutan, received the Dar Na Nga on November 1, 2008.
The
Dar Na Nga, an arrangement of silk scarves in the five primary colours,
representing the five elements, is a direct empowerment from the Zhabdrung
himself. The Dar Na Nga is preserved in the Machhen Chhorten, which
holds the Kudung (physical relics) of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.
It is returned to the Machhen Lhakhang in a chipdrel procession
after the empowerment ceremony of the Kings.
His
Majesty received the same Dar Na-Nga, which was received by all the Monarchs
of the Wangchuck dynasty - Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck, Jigme Wangchuck, Jigme
Dorji Wangchuck, and Jigme Singye Wangchuck. |
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It is believed that the
Dar Na-Nga was given by Jigme Namgyel to Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck.
In
the 17th century, during his last meditation, the Zhabdrung had
instructed that only Desi Tenzin Drukgyal and Dung Damchoe, an attendant,
were allowed to enter the lhakhang. Over the centuries, the spirit of the
Zhabdrung has been preserved through the ceremonies, that are performed
in the lhakhang, and the offerings made to the relics. Since then, only
the Kings and the Je Khenpos have entered the Machhen Lhakhang, apart from
the Machhen Zimpon, a highly revered and accomplished lama, who
is the caretaker.
On
Saturday, after receiving the Dar Na Nga, His Majesty the King entered
the Kuenra (congregation hall) of the Punakha Dzong for the Tashi
Ngasoel (auspicious celebration), followed by His Majesty the fourth
Druk Gyalpo and His Holiness the Je Khenpo. His Majesty ascended the Ceremonial
Throne with the fourth Druk Gyalpo seated on his right and the Je Khenpo
on his left.
Before the
giant images of the Buddha, Guru Rinpoche and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel,
the Zhung Dratshang (Central Monk Body) performed the ceremony,
their deep baritones reverberating around the hall ... Om Ah Hum ...
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| His
Majesty the King was offered a set of Tshelha Namsum statues (three
bodhisattvas of longevity) for eternal life, Gyelwa Rigna (five symbols
of empowerment), Tashi Zegye (eight auspicious articles), Gyelsi
Naduen (seven precious symbols of the Universal Emperor), and Tashi
Tagye (eight auspicious signs) by representatives of the clergy, the
government leaders, commanders of the armed forces, and representatives
of the people. |
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The
congregation in the Kuenra comprised masters from all Mahayana Buddhist
traditions, members of the royal family, leaders of the government, the
bureaucracy, and the armed forces, and representatives of the people. Crowds
filled the courtyard and thousands of people waited outside the Dzong.
After
members of the congregation offered thridar, His Majesty the King met with
guests and well wishers and then chose to spend the rest of the day with
the people.
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| The Raven Crown of the 5th Druk Gyalpo (left) , The Raven Crown of the
4th Druk Gyalpo HM Jigme Singye Wangchuck (right) |
| The Raven
Crown renders the Druk Gyalpo a personification of the supreme warrior. |
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If
the sacred Dar ceremony was a spiritual legitimisation of the Monarch,
the emotions of the Bhutanese people proved to be an equally powerful energy.
His Majesty the King celebrated with the people, including thousands of
youth and students, late into the evening, ending the long day with songs
and dances on the banks of a serene Mochhu river.
On
Sunday, November 2, His Majesty the King made a remarkable journey from
Punakha to Thimphu, a journey, that was more of a passage through time
than distance. Children, farmers, monks and nuns, foreign visitors, and
people from all walks of life lined the road, lighting incense and making
personal offerings and ceremonial scarves.
His
Majesty stopped to talk to people along the entire length of the highway:
"The greatest gift that I have received today is that I have been able
to meet all of you ... On the occasion of the Coronation, all I ask is
for your prayers. I ask you to pray for the health and long life of the
fourth Druk Gyalpo and for peace, harmony and prosperity in the kingdom."
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Coronation 2008:
The
4th Druk Gyalpo, HM Jigme Singye Wangchuck
with
the President of India Mrs Pratibha Devisingh Patil
(November
2008) |
| His
Majesty the King knew hundreds of people in person and spent hours speaking
to thousands of others. There were elderly people, who had served several
generations of Kings, their eyes wet with nostalgia. |
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There were excited
young parents, who brought new-born babies to be blessed. There were gomchhens,
monks, and nuns offering prayers, some of them taking a break from life-long
meditation to greet their King.
There
were modern professionals, inspired by His Majesty's interest in their
work, businessmen and women encouraged by his support, and traditional
farmers, who were assured by his presence.
"I
can sense the aura of his forefathers in this bodhisattva," said a 74-year
old man, who had served three former Kings. "Looking at the dramatic developments,
that have taken place over the past decades, I can't even imagine what
it's going to be like during his reign."
An
anim in Hongtsho said that she was dedicating her entire practice to His
Majesty, his health and long life, and his happiness. "I pray that fortune
smiles on our King until the world ends."
A
significant proportion of Bhutan's population appeared to have poured out
on to the streets of the nation's capital city, in the tens of thousands,
to greet His Majesty the King. Thimphu had never seen a day like this.
His Majesty the King strolled along the main street, completely at ease
and at home. His Majesty spoke to people, from the Lungtenzampa bridge
to the Royal Cottage. "All I ask for, today, is your prayers."
His
Majesty the King paid close attention to the thousands of students and
youth, individually and in groups. Their response was spontaneous. They
offered their services, loyalty, and commitment. They sang him songs they
had composed.
His
Majesty's advice was simple. Bhutanese youth must celebrate the Coronation
and enjoy themselves. And then they must study seriously and work hard.
"I'm
counting on you," the Druk Gyalpo told the youth of Bhutan.
| This
article was contributed by Kinley Dorji, Rinzin Wangchuk & Kesang Dema,
KUENSEL, Bhutan's National Newspaper, 2008 |
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Links |
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External
links |
| Bhutan
2008 |
Celebration
of the centenary of Monarchy
official
website |
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|
Tashichhodzong |
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