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Machen
Zimpon
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Manchen
Zimpom (right), Lopon Namgay (centre)
with
Pasakha lam, Gado (left) |
His
Holiness the Je Khenpo awarded a ceremonial scarf to Lopon Namgyal
on December 5, appointing him as the new Machen Zimpon (chamberlain for
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal's embalmed body in Punakha Dzong), a rank equivalent
to the four Lopons of the Central Monk Body. Lopon Namgyal joined
the Thimphu-Punakha Dratshang as a monk at the age of 5 under the 61st
Je Khenpo, Samten Gyamtsho, and studied philosophy and literature, practiced
rituals and other ceremonies. |
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Lopon
Namgyal received wang-lung-thri-sum (blessing, oral transmission and
admonition) and directions for enlightenment from former Je Khenpos Jamyang
Yeshey Singye, Thrizur Tenzin Dendup, Geshey Geduen Rinchen and the present
Je Khenpo, Trulku Jigme Choeda.
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Lopon
Namgyal had served as umze of the central monk body, lam neten of Mongar
rabdey and as lam of Gomtu monastery.
The
outgoing Machen Zimpon, Lopon Ugyen, who held the post for 11 years, tsaid
that after unifying the country and establishing civil and ecclesiastical
administration systems in the country the Zhabdrung decided to meditate
for 12 years in the Punakha dzong. He began his meditation at the age of
58 in 1651 and instructed that only Desi Tenzin Drukgyal and Dung Damchoe
should visit him. He had passed away during meditation and his death was
not announced for 25 years. People believed that he was still under meditation.
His attendants continued to serve meals on time as if he was alive and
the tradition lives on even today. |
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Today,
only Machen Zimpon and Soepon are allowed to enter the Machen lhakhang.
There are two Machens (embalmed bodies) of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal
and his son, Jampel Dorji, in Punakha dzong. The Machen Zimpon looks after
the Machen of Zhabdrung, preserved in the Machen Lhakhang, while the Tse
Zimpon takes care of the Machen of Jampel Dorji in the Utse of the dzong.
His
Holiness also appointed Lopon Norbu Gyaltshen as the principal of Semtokha
monastic school and Gado as the lam of Pasakha monastery in Phuentsholing.
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