Könchogsum Lhakhang
Coordinates: 27°35′07.8″N 90°44′21.25″E / 27.585500°N 90.7392361°E
| Könchogsum Lhakhang | |
|---|---|
  Könchogsum Lhakhang Location within Bhutan | |
| Coordinates: | 27°35′07″N 90°44′21″E / 27.58528°N 90.73917°E |
| Monastery information | |
| Location | Bumthang |
| Founded | 8th century |
| Type | Tibetan Buddhist |
Könchogsum Lhakhang, also known as Tsilung, is a Buddhist monastery in central Bhutan.
History
The temple was founded, according to the saint Pema Lingpa as far back as the 8th century and in 1039, Bonpo Dragtshel, a tertön, discovered texts which had been buried by Padmasambhava in this location.[1] According to legend, the king of the water deities was said to have risen out of the lake beneath the temple and offered Dragtshel a stone pillar and scroll.[1] This concept of a lake beneath the monastery is also reiterated in another legend in which Pema Lingpa is said to have discovered the subterranean lake and concealed the entrance to it with a stone, which stands today in the courtyard of the monastery.[2]
In February 2010 Könchogsum Lhakhang was severely damaged by fire[3] and has since been rebuilt.[4] The new temple and monastery was consecrated in November 2014.
Architecture
The temple contains a statue of Vairocana in its main sanctuary and statues of Padmasambhava, Avalokiteśvara, and paintings of Pema Lingpa and Longchenpa.[2]
Further reading
- Konchogsum Lhakhang - Bhutan Cultural Atlas
- Kenchosum Monastery - Pema Lingpa Foundation
Notes
Bibliography
- Pommaret, Francoise (2006). Bhutan Himalayan Mountains Kingdom (5th edition). Odyssey Books and Guides.