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Degeneration and regeneration of Pang Lhabsol |
The recent
observance of Pang Lhabsol in its totality minus
the Pangtey Cham at Tsuglakhang Monastery is
infact most relevant given the existing
degenerated state of our allegiance and
commitment towards preserving the sacred
spiritual heritage that Sikkim as the Guru
Rinpoche’s has hitherto maintained for centuries
now. Termas, the dharma treasures that were so
intentionally hidden by Maha Guru Himself and
His spiritual consort Khandro Yeshi Chogyal in
different locations of Sikkim during His 8th
century sojourn to this sacred land forms the
very quintessence of observing these Buddhist
offerings, unique to Sikkim. However, it is very
unfortunate that the Pang Lhabsol observance and
its significance are being given a reduced
cognizance when only incidences that occurred
during the later phase of Sikkimese history are
projected. In fact, it was the Mahaguru who
appointed Khangchen Dzonga Taktse as Sikkim’s
supreme guardian deity. Pang Lhabsol is not
observed in installments or in parcel to suit to
a particular circumstances, it observance has
always been comprehensive. More to the point, it
was indeed most relevant and worth applauding to
witness the gradual revival of this most
intricate and elaborate rituals being performed
at the Tsuglakhang with impressive royal
presence. In fact, indigenous dharma scriptures
have described the Sikkimese royalties as the
celestial descendants of bodhisattvas.
What I feel is that Sikkim Government seems to
have sponsored the Pang Lhabsol celebration in
some part of the State in a grandeur manner. It
is at this backdrop, most contradicting to
observe its stand vis-à-vis destruction and
disturbance to the Termas at the inner
Bayul-Dremo-Djong (West Sikkim) following
numerous mega-power projects and particularly
the Lithang mega-power project which is nothing
but the same old Rathong Chu Power project which
was abandoned by the present Government during
its first tenure to respect the religious
sentiments of the Buddhist population. It is not
understandable as to what prompted the State
Government in believing that the revival of the
project with different nomenclature would not
hurt the religious sentiments of the Buddhist.
Furthermore, it is not the matter of merely
respecting ‘religious sentiment’ of a particular
section rather it is the question of our
responsibility to preserve these sacred Termas
to be revealed and utilized at designated course
of time. It is the question of our affirmation
and reaffirmation that we regularly submit
before our guardian deities during the Pang
Lhabsol Khelens. Only recently, a very
distinguished Dzogchen master renowned the
world-over opined that it is pointless that our
Sikkimese monks should perform the Lhabsang
ritual during their pujas following the
haphazard projects that Sikkim has seen all of
sudden especially in the heartland of its inner
Bayul Dremo-Djong. Lhabsang is offered to invoke
and appease the local guardian deities during
most of the household pujas that our Lamas would
perform.
The Sikkim government obstinately appeared to
have been projecting Sikkim to the world
Buddhist Circuit for the sake of tourism with
its gigantic new structures under pace. It is
useless if we fail to recognise and preserve the
existing heritage for which Sikkim stands for
and always stood for ever since time immemorial.
Under the circumstances, it would be the best of
decisions if this particular Lithang Power
Project and for that matter any such other
activities are completely abandoned at this
particular location which is within the holiest
of all for a single power project would never
hamper in Sikkim’s development and
revenue-generation intention of the government
when it already have dozens of such haphazard
ones around the State. I further believe that a
good sense would definitely prevail upon
everyone in this regard though Sikkim has
off-late turned out to become “unresponsive
society of self-seekers”.
Chewang Pintso
Gangtok |
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Sikkim
at Glance |
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Area : 7096 Sq Km
Capital
: Gangtok
Altitude: 5,840 ft
Population: 6.10
Lakhs
Topography: Hilly terrain elevation
from 600 ft. to over 28,509 ft above sea
level
Climate:
Summer
Max- 21°C ;
Min - 13°C
Winter
Max -13°C ; Min -
0.48°C
Rainfall : 325 cm per annum
Language Spoken: Nepali, Bhutia, Lepcha,
Tibetan, English, Hindi |
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Nepali
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