Significance of Sikkim’s Bhum-Chhu Festival

By Sonam Gyatso Dokhangpa

Bhum-Chhu Bhumpa: vase of the holy water

Bhum-Chhu festival of Tashiding Monastery, West Sikkim, is an unique festival of Sikkim. It is not simply a festival but a sacred blessing for the devout pilgrims, Bhum Chhu, the festival of the holy water is held annually on the 15th day of the first lunar month (Dawa Dhangpo) corresponding to the month of February –March.

This is indeed a precious gift of the Great Saint Ngadag Sempa Chhenpo (1592-1656), one of the three pioneer Lamas who then arrived in ‘the land of rice’ in 17th century A.D. and founded Buddhism in Sikkim and acted as instrumental in establishing the kingdom of Sikkim’s first Chogyal (Dharma King) Phuntsog Namgyal in 1642 A.D.

Legend has it that the Great Guru Padmasambhava during his sojourn in Tibet, introduced this sacred holy water ceremony as “Bhum Chhu’’ dedicated to Lord Avalokitesvara, Tibetan King Chogyal Tri-song De-tsen (730-788) and his devout followers in 8th century A. D.

 During the commencement of this ceremony, the protective Deity-‘Damchen Dorjee Lekpa’ appeared and offered this precious vase to Guru Rinpoche for this noble task. The weeklong prayer was offered by the Great Guru Rinpoche for consecration of the holy water and on the closing day there sighted a miraculous phenomenon. The whole set of Lord Avalokitesvara appeared in the air and thereafter twisted like tornado and gradually it entered into the ceremonial vase.

The annual Bhum-Chhu festival at Tashiding Monastery, West Sikkim. (pix courtesy: questhimalaya)

After a short while, the water inside the vase boiled itself causing earthquake and thereafter five coloured aura rays radiated from the ceremonial vase and flashed up to different directions, The great Guru was overjoyed to see the fruition of his spiritual task and praised Lord Avalokitesvara and prayed for his special blessings. His followers, after witnessing this divine phenomenon, were deeply moved and tears welled up their eyes.

Thereafter, the Guru gave blessing of the sacred water to the devotees and followers. Indeed the blessing of the holy water displayed its power by healing oral disease, curing physically- handicapped persons and some of them regained their eyesight.

 Many others felt themselves soothing peace in their minds as if they were in deep meditation. Having seen such virtuous deeds of the Great Guru, the Gods sent down a shower of flowers and praised Guru Rinpoche.

Later, the Guru concealed the holy vase in the form of “gTer” in a sacred rock for the sake of his future practitioners and entrusted it to a Guardian Demon to be the keeper till a spiritual man comes and reveals it for the sake of the fortunate beings of that era.

Many centuries later, there was born a lama in 1524 A.D. who was renowned as “gTer-ston Gar-Gharwang Shigpo gLingpa). He was one of the famous treasure finders in Tibet. As he foresaw the appropriate time to reveal the sacred vase for the benefit of fortunate beings of that era, he formally unearthed the vase and put into practice. Later, he handed it over to another Lama called –“Chogyal Takshamchen”, who imparted its blessing to the devotees and kept it under his custody for many years,

Later, Chogya Takshamchen thought that the dark age was casting its shadow over Tibet and it was not safe to keep the sacred vase in Tibet. After much thought on the safekeeping of this precious vase he decided to hand it over to his disciple Ngadag Sempa Chhenpo since he had prepared to go to the Hidden Land of Demojong, as he deemed it to be a proper place for the holy vase. That was how Ngadag Sempa Chhenpo brought this sacred vase to the Hidden Land “Demojong” in 17th century A.D.

As per Sikkim History, authored by Chogyal Thutob Namgyal (1860-1964) and Queen Yeshey Doma, it is recorded that the first historic Bhum-Chhu ceremony in Sikkim was held at “Lhakhang Marpo” in Yuksam. Specific year has not been mentioned but Khenpo L. Tshering, in his book “ A Saga of Sikkim - four pioneer reincarnates”, indicated the year as (Mekhyi) the fire dog year which corresponded to 1646 A.D.

 The  second and third Bhum-Chhu ceremonies were held at Rinchenpong (West Sikkim)  and Barphung (South Sikkim). The fourth and fifth Bhum-Chhu ceremonies were orderly held at Tashiding, West Sikkim. The dates were not mentioned in the record. However, it is said that each time one billion mantras of “Om MANI PADME HUNG” had been recited to aggregate the blessings. At the completion of five billion mantras, unusual signs were observes i.e. Bhum Chhu never dried up, did not get spilt and continues to give fresh odor.

Tashiding Monastery, West Sikkim

Later, Ngadag Sempa Chhenpo shifted his seat from Yuksam to Tashiding and there he built a temple called “Jhmpa Lhakhang” (the temple of Maitriya Buddha) during Iron-Rabbit year i.e. in 1651 A.D. and as a “kuten’’ he installed a statue of the Future Buddha ‘Jhampa Gonpo’ and it might be the reason for naming the temple as “Jhampa Lhakhang’’.

It is presumable that he deposited the Bhum-Chhu vase in this Lhakhang and in the course of time the monastery was rebuilt and the vase  enshrined in the main Gonpa. Later, it became an annual feature to conduct the Bhum-Chhu ceremony for the larger interest of the devotees and followers.

Nowadays, Bhum-Chhu festival has reached its zenith of popularity and attracts not only the Buddhists but the followers of other faiths as well who flock to Tashiding Monastery with devotion to get the sacred blessing of the Bhum-Chhu.

The sacred Bhumpa of the holy water is kept under lock and seal by the monastery authority. The opening ceremony is strictly conducted by unlocking the lock and seal under the observation of the kutshab, deputed from the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department on behalf of the State Government at midnight of “Tshepa Chuzhi” or the 14th night.

The vase normally contains 21 cups of holy water which is measured every year in presence of kutshab to examine its quantity and quality. Each sign has its own significance to indicate good or bad omen. As per customary belief, if the water is less than the actual quantity it signifies famine and drought; if found more than the actual quantity, it signifies flood and landslide. Water which is ‘clear’ signifies peace; ‘murky”  water signifies epidemic, unrest or war.

In this context, the Department of Ecclesiastical Affairs consults  high incarnate lamas for ‘thutak’ for performing remedial rites or ‘shabrim’ to defuse bad consequences and accordingly the Department provides fund to the Lamas for performing necessary pujas.

(Pix: Saagaloo & Shangrila)

As per the public sentiment and belief, this vase is the wish fulfilling gem for Sikkim. Since the commencement of first Bhum-Chhu ceremony in Sikkim, the holy water for refilling the pot is always collected from the Rathongchu river. The reason as per religious point of view is that this river receives tributaries of many sacred lakes and streams of the high mountains which were sanctified by the Great Guru Padmasambhava. Therefore the water of the river Rathongchhu is treated like the water of the river Ganges, complete with all the eight supreme qualities of water i.e “Chhuwo-Yanlag rGyad_1Dan’’.

Modern studies also show that the water from Rathongchhu is very pure and rich in healthy minerals. Not only the Rathong Chhu but all the sacred springs in Sikkim which were sanctified by Guru Padma Sambhava, have healthy minerals as they have been scientifically tested.

As an example, the sacred spring- known as “Chhumig Gyatsa (hundred springs of nectar) of Chhodten Nyima pass situated along the Tibet – Sikkim border in Northern Sikkim is very famous and requested by lot of pilgrims from nearby countries. The pilgrims flock to this place to drink a mouthful of sacred water. This made the local authorities curious and sent water sample for scientific testing in 1990 and later in August 1992, the Chinese Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources announced that this water conations rare elements beneficial to health that enhance the appetite, favors bone development, improve blood circulation, strengthen the heart and have curative effects on goiters. (source:-Bulletin of Tibetlogy Vol. 39-No.1).

 (Mr Sonam Gyatso Dokhampa is an officer at the Ecclesiastical Affairs Department, Government of Sikkim, India)