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Special
prayers on Lord Buddha's parinirvana |
His
Majesty the King, Their Majesties the Queens, the council of ministers,
and senior government officials took part in a sacred ceremony and offered
prayers to the Neten Chudrug (16 Arahats) Thongdroel, which
was unfurled in Tashichhodzong to celebrate Lord Buddha's Maha-parinirvana. |
Led
by His Holiness the Je Khenpo, lopons and monks of the central monk body
conducted a special religious ceremony of Thubwang Neten Chudrug Choga,
dedicated to Lord Buddha and his 16 followers, Arahats.
The 16
arhats (those who had extinguished all defilements) originated from
India during the time of Buddha Shakyamuni. It is believed that
the Buddha entrusted his teachings to the 16 great arhats when he was about
to pass away. The Buddha instructed them to remain in this world, dwell
in different lands, and disseminate his teachings to benefit all sentient
beings. This special religious ceremony was initiated by His Holiness the Je
Khenpo in 2001 with the financial support from the Menjong Choethuen
Tshogpa.
The Duechhen
Ngazom or Lord Buddha's Maha-parinirvana), is considered as auspicious
by all buddhists because on the 15th day of Saga Dawa month (Bhutanese
4th month), Lord Buddha was conceived and born, attained enlightenment,
subdued demons and entered Nirvana (liberation). The Saga Dawa
month is also called as Vaisak or Wesar in other Buddhist countries
and is widely celebrated.
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< Guru Thongdroel
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The more than 200-year-old Guru Thongdroel which
was unfurled at the Tashichhodzong
after
41 years to mark the auspicious
occasion
of the ascension of
His
Royal Highness as Chhoetse Penlop. |
| Neten
Chudrug Thongdroel at Tashichhodzong >
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Devotees
offer butter lamps >
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It
is beleived that one good deed or virtue done on this day will be rewarded
with one hundred thousand merits. |
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Lord
Buddha was born in 560 B.C. to Suddhodana, king of the Sakhyas
and Maya who died seven days after her son's birth in Lumbini, near the
city of Kapilavastu in Nepal. He died at the age of eighty in 480 B.C.
in Kusinagara, India.
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Tashichhodzong
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