Punakha Dzong: Punakha
Mother river (left), father river (right).
The Punakha Dzong is located in the old capital, Punakah, at the meeting point between two rivers. The rivers, called the mother and father river, are actually different colors, as the mother river comes from snow-capped mountain water and the father river comes from glacial waters. The mother river is darker in color and the father river is lighter. To enter the Dzong, you must cross over the mother river on a wooden bridge.
This Dzong is the most impressive of all the Dzongs in Bhutan, as the Machen Lhakhang, a temple inside the Dzong, enshrines the mummified body of the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who passed away in retreat here in 1651. Zhabdrung was the unifier of Bhutan. The building where he rests cannot be entered by any except the monk who takes care of the building and royalty.
When you enter the Dzong, you will see the four direction kings immediately, followed by a poem puzzle, and two classic story paintings. You can see images of them below in the slide-show.
The Four Direction Kings
In Buddhism, the Four Heavenly Kings are guardians of the faith, each representing and protecting one of the four cardinal directions (i.e. north, south, east, west). According to legend, they are some of Buddha's earliest followers. They are portrayed differently by different Buddhist sects and various cultures.
In Bhutan you will see the four direction kings before entering any Dzong. The North King is yellow skinned and in his right hand carries a victory banner. In his left hand, he carries a mongoose, a symbol of wealth. You may notice that the mongoose spits out valuable gems. The East King is portrayed with white skin. He has the power of music, and thusly holds a stringed pipa instrument. Many musicians pray and make offerings to the East King, to give them musical talent. Many instruments in Bhutan, have his likeness painted on the wood.
The West King is red in color, and carries a stupa in his left hand and a green serpent in his right. He is a guardian of the land and earth. The South King is the most fierce and is blue skinned. He always carries a flaming sword in his right hand, and the hilt in his left. He is also the most heavily armored of the four. (See the slide-show below for images of the four direction kings.)
The story of the peacock, rabbit, monkey, and elephant (Classic Story)
There is a story in Bhutan that tells of a peacock that planted a seed, and the seed grew into a tree the same height as the peacock. Then a rabbit came and watered the tree, which then grew to the height of the rabbit. Next, a monkey came and fertilized the tree, which then grew to the height of the monkey. Last, an elephant came and guarded the tree, which then grew to the height of the elephant. The tree then bore delicious fruit, and the animals worked together to collect the fruit and eat it in order of seniority, or who ever came first to care for the tree.
This Dzong is the most impressive of all the Dzongs in Bhutan, as the Machen Lhakhang, a temple inside the Dzong, enshrines the mummified body of the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who passed away in retreat here in 1651. Zhabdrung was the unifier of Bhutan. The building where he rests cannot be entered by any except the monk who takes care of the building and royalty.
When you enter the Dzong, you will see the four direction kings immediately, followed by a poem puzzle, and two classic story paintings. You can see images of them below in the slide-show.
The Four Direction Kings
In Buddhism, the Four Heavenly Kings are guardians of the faith, each representing and protecting one of the four cardinal directions (i.e. north, south, east, west). According to legend, they are some of Buddha's earliest followers. They are portrayed differently by different Buddhist sects and various cultures.
In Bhutan you will see the four direction kings before entering any Dzong. The North King is yellow skinned and in his right hand carries a victory banner. In his left hand, he carries a mongoose, a symbol of wealth. You may notice that the mongoose spits out valuable gems. The East King is portrayed with white skin. He has the power of music, and thusly holds a stringed pipa instrument. Many musicians pray and make offerings to the East King, to give them musical talent. Many instruments in Bhutan, have his likeness painted on the wood.
The West King is red in color, and carries a stupa in his left hand and a green serpent in his right. He is a guardian of the land and earth. The South King is the most fierce and is blue skinned. He always carries a flaming sword in his right hand, and the hilt in his left. He is also the most heavily armored of the four. (See the slide-show below for images of the four direction kings.)
The story of the peacock, rabbit, monkey, and elephant (Classic Story)
There is a story in Bhutan that tells of a peacock that planted a seed, and the seed grew into a tree the same height as the peacock. Then a rabbit came and watered the tree, which then grew to the height of the rabbit. Next, a monkey came and fertilized the tree, which then grew to the height of the monkey. Last, an elephant came and guarded the tree, which then grew to the height of the elephant. The tree then bore delicious fruit, and the animals worked together to collect the fruit and eat it in order of seniority, or who ever came first to care for the tree.