| Description |
"Udumvara/Udumbara" is a Sanskrit word meaning an auspicious flower of the sky. This type of flower is believed to bloom only once in 3000 years. In the Mahayana Buddhist scriptures (Arts, 2011), it is said that "Udumbara is the product of unwholesome and supernatural phenomena; it is a heavenly flower and does not exist in the mundane world." According to the Monlam dictionary, "In Tibetan, it is called Phag-chog or Tsher-zag. There is also a plant called Dud-jom-shing, which bears a flower that is unique and is called Udumvara because of its rarity in the world. Udumvara exists only when there is a living Buddha in the world. It has attractive colors and a sweet aroma that can spread over a large area. The plant is known for treating eye diseases, phytic abnormalities and is also known for other medicinal properties. Whether the flower is a specimen of its kind or an unknown plant, I have heard a few times that this plant grows in the Yangthang Goenpa area.
There are various online sources or books written about the properties of Udumvara, one of the authors has the following to say about Udumvara;
"Udumbara flowers are tiny white tulip-shaped flowers that grow on a white thread-like stem. The flowers have no leaves or roots and grow on anything" (Haddock, 2018).
On the other hand, the udumvara growing in front of Yangthang Goenpa is different from the one in the online sources or images available online. The Udumvara seen at Yangthang Goenpa has a green color and my interviewees said that until today, no one is able to identify the species of this plant. Perhaps the plant was named by Drubthop itself because it is a very rare species of its kind.
It was in 2015 when the plant bloomed in June just before His Majesty's visit to Yangthang Goenpa. Everyone was amazed when the five petals of this plant opened.
According to Lopen Tshering Wangchuk, who has been in charge of the Goenpa for four years, he did not observe the plant's blooming. However, he believes that the plant blooms once a year, on the 15th day of the 4th month in the Bhutanese calendar. So far, propagation of the plant has been unsuccessful. Currently, the plant is well protected and surrounded by a tall structure to prevent visitors from stealing or touching it. He has heard from previous caretakers that the flower resembles a peony. The literature states that peony consists of 33 species, including annuals and perennials, all native to Central and East Asia, including eastern Tibet. The first indication is that Udumvara came to Yangthang Goenpa via Tibet.
The Yangthang Zabdon Chholing Goenpa or Lhakhang is located at an altitude of 2920 meters above sea level and was founded by Lam Thinley Gyatsho, a follower of Lama Drakpa Gyatsho's disciple Lam Choeying Gyatsho, in the 17th century5. The Yangthang Goenpa has important cultural and religious significance not only for the Yangthang community, but for all Haaps in general. The Goenpa was rebuilt in 2012 under His Majesty's command after being damaged by an earthquake in 2011. All sacred artifacts are restored inside the Goenpa. The Goenpa consists of a two-story building; the top floor houses the Choe-long Trul-sum Lhakhang and the Lami Lhakhang, and the first floor is dedicated to the Chenrezig Lhakhang6. The inauguration of the Goenpa was performed by His Majesty and Gyaltsuen, led by His Eminence Dorji Lopon Kinley (also known as Sonam Jamtsho) from Zhung Dratshang. During this time, hundreds of people gathered and presented various cultural programs. His Majesty offered prayers for the safety and happiness of the country and its people.
According to local oral sources, around the 15th century, a Tibetan saint named Drupthob Dondup was on a pilgrimage and took the seed of the plant Udumvara during his lifelong pilgrimage. According to an oral account, "he promised to sow the seed wherever he finished his journey. However, it was believed that he ended his lifelong pilgrimage at Yangthang Goenpa. He sowed the seed of Udumvara in front of the
Lhakhang and also left behind a Tashigomang; (auspicious multiple doors). The Tashigomang is shown or displayed to the public only during a specific event. Such significance of the Goenpa attracts not only the locals but also visitors from other Dzongkhags. When tourists visit the Goenpa, they primarily ask about the Udumvara plant. On important occasions and events, many people come to receive offerings and blessings. |
| Social and cultural significance |
Locals believe that the Udumvara auspicious sign that it shows its natural phenomenon at night. Usually the color of the flower is supposed to be white or yellow. Udumvara is considered very valuable by the locals, both from a religious and economic point of view. It is believed that the Udumvara has a great effect not only for the locals, but also for outsiders. In the past, people did not give much importance to this Udumvara plant, but after Garab Rinpochoe recognized it as an important element related to the Yangthang Goenpa, people began to visit and worship it. The myth surrounding this plant will persist, and people come not only to ask for the blessing of the tashigomang inside the goenpa, but also to learn or hear the stories about the origin of this plant and its strange phenomenon. |
| Transmission method |
This has remained as an Oral account until it was documented under the guidance of National Library & Archives of Bhutan. |
| Community |
Haa is one of the 20 dzongkhags in Bhutan, located in the southwest of Paro and covering an area of 1899.20 square kilometers. According to the historical records of 69th Je Khenpo Gyshey (scholar) Gyeduen Rinchen, Haa consists of four blocks called Haa-jud-zhi1 but currently it has six gewogs with a total population of 13,499 (male - 7228 and female - 5271) according to the 2017 Population and Housing Census2. Haa is considered one of the smallest Dzongkhag and the area consists of beautiful areas with forests and mountains. It is the home of the royal grandmother queen. Although it is a small dzongkhag, it has a rich and unique culture, tradition and way of life in its own way. There are three different names for the Dzongkhag: Hyed (wylie. had) and Hye (wylie. has) were used in some ancient documents, while Haa is the colloquial name used by the community and is a current written form.3 Therefore, Haa people are generally referred to as Haaps. Besides the rich cultural diversity and historical sites, it is perhaps the best place for hiking and bird watching.
Yangthang is a village under Bje Gewog. Bje Gewog is one of the largest of the six Gewogs. The gewog includes a total of 23 villages with 278 households and five chiwogs: Taloong, Yangthang, Chumpa, Gyensa and Chempa (Dzongkhag, 2021)4. Yangthang can be seen from the road.
Road between Haa town and Damthang. It is located 4 km from the city and surrounded by Talung and Chhundu central schools. Bhutan is known to have a unique culture and tradition, and so some of the villages also have their own unique culture. Among the various villages, Yangthang is known for its numerous cultural events. All of these events are associated with the local deity "Ap Chhundu". Ap Chhundu is considered vital in this region. The name "Yangthang" has a double meaning: Yang - wide, large and open, and Thang means plain or flat area. So, from the other side, the village is beautifully situated in a vast landscape with gentle slopes. Above the village is a lhakhang known as "Yangthang Zabdon Chholing Goenpa".
Data collected by: Ms. Kesang Choki, Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology Graduate from the Royal Thimphu College. |
