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Tango Goempa
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Tango Goempa

 

Bhutan Jakar Dzong
The Tango Goemba site has had religious significance since the 12th century when it was the home of the Lama who brought the Drukpa Kagyupa school of Buddhism to Bhutan. The monastery was built there in the 15th century by Drukpa Kunley ("The Divine Madman" ). Tango is the highest center of Buddhist learning in the country; almost every Je Khenpo (religious head of Bhutan) completed the 9-year program there. After completing that program, monks traditionally spend 3 years, 3 months and 3 days in mediation at the nearby Cheri Goemba retreat, built in 1619 by Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the founder or first unifier of Bhutan. It is currently the home of an 11 year old boy believed to be the seventh reincarnation of the fourth desi, or ruler, of Bhutan.

According to a local legend Phajo Drugom Zhigpo propounder of the teachings of Dodeyna who was on a visit to this place during his teaching mission heard the neighing of a horse coming from the direction of the Tango. Concurrently, he witnessed the cliff in the form of god Tandin (horse head or Hayagriva) engulfed in flames. The deity appearing before Zhigpo prophesised that the place was meant to build a monastery for meditation. The prophesy also mentioned that Zhigpo would marry the Dakine, Khando Sonam Peldon and establish the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism in Bhutan. The earliest history traced to this location is when Guru RInpochhe on a visit to the place in the eighth century had identified the place as representing the Hayagriva or horse head. It was only in 1222 that the place again got its recognition when Phajo Drugom Zhipo propounder of the Drukpa Kagyu School of Buddhism, witnessed the cliff in the form of god Tandin (horse head) or Hayagriva.

Tango was later visited by many other notable Buddhist saint including the divine mad man Lam Drukpa Kuenley, his son Lama Ngawang tenzin and Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel. Zhabdrung meditated wrote down the Nga Chu Drugma (My sisteen accomplishments) in Tango. His late father Tenpai Nyima was also placed inside the cave of the deity Hayagriva.

The present day Monastery was built in 1689 by Gyalsay Tenzin Rabgyal at the age of 51. The three storied monastery was built with the help of the locals and was completed within two months.

Dochula Pass