PHUGRON PHUG

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Altogether three caves are found 30 m above the valley floor and at the lower end of an inclined crag consisting of course conglomerate (boulder clay ?). In front of the lowest cave (low and broad) stands a row of eight chorten. The lower cave has an 8 to 10 m wide and 4 m high cave entrance and ascends with a steeply inclined floor covered with calcite. It is connected by a man sized -door- to the upper cave with two houses. In front of the last cave the facade of a temple is erected. Inside an idol of Chenrazie is found. Situated opposite of Ngachu (Nachu). AUFSCHNAITER (1976, pages 179 seq.): The upper course of Buri [also: Budhi] Gandaki has two branches; the western one is Nubri, the eastern Tsum Kuthang (Shiar Khola), which at Milarepa's time [11th century], was part of bod [Tibet]. Now Kuthang, including Tsum and Nubri, is part of Nepal. … A little higher up [from Dzong - the main place of Tsum] the valley above Ngagyü … is the cave of Milarepa, p'ug ron p'ug, which is hih up in the rocks on the right hand slope of the valley. There is a small monastery building beside the cave built into the rock … a number of chortens made of earth, hollowed by wasps. This cave of the pigeons is quite near to Dragkar Taso, he latter being on the other side of the frontier pass Mun La Dragchen. LHALUNGPA (1977: 147) notes the Pigeon Cave of Kuthang. CHANG (1989, page 88): Pigeon Cave of Gu Tang. - Having arrived from Yolmo [Helambu], Mila absorbed himself in -Meditation of the Great Illumination.- A pigeon directed him to “Immaculate Rock”, where Mila taught eight Devas - in pigeon form. RIMPOCHE & CUTILLO (1986, page 41): Cave of a wealthy pigeon. Mila got a bushel sized pile of rice as a present from the bird.