LHARI NYING PHUG
27.439200,88.280300
Description
Lhari Ning Phug is the northern (note 1) of the –>Four Great Caves of Sikkim, which are arranged like a mandala in the real world (note 2). The modified natural temple cave is sacred to Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava (note 3) and »the most holy of the series« (WADDELL 1895: 256-257 note 2; VERMA 1996: 31). ETYMOLOGY: So far, I saw the name of this cave spelled, transcribed or edited as Lha-ri ñing p'u WADDELL (1895: 256-257 note 2): Old Cave of God's hill Lhar-ri nying phu RISLEY (1928, 1993, 1995: 253): Old Cave of God's hill lHa-ri-rnying-phuk HUMMEL (1957: 626): Alte Höhle des göttlichen Berges Laringvigphu VERMA (1996: 31): Old Cave of God's Hill Byang Lhari-rinchen-nying Phug scstsenvis.nic.in/newsletter2004.html, (accessed 2006.08.06) associated with the God of Wrath. SITUATION 1895: »About three days journey to the north of Tashiding [note 4], along a most difficult path [note 5]« (WADDELL 1895: 256-257 note 2). SITUATION 1957: »Nördlich von bKra-shis-lding (88°18' 27°19')« (HUMMEL 1957: 626) SITUATION 1966: »Laringvigphu … is a three days walk from Tashiding« (VERMA 1996: 31), which itself is accessible by bus from Gyalshing (N27°17': E88°16'). SITUATION 2006: »Byang Lhari- rinchen- nying Phug … [is] reached after taking a three days trek from the holy town of Tashiding. … The route to this cave is a long three days trek from Tashiding [note 6]. … This site is a campers treat due to the absence of any hotels or guest houses. Like all [sic! read: the three] other sacred caves [of Sikkim], this cave too is usually visited during the tourist season months of March to late May and September to mid- December« (scstsenvis.nic.in/newsletter2004.html accessed 2006.08.06)CAVE DESCRIPTION: »Byang Lhari- rinchen- nying Phug … has three caves facing eastwards. The cave in the south has the self-arisen [swayambhu] figures surrounded by a pantheon of longevity deities. The cave in the north houses wrathful deities in their fearsome costumes. The eastern cave has figures of eight fabulous horses of wealth. It is believed that going there will produce signs favourable to the growth and spiritual realization. To the west of this is located the goddess of wealth [Lakshmi, Laxmi] along with three goddesses of bountiful harvests. Further, to the west, is located the lord of death [Mara] along with the assembled messengers of death. Below this is a triangular pit [sacrifice pit]. It is believed that if the names of the powerful demonic clans are written down and thrown in the pit during the annual casting off of evil, the messengers of death will flee to their own abode. Nearby, are three stone charm boxes containing seven paper scrolls inscribed with the names of the ten wrathful deities« (scstsenvis.nic.in/newsletter2004.html accessed 2006.08.06) CULTURAL HISTORY: According to HUMMEL (1957: 626 note 25), it is »C. FORSTMANN, Himatschal. Berlin 1926, pp. 306 ff« (not seen) who relates to followers of the Mun religion performing sacrifices at »lHa-ri-rnying-phuk.« scstsenvis.nic.in/newsletter2004.html (accessed 2006.08.06): »It is said that during the 8th century AD … Guru Padmasambhava … [first] succeeded in subduing the spirits« of –>Be Phug and »requested them to protect the caves but not to bring any harm to those who came there to pray and meditate. … After this Guru Padmasambhava persevered his search to the other caves, namely, Lho Khandro Sang Phug [–>Kahdo Sang Phug], Nub-Dechén Phug [–>Dechen Phug] and Byang Lhari- rinchen-nying Phug [i.e. Lhari Nying Phug]. Like in the first cave, here too he overcame the haunting spirits and sanctified the caves as holy places for worship for the practitioners of Buddhist faith.«
NOTE 1: HUMMEL (1957: 626) appears to have confused the cardinal locations of Lhari Ning Phug (southern instead of northern) and Bas Phug (northern instead southern): In »Sikhim [sic!] sind vier Höhlen als Wallfahrtsorte berühmt geworden, die mandalahaft in den vier Himmelsrichtungen liegen … Es sind dies [im Osten] die Höhlen lHa-ri-rnying-phuk (Alte Höhle des göttlichen Berges) nördlich von bKra-shis-lding (88°18' 27°19'), mKha'-'gro-gsang-phuk (Geheimnisvolle Dâkini-Höhle) im Süden Sikhims, sBas-phuk (Geheimgehaltene Höhle) als nördliche Grotte bei g.Yang-sgang (88°25' 27°17') … und die Höhle des großen Glückes (bDe-chen-phuk) im Westen des Landes bei 88°11' 27°27'.« NOTE 2: »… the four great caves of Sikhim [are] hallowed as the traditional abodes of St. Padma and Lhatsün Ch'embo, and now the objects of pilgrimage even to Lamas from Tibet. These four caves are distinguished according to the four cardinal points, viz.: The North Lha-ri ñing p'u or "the old cave of God's hill." It is situated about three days' journey north of Tashiding, along a most difficult path. This is the most holy of the series. The South Kah-do sang p'u, or "cave of the occut fairies." Here it is said is a hot spring, and on the rock are many footprints ascribed to the fairies. The East sBas p'u, or "secret cave." It lies between the Tendong and Mainom mountains, about five miles from Yangang. It is a vast cavern reputed to extend by a bifurcation to both Tendong and Mainom. People go in with torches about a quarter of a mile. Its height varies from five feet to one hundred or two hundred feet. The West bDe-ch'en p'u, or "cave of Great Happiness." It is in the snow near near Jongri, and only reacheable in the autumn« (WADDELL 1895: 256-257 note 2). NOTE 3: »Byang Lhari- rinchen- nying Phug: This cave considered to be the holiest of all the sacred caverns. … This cave is associated with the application of wrathful activities« (scstsenvis.nic.in/newsletter2004.html accessed 2006.08.06). NOTE 4: »Tashiding Monastery … belonging to the Nyingmapa order is about 40 km from Gyalsing [N27°17': E088°16'] by road via Legship [also: Ligship near N27°17'30”: E88°17'30”] … The monastery was built in 1717 by Ngadak Sempa Chembo during the reign of the third Chogyal Chakdor Namgyal. The sacred ceremy of Bumchu is held here at midnight of the 14th and 15th of the first Tibetan month. … A trekkers hut is available for the tourist at Tashiding« (VERMA 1996: 31). NOTE 5: From the gompa (monastery) of bKra-shis-lding (Tashiding N27°19': E88°18', HUMMEL 1957: 626): 1740 m asl, LONELY PLANET, India 2005: 535) via Sinon monastery, Pokharidanra, Kongri, Dhupidanra and Rungdungdara monastery. NOTE 6: »Tashiding is tucked away in the Western pocket of Sikkim and is about 129 kms away from the nearest railhead, NJP [New Jalpaiguri N26°41': E088°29'], and about 133 kms away from the nearest airport, Bagdogra [N26°42': E88°19']. This sacred town can be reached by buses and taxi jeep services plying regularly from all the major towns of Sikkim« (scstsenvis.nic.in/newsletter2004.html accessed 2006.08.06).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.6 | NARBUGANG | ||
| 9.6 | KYONGDEY | ||
| 9.6 | CHE CHO PHUG | ||
| 9.6 | DECHEN PHUG, Dzongri, Jongri, Zongri | ||
| 10.4 | KIBEK CAVE | ||
| 13.7 | DUPHUG | ||
| 13.7 | YOUKHUMNEY CAVE | ||
| 14.2 | TSE CHU PHUG 2 | ||
| 14.3 | TSE CHU PHUG |