PADMASAMBHAVA PHUG, Dewakota

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

There are holy spots like Sindura, Guru Durpuk and numerous caves, which were said to have been used by Guru Padma Sabbawa (note 1) or Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava. ETYMOLOGY: The Tibetan word -phug- (also found transliterated as also: phu, phuc, pho, phok, poo, pook, p'u, pu, puk, etc.) signifies a cave and Naya Dewakota / Naya Devakota: Nay [note 2] means holy place / shrine. Dewakota means abode of God derived from Sanskrit (Sootinck, N. 2008.10.07 personal correspondence). SITUATION: At a travelling distance of about 40 km along a porter track from Tuting (28°58'N: 94°52'E) and on a plateau surrounded by the river Nyigong / Yangshang Chu (note 3). Neil Sootinck (2008.10.07 personal correspondence) tells me this is in Yingkiong. CAVE DESCRIPTION: Neil Sootinck (2008.10.07 personal correspondence) tells me to have come across some interesting pilgrimage route involving caves - not cave. What appears to be a bit copied from an Internet homepage, explains not only that the caves an accomodate more than 100 pilgrims at a time but also that the caves are opened ]accessible] only during winter season, during rest of the year, the caves remain submerged under Yangshang Chu river. CULTURAL HISTORY: Apart from being said to have been used as a troglodyte hermitage retreats, … the natives believe that Guru Rimpoche has kept many sacred treasure / script or -ter- [note 4] at Dewakota, which are yet to be revealed and deciphered. It is believed that those who visit Dewakota for three times will attain heaven and also wipe off all past sins.There are holy spots like Sindura, Guru Durpuk and numerous caves, which were said to have been used by Guru Padma Sabbawa (note 1) or Guru Rinpoche Padmasambhava. ETYMOLOGY: The Tibetan word -phug- (also found transliterated as also: phu, phuc, pho, phok, poo, pook, p'u, pu, puk, etc.) signifies a cave and Naya Dewakota / Naya Devakota: Nay [note 2] means holy place / shrine. Dewakota means abode of God derived from Sanskrit (Sootinck, N. 2008.10.07 personal correspondence). SITUATION: At a travelling distance of about 40 km along a porter track from Tuting (28°58'N: 94°52'E) and on a plateau surrounded by the river Nyigong / Yangshang Chu (note 3). Neil Sootinck (2008.10.07 personal correspondence) tells me this is in Yingkiong. CAVE DESCRIPTION: Neil Sootinck (2008.10.07 personal correspondence) tells me to have come across some interesting pilgrimage route involving caves - not cave. What appears to be a bit copied from an Internet homepage, explains not only that the caves an accomodate more than 100 pilgrims at a time but also that the caves are opened ]accessible] only during winter season, during rest of the year, the caves remain submerged under Yangshang Chu river. CULTURAL HISTORY: Apart from being said to have been used as a troglodyte hermitage retreats, … the natives believe that Guru Rimpoche has kept many sacred treasure / script or -ter- [note 4] at Dewakota, which are yet to be revealed and deciphered. It is believed that those who visit Dewakota for three times will attain heaven and also wipe off all past sins.