The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Two antique statues which are hundreds of years old going back to the 13th century was stolen from the 13th century Lhading Lhakhang in Paro on 5 August 2024.
The statutes are the Namjyem and Dorji Chang statues which were made in Tibet and brought from there more than a 1,000 years ago.
The incident occurred around 1 am to 2 am while the Lhakhang owner and his family were fast asleep. The thieves, who used a lock-breaking machine to enter the Lhakhang, also disabled the metal-clad (MC) light during the incident.
The privately-owned Lhakhang which was renovated four years ago, is located approximately 25 kilometers from Paro Drugyel Dzong.
“As the Lhakhang had two doors, one inside and other outside, the thieves used a lock-breaking machine to break the two locks and got inside. They even turned off the MC so that no one would see and the CCTV cameras would not operate. The thieves then stole two antique statues.”
The owner said that on the day of the incident, as it was an auspicious day in the Bhutanese calendar, many devotees visited the Lhakhang to pray, and to complete 49-days rituals for the deceased.
While the owner shared no suspicion of any particular individual, he acknowledged that the Lhakhang’s CCTV cameras had been malfunctioning for two weeks.
“The CCTV cameras were not working for the past 2 weeks, and we have ordered new ones which we are yet to receive. This is the first time we faced such burglary in my time of safeguarding the Lhakhang, and I am not alone as my wife and two children have been looking after the Lhakhang after my late father who was an ex-Lam.”
The Royal Bhutan Police (RBP) shared that the investigation is ongoing and they are reviewing nearby CCTV footage.
RBP emphasized on the importance of individual property responsibility, highlighting that burglaries are often committed by known individuals, including relatives or friends. They have even instructed every Lhakhang to keep records of people coming in and out, especially for instances like this.
Deputy Chief of Police (DCoP), Crime and Operations Brach, RBP HQ, Thimphu highlighted the shared responsibility in safeguarding religious institutions.
“Private owners are responsible for their own Lhakhangs, while the Dratshang and Department of Culture are responsible for government-owned Lhakhangs. This includes ensuring adequate security measures, such as CCTV cameras, fire extinguishers, peripheral fencing, and security personnel when necessary.”
According to RBP statistics, there were 7 reported cases of Lhakhang burglary as of 21 August, 2024, compared to four cases last year. Both Thimphu and Paro reported 3 cases each in the past two years, indicating a doubling of incidents compared to 2023.
It is believed that sometime in the 13th century, Tibet, Drogon Chogyal Phagpa, the 5th Sakya Patriach (1235-1280) prophesied that his disciples Drubthob Pawo Tagsham and Khandro Metho Seldon would build a lhakhang in Lhoring Ling (Bhutan).
According to local legend, a Drubthop Pawo Tangsham and Khendro Metog Seldon journeyed from Tibet on a pilgrimage to Bhutan. Drubthop Pawo experienced a dream featuring flying gods and goddesses, hence the name Lhading, which means flying or hovering gods and goddesses. Inspired by this dream, the saint visited the place he had seen, which featured a lake (the current location of the temple).
Thus, it was considered a divine prophecy that a lhakhang should be built over the lake. The present lhakhang is believed to have been constructed over this lake. The main statues include a Jow, Buddha, and Chenrigzig. The temple biography states that all these statues were sculpted in Tibet and brought to Lhading.
Pem C from Yeegetaway while covering some conservation work done on the Lhakhang by the Bhutan Conservation office a few years ago wrote that the main central relic is the Jowo Mikyo Dorji. On his right is a statue of a four-armed Avalokiteshvara (Chenrezig) and Vajrdhara (Dorji Chang), while on his left is a small statue of the wrathful deity Gye Tharched and Buddha Shakyamuni statue. Further left are the five wisdom Buddhas (Sangay Gye Wo Ring-nga).
The style of some specific artwork is unlike anything she has seen in most Lhakhangs with Snow Lions and Newari style art too.
Much later in the 15th century, it is said that the Five Wisdom Buddha statues started shaking, in order to fly back to Tibet. The fifth one flew back and as it did, a thundering echoing sound resounded the valley. The frightened Koyner saw that the 5th one had flown and that the others were preparing to do the same. He is said to have run down the valley in a panic and found Drukpa Kunley making a stupa. Drukpa Kunley is said to have sealed the 4 Buddhas to prevent them from flying away and built a replacement for the 5th one. However, his statue became quite small and when he tried to remove it, it is said to have spoken, “I am alright.” And therefore, it was left as it is.
Visitors can see the seal made by Drukpa Kunley on the statues and the smaller statue that spoke to Drukpa Kunley.
