The third leg of my New Year Pilgrimage 2024 took me to Mebar Tokchoe temple in Kheng Kikhar in Zhemgang where my teacher #3, Dorje Phagmo Rimpoche (popularly known as Khandro Dorje Phagmo) has established a nunnery called Ngajur Pemachophelling.

I conducted a Drolma Yuldhog, which literally means “Obstacles removing Tara ritual”, which is considered as the king of all rituals. While one could conduct the Drolma Yuldhog at one’s home or at other sacred places, for me there is no better place than here.

First, Khandro Dorje Phagmo is considered as the emanation of Jetsun Drolma (Tara). Second, Mebar Tokchoe temple is believed to have been established by Monmo Tashi Khyidron on the advice of Guru Padmasambhava to pave the way for the success of Samye monastery construction in Tibet. During the same endeavour, Guru is believed to have advised King Thrisong Detsen to conduct Drolma Yuldhog to clear the obstacles standing in the way in the establishment of Samye monastery. And third, the invocation of the blessings of Tara done by nuns is believed to yield better merits.

So, there are lots of reasons – both religious and historical – that make this place special for a Drolma Yuldhog. I commission this ritual twice a year – once after the winter solstice and one after the summer.

It is always a sublime and blissful moment to be here. To paraphrase the some lines from the rituals:

“May you be free from the Seven Internal and Six External Sources of diseases. May you be protected from all negative energy. May you all be firmly on the Path to Enlightenment”

(To be continued)