Chador Lhakhang — Attraction in Bainangkhar Nangkhar

#BARTSAM_CHADOR_LHAKHANG or Sangdag Gaypiling

During ancient time, A man with his daughter from Tibet started their journey to India via Merak and Khaling. It was dusk upon reaching dangling tso between merak and khaling and decided to halt for the night near the lake. A tall and handsome man gracefully dressed in white out of nowhere appeared in daughters dream and slept with her that night. After returning back from India, the daughter gave birth to a son who grew up to be a trader between India and Tibet. But during his travel to India, he was being stopped several times by a lake near Khar at Pemagatshel while other traders were allowed to pass which made him to question his mother,"Why lake of khar is not allowing me to go to India while others are allowed?". Mother disclosed the truth about his father and directed him to go to Dangling Tso and callout "Apa" three times. While calling for "Apa" at Dangling Tsho, a handsome man with half human and half snake appeared infront of him and asked why he called him. The son narrated the story of him being stopped by Lake of Khar from going to India. Upon hearing his story, the man from lake handed him 3 equal pieces of bamboo closed from both ends and instructed him to take it to Khar without opening it. He then instructed him to throw them into Lake of Khar. The boy started his journey following the instructions of his Apa while the bamboo made lots of noises on the way. He was so curious about the noise. He opened one of the bamboo while reaching Nyera-ama chhu where a snake came out of bamboo and got washed away. While reaching Kangpara, he again opened one of the bamboo and another snake appeared and ran into bushes. Now with only 1 bamboo left, he reached Khar and opened the last bamboo container and threw the snake into the lake. The lake swirled for a week and then dried up. At the bottom of dried lake, a statue of Chana dorji (Vajrapani) appeared holding a live snake in his mouth. During 12th century when Khar khochey strolled around the place where Khar lake existed, he noticed the statue inside a cave and took with him to his palace. Later when khar khochey divided his wealth among his sons and daughters, the youngest and the poorest son living at Bartsam got the statue and was taken to Bartsam Gonparingmu. During the reign of 3rd King, Sey Dopola, took the statue to Tashigang dzong to be kept there as relics. While the statue was placed at alter with other statues, the earthquake like waves hit the dzong and toppled all the statues except the statue of Chana Dorji alias Memey chador which was facing Bartsam. Immediately the statue was returned to Bartsam Gonparingmu Lhakhang and named it Chador Lhakhang (Shrine of memay chador). Later His Eminence Dilgo Khentse Rinpoche renamed as Sangdag Gaypailing. The new lhakhang construction started in 2006 initiated by late Lam Kunzang Wangdi of Bartsham Dratshang. People at Bartsam belief that no snakes can be found and can cause no harm by snakes due to presence of memay chador. People from other districts visit memay chador to seek blessings and believes that having sungkay(blessed thread) from chador memay will protect from snakes. @a narration by resident of...

The lhakhang is head seat of H.E Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche. The name Chador is derived from a prescence of naturally discovered treasure statue of Chana Dorji/Chador (Skt.Vajrapani). Visitors receive blessings from Mamay Chador by placing the statue on their head while caretaker (Kaenyer) chants the secret mantras using his beads. And the statue is considered as a main relic of the lhakhang. The statue appears to be furiously gnawing snake and it is said that wearing Sungkue (protective cord) blessed by that statue has great benefit and protect oneself from poisinous snake bites.

Just near the old lhakhang, one new big lhakhang is constructed under the guidance...

Chhana Dorji's statue is the main treasure there. It is located on top of the mountain with the serene view of most of the Trashigang...