Azhi Phuntsho Choden & Azi Kezang Choden - The Dharma Patron

 Azhi Phutsho Choden-Dharma Patron

Background

·         Born in 1911 at Wangdue Choling Palace

·         Father: Dasho Jamyang

·         Father’s lineage: Chume Zhalgno  & Tamzhing Choeje family

·         Mother: Ashi Decho, daughter of Ashi Yeshey Choden who was the sister of Druk Gyalpo Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuck.

Spiritual/Religious Contributions

Bumthang

•      Ashi Phuntsho Choden renovated Kurje Lhakhang

•      She also restored murals of the Guru Tshengye (Eight Manifestations of Guru Rinpoche) in Kurje Lhakhang

•      The queen mother commissioned the paintings of Buddha Shakyamuni and statues of Jo Jampa (Maitreya), Terton Pema Lingpa, Buddha and his retinue, and Guru Rinpoche.

•      In Tharpaling, she established a meditation centre for the nyingthig tradition

•      At Kunzang Choling she established a new meditation centre of the Peling tradition.

Thimphu

•      She established the Drubdey (meditation centre) in Tango and ensured that it was sustained by a religious estate.

•      In 1974, she established the National Memorial Chorten in Thimpu in his memory, and for the well-being of Bhutan.

•      She built the Kudung chhorten of Thugsey Dawa Gyaltshen, and an image of Jo Jampa at Prakhar Nagtshang in Chumed

Kuenrey of Tashichhodzong

ü  Ashi Phuntsho Choden built the three-storey statue of Lord Buddha together with the assemblage of deities

ü  Sponsored the mural paintings of the 12 stages of Buddha’s life (Zepa Chuni) in the Kuenray of Tashichoedzong

Paro

•      She built a three-storey Zangto Pelri Lhakhang at Taktshang Ugen Tsemo

•      Offered sacred objects for the lhakhang in the Lhakhang.

Trongsa

•       To avert misfortunes and degeneration of spiritual values Ashi Phuntsho Choden built a Guru Yidam Lha at the Chang Manyeg Lhakhang in Choetse, Trongsa.

 Punakha Dzong

·         She built a silver image of Lord Jampa (Maitrya).

Phuentsholing Goenpa

·         Ashi Phuntsho Choden built the Kunga Choling Lhakhang with eight Desheg Dhorten (Sugata Stupa) on the premises.

Tashigang

·         Ashi Phuntsho Choden also built a Lhakhang at Sherubtse College in Kanglung and

·         A three-storey chhorten in Dechenchholing for the well-being of sentient beings.

• Ashi Puntsho Choden built the Tshogkhang Lhakhang of Gangtey Sangag Choling and established shedra.

Other Countries

• She built the Namgyel Choling Lhakhang in Darjeeling (India)
• She also built Dongag Choling Lhakhang in Phagpa Shingkum in Nepal.
• She established a shedra of the nyingma tradition at the Zangto Pelri Lhakhang in Kalimpong (India).

Azhi Kezang Choden-Dharma Patron

•      She also sponsored to make large banner (thongdroel) at Silung Pekar Choling monastery in Paro Dawakha in 2015.

•      In 2014 she contributed to the restoration of the Drechagling temple in the Phobjikha Valley, which had been one of the seats of the great 14^th century master Longchen Rabjam.

•      1968-Enlarged and repaired Kyichu Lhakhang in Paro

•      Built third temple at Kurje Lhakhang in Bumthang, surrounded by 108 stupas on the model of Samye in Tibet;

•      Built Zangdo Palri temple near Kurje in 2008 in memory of her grandfather Gongzim Ugyen Dorji, grand Aunt Ane Thukten Wangmo, and parents Gongzim Sonam Tobgye Dorji and Choying Wangmo Dorji.