As passed upon by revered monks and via tales of our forefathers, it is said that Takchu Goenpa was located on the Riwoo of Chenrizeg found inside the Rigsum Goenpa of Haa Mi Ri Phuensum. It has a statue of the son of god of wealth, considered a good omen for any good occasion. Thus, the name is derived from the expert who wore yellow robe and carried the great text.

In 14th century, the monastery was built to guard against the harmful threats caused by the north Dalikha, a group resident formed by Lam Neten or Drubthob Sangay Jamtsho and his ally Tenzin Rabjung. When the mind form of Zhabdrung, Jigme Norbu arrived in the place, he not only consecrated it but blessed the place.

The site is resided by a dual entity named Lha Tsen Dorji and his mysterious wife, Tshomen. Lam Sangay Jamtsho was one of the disciples of Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu and Takchu Norbu Gyeltshe, was born to Nel Ya Ma and said to be the architect of Lhakhang Karpo and Nagpo of Meri Puensum. Phenki, the niece of Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu, wife of Takchu Norbu Gyeltshen. From them, the actual yellow wearing robe mediator was born.

When Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu was barely 10 years old, he was nurtured and cared by Zhabdrung Cholay Yeshi Nidup and later married his niece Azhi Nidup Pemo. Then, came Jigme Tenzin and Dasho Ugyen Dorji, born to Sangay Tenzin and sister of Zhabdrung Jigme Dorji and from Dasho Ugyen Dorji and Yum Thuji Zam, Azhi Dorji was born and thereafter we already know the journey towards the Royal Queen and their respective heirs.

After the demise of Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu, in 1894, Takchu Goenpa was looked after by the speech emanation Cholay Yeshi Nidup. The sacred inner monument of Toenpa Shacha Muni was built by his talented skills. Other than that, in the north Darla Dzong, he offered the 11 faced God (བཅུ་གཅིག་ཞལ) and God of wisdom (འཇམ་དབྱངས) as the inner monument of the Dzong. It also consists of the speech monument of great translated words of Buddha and the commentaries on works of Buddha, a translated teaching which was bought from Tibet.

As the temple is full of handmade monuments of Zhabdrung Jigme Norbu and Cholay Yeshi Nidup, and other treasures, the consecration ceremony was also done by Zhabdrung Cholay Yeshi Nidup.

With modernization and migrating culture, day by day the number of people residing at Takchu Goenpa are becoming fewer posing risks towards Guntongs. Therefore, the store in charge, Dasho Wangchuk has taken up special initiative to pledge the King and the government for the reconstruction of the Goenpa but has is also coming up with a plan to build the first ever Buddhist School.

Of most, in 2010, His Majesty the King honoured the ceremony to hoist the golden pinnacle of Goenpa. In 2014, His Majesty the King commanded the government, the concern ministry, Ministry of Home and Culture Affairs, to reconstruct the monastery whereby, the committee consisting of, store in charge, Dasho Wangchuk and principal Phurpa Tshering has coordinated to construct the monastery and this year, the monastery was completed successfully.

People in Haa celebrates and organizes an annual event where they do hundred million mani recitations for about 21 days beginning 13th of the twelve month to 20th of the first month of the Bhutanese calendar.

2016, was a year the whole nation celebrated in unison the three commemorating events, the birth of Guru Rinpoche, the 400 years of Zhabdrung’s arrival and the very auspicious birth anniversary of Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck along with 9 years of glorious reign of His Majesty the King. Coinciding with these special events in the transitional history of Bhutan, a group of 60 members from Esue Gewog, formed a coalition “Chenrizei” tshogpa, contributing in building a 30 lakhs worth gold-plated butter lamp for Takchu Goenpa. The members included civil servants, business owners and people from the local communities. The butter lamp can store 17 kgs of butter and lit, lasting upto 33 days maximum.

Source: Dasho Kinley Om FB