| Name: | Wengkhar Nagtshang lhakhang |
|---|---|
| Identity: | Lhakhang |
| Level: | Registered Heritage Building |
| Category: | Heritage Building |
| Founder: | Umze Damchoe Rabgay and Kudung Pelkar Choephel |
| Constructed(Year|Century): | 1646 | 17 |
| No. of Floor | 3floor |
| Main Wall | Stone wall |
| Location: | Monggar, Mongar |
| Current Use: | Original |
| Ownership: | Government |
| Coodinates: | 27:16:08.13N,91:16:23.85E |
Wengkhar Nagtshang lhakhang was built by Umze Damchoe Rabgay and Kudung Pelkar Choephel around 1646 under the command of Chogyel Minjur Tempa. They built lhakhang through the labor contribution of villagers and they instituted a school for monastic education. Kunzang Dechen (daughter of Umze Damchoe Rabgay) married Japoen Tashi Sonam (from Ngatshang), who was lineage of Drametse Dzongpoen. When Japoen Tashi Sonam was Bumdelling Drungpa, the third mind incarnation of Zhadrung Ngawang Namgyel Jigme Drakpa was conceived. With an auspicious sign, on the 15th day of the first month of the Bhutanese calendar in 1791 Zhabdrung Jigme Drakpa was born. At the age of three, he headed to the capital and was received by Desi Sonam Tobgay and Jekhenpo Jamgoen Yeshi Dorji. At the age of four Je Jamgoen Yeshi Dorji gave Gaynyen Dompa (Buddhist devotee with 8 vows to observe) and was given the name ‘Jigme Drakpa’. Later lopen Choni Rangdrol and Jekhenpo Jamyang Gyeltshen have given teachings of auxiliary science, sutra, and tantra traditions, maturation, and liberation to him. He extended Talo Sangnga choling (residence of Thritruel Jigme Singye) temple and also he invited the King of Samay monastery and built a palace. When he was 20 years old, he was appointed as the 27th Druk Desi of Bhutan for the period of one year. After abdication from the throne of Desi he stayed at Talo for the rest of his life till his last breath at the age of 40 in 1830. The relics of Zhabdrung Jigme Drakpa were preserved in a stupa today. It is said that Wengkhar Nagtshang could be the home of the reincarnation of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel but according to the lama, there is clear evidence in Biography that Zhabdrung Jigme Drakpa’s birthplace was not from Wengkhar Nagtshang. However, a few hundred distances from the present lhakhang, the old ruin is considered Zhabdrung’s house (Birthplace) at Khoitangbi and it was renovated in 2009. The lhakhang was later accepted to be under the ownership of Ashi Phuntsho Choden and in 1952, the lhakhang was renovated as a funeral rite for His Majesty's second Druk Gyelpo Jigme Wangchuck. This was evidently proven by the contents of paintings and oral records. In 1970 Chabje Dujom Jigdrel Yeshi Dorji was invited by Ashi Phuntsho Choden during the cremation ceremony of Polo khen Rinpoche Kunga Gyeltshen at Phuentsholing. During that time, Wengkhar nagtshang was handed over to Dujom Rinpoche. Then onwards nagtshang lhakhang was looked after by the disciple of Dujom Rinpoche such as Khampa lama, Kadam lama Karma wangdi and Tshampa Jurmey. Later Dujom Rinpoche instructed the grandson of lama Sonam Zangpo to look after the nagtshang lhakhang and it was handed over to him in 1978 and he served for almost 20 years. In 2000, the nagtshang was handed over to Mongar dratshang upon the command of Jekhenpo Trulku Jigme Choeda.
