| Name: | Drakarpo Lhakhang |
|---|---|
| Identity: | Lhakhang |
| Level: | Registered Heritage Building |
| Category: | Heritage Building |
| Founder: | Guru Rinpochhe |
| Constructed(Year|Century): | 0 | 8 |
| No. of Floor | 2floor |
| Main Wall | Stone masonry and timber |
| Location: | Shapa, Paro |
| Current Use: | Original |
| Ownership: | Government |
| Coodinates: |
Dra Karpo is one of the most sacred sites in Bhutan, primarily blessed by Guru Padmasambhava and his consort Dakini Yeshey Tshogay in the 8th century. The name "Dra Karp" means "cut cliff," referring to the legend that Guru Rinpoche excavated a section of the rock face to create a meditation cave. It is recognized as the Ku gi Nye (holy place of the Body), one of the three sites associated with the body, speech, and mind of Guru Rinpoche; the white color associated with the "Body" gave the site its name. The site is also associated with many other prominent saints, including Machig Lhabdron, Thangthong Gyalpo, Lam Drukpa Kinley, and Phajo Drugom Zhigpo, all of whom meditated there. A significant historical event at the site involves Guru Rinpoche splitting a rock to reveal and subdue an evil spirit; this split rock is still preserved in the monastery's altar room. Today, it remains a vital site for the "Kora" tradition, where completing 108 circumambulations is believed to purify an individual of sins from previous lives.
