bhutan history

• Bonism


  The main religion practised by the early inhabitants of the country and remained for many centuries before the advent of Buddhism. It was the main religion throughout the Himalayas, including Bhutan.
• Every civilization in the world seems to have undergone a stage when the early people worshipped nature and its different elements, although different names were given to the same practice in different countries.
• Animal sacrifices were often made to please the deities that people worshipped.
• Bonism


  Worship to nature, animal sacrifice to local deity and Shamanistic worship were the part of Bonism.
• Shamanism


  The Religious practice that involves practitioner to interact with spirit.
• Shamanism


  • It is practiced mainly to direct spirit or spiritual energy for physical world for healing sick or mad person.
  • It was popular and practiced in different parts of Bhutan before Buddhism. There were both male and female Shamanistic practitioners.
• Pawo


  The male Shamanistic practitioner
• Pamo


  The female Shamanistic practitioner
• Both male and female practitioner can do Jomo.
• Shamanistic worships practiced in most part of Bhutan

  • Pawo
  • Pamo
  • Jomo
  • Bonpo
  • Terda
• Shamanism


  Believes in spirit world and contacting them
• Buddhism


  All about knowing yourself and through you; knowing the universe
• Shamanism and Buddhism


  Both have a goal to protect and cure sickness and madness
• Pamo


  The religious practice that involves practitioner to interact with spirit and with the help of her spirit, she argue with the evil spirit who possess into human life.
• Pamo tradition


  • Can be passed from Mother to Daughter
  • When Mother dies, her spirit will take care her eldest Daughter if she has more Daughters. Then Daughter will take over the responsibility.
• Shakpa


  Done once a year to pay gratitude to her spirit and protect her.
• Chothap


  Done to protect and cure sick and mad person.
• Pamo practice


  • With decorated Choesham and many offerings, Pamo wear colorful dress and Ringa. Using Drilbu and Tangtee, she invites her spirit with dance and song. With the help of her spirit, Pamo meets with the evil spirit who possess into human life. Pamo interact with evil spirit and find out reasons for possessing into human and solutions to cure sickness and madness. Pamo finally see off her spirit to the palace and Pamo gets unconsciousness when she departs from her spirit.
• Pamo practice is popular only in few places of Bhutan today.
• Kagyud Buddhism

  Founded by Tsangpa Gyaray Yeshi Dorji<|>Introduced in Bhutan by Phajo Drukgom Zhikpo<|>Most powerful sect in Bhutan<|>Later became the state religion of Bhutan<|>Many other lamas supported this school
• Nyingma Buddhism

  Followers of Guru Rinpoche were called the Nyingmapas<|>Introduced in Bhutan by Guru Rinpoche<|>This religious sub-sect got divided into Dzogchenpa, Kathogpa based on different interpretation
• Sakya Buddhism


  Introduced in 1305<|>Last school to arrive in Bhutan<|>They supported zhabdrung during Tibetan invasion<|>Pagar was one of the monasteries established by Sakyapa School
• Gelug Buddhism

  Founded by Je Tsongkhapa lobzang Drakpa<|>Main religion of Tibet<|>The head of Gelugpa is known as Dalai Lama<|>The present Dalai Lama is the 14th reincarnation
• Once the positions of different Buddhist schools were very strong in Tibet, Tibetan Buddhist master showed great interest to take Tibetan in the Himalayan regions and Bhutan falls in the Himalayan region
• Bhutan was regarded as a suitable field of conversion and activities for their respective traditions. It was from this time onwards that there began regular visits of Tibetan Buddhist teachers from different schools to Bhutan, founding monasteries and gathering followers
• Reasons for Tibetan Buddhist Masters come to Bhutan

  • Many Tibetan religious personages were attracted to Bhutan by the great pilgrimage and sacred sites of Guru Rinpoche
  • Some of them were invited by the search for local patrons and recognition
  • Others arrived in the secluded valleys of Bhutan to escape from the turmoil of Tibetan politics, often caused by rivalries between different schools (religious turmoil in Tibet)
• It was comparatively easy for Tibetan Buddhist missionaries to settle and gather influence, depending how much support they received from the local population
• Buddhist Schools that found their way into Bhutan


  • Nyingma sub-schools of Kathogpa and Dzogchenpa
  • Kagyudpa and its offshoots of the Lhapa, Drukpa, Barawa, and Kamsang
  • Sakyapa and its offshoot- Nenyingpa
  • Gelukpa and its offshoot - Shingtapa
• Of all the Buddhist schools that came to Bhutan, none imparted a more pervasive influence on the socio-religious lives of Bhutanese people than the Nyingmapas and Drukpa Kagyupas. The activities of their masters impacted the spiritual and cultural advancement of Bhutan; thus, these two schools gained firmed roots in Bhutan. The other, more minor, traditions were either integrated into the Nyingma or Drukpa Kagyud or disappeared
• With Buddhism firmly established throughout the country, peoples' belief systems changed from Bon animistic and shamanistic orientations toward Buddhism, and peoples' way of thinking became aligned according to Buddhist values and principles
• Today, Vajrayana Buddhism, in the form of the Drukpa Kagyud and Nyingma traditions, is the state religion of Bhutan