Nechung – A Dissertation by Christopher Bell
Nechung. Click on image to enlarge.
(By Tsem Rinpoche)
Over the years there have been a number of studies on the Dharma Protector Nechung who is commonly known as Pehar Gyalpo. Amongst the various works on Dharma Protectors, one of the most influential and condensed was written by Dr Christopher Paul Bell, an expert in Asian/Tibetan Religions. For his doctorate thesis at the University of Virginia, Bell wrote a notable paper on the cult of Nechung called ‘Nechung, The Ritual History And Institutionalisation Of A Tibetan Buddhist Protector Deity’, which was subsequently published in 2013.
Nechung is probably one of the most well-known deities in Tibetan Buddhism due to the prominence of the Nechung oracle. This oracle is famous for taking trance of Dorje Dragden who is the emanation of Nechung’s speech. This fame is due in large part to the fact that the Nechung oracle commands a special place in the spiritual and secular administration of the Dalai Lama. Not only is Nechung regarded as a personal protector of the Dalai Lamas, he is also treated as one of the 14th Dalai Lama’s Cabinet Ministers. As such it is common for the Tibetan government now known as the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to consult the Nechung oracle on matters of the state. Indeed, this is a unique if not somewhat bizarre characteristic of the Tibetan government-in-exile. However, as we will see this is not a random development but the result of a deft move by the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, who in 17th century Tibet assumed spiritual and temporal power and began the reign of the successive Dalai Lamas. In Bell’s dissertation he notes that the Great Fifth Dalai Lama turned the worship of Nechung into a state cult as a means of establishing institutionalised spiritual control over Tibet at a time when his power was in its embryonic stage. Today, we still see this practice in the Tibetan leadership, something that commonly frames state agenda as religious objectives pronounced by Nechung or even some other deity.
The Great Fifth Dalai Lama
As is common in the study of Tibetan Buddhist history, there are contrasting versions and interpretations on various aspects of the religion and as Bell notes in his paper, there is diverging and contradictory information on Nechung’s origins. The most common is that of Nechung being a very powerful and ancient Persian spirit who was subdued by Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) and bound by oath to guard the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet, known as Samye Monastery.
Bell narrates another version of Pehar’s origins, which begins many aeons ago in the world of the asuras (demi-gods), with a sovereign by the name of King Mahabhuta. For the love of the Dharma the King became ordained and took on the monk name, Dho Zhonnu. However, Dho Zhonnu became overcome with desire upon seeing a beautiful Brahmin girl and his practice was soon overshadowed by lust and desire. As Dho Zhonnu degenerated and broke vow after vow, he became enraged as spiritual friends tried to stop him from further misconduct and soon a series of battles ensued between Dho Zhonnu and his erstwhile Dharma allies. Then Vajrapani, the Lord of Secrets, entered the story and intervened to protect those that Dho Zhonnu sought to harm in his bewitched state.
Vajrapani. Click on image to enlarge. Click here to purchase a copy of Vajrapani thangka.
By the force of karma, Dho Zhonnu’s misdeeds continued in his subsequent lives and due to his persistent and perverse actions over lifetimes, he finally took rebirth in hell and came to be known as Ragochen the butcher. And in a similar fashion, driven by a poisoned mind, Ragochen took one evil rebirth after another until he was born to a father who was the King of All Hindering Spirits (Muje Tsenpo) and a mother who was the Queen of All Serpent Spirits (Duza Minkarma). In a cursed union these two malicious entities gave birth to five sons who were known as the Five Brother Commanders. The middle child was a three-faced man by the name of Mudu Dramkarje, the sovereign spirit of activities who later became known as Pehar or Nechung. In the end, Vajrapani confronted Nechung who was frightened into submission and bound by oath to protect the Dharma and its practitioners. He also vowed never to harm sentient beings again.
The Five Pehar Gyalpos or The Five Brothers. Click on image to enlarge.
It is interesting that Bell’s thesis explains how the Great Fifth Dalai Lama adopted this version of Nechung’s story probably because of the tantric elements in the narrative. The Great Fifth popularised the worship of Nechung by quoting the tantras and advocated the reliance on Dharma protectors as being necessary to clear obstacles and unfavourable conditions prohibiting or limiting one’s Dharma practice. According to the Great Fifth Dalai Lama, the Five Brothers (Five Sovereign Spirits), of which Nechung is one, are in fact manifestations of the Five Buddha Families. Therefore, on an ultimate level the Dharma protector emanates from the wisdom of the Buddhas. The Great Fifth Dalai Lama reasoned that Nechung is an ideal Dharma protector to rely on because of his position in three popular tantras among Nyingma scriptures.
On this point, the Great Fifth Dalai Lama’s view of Nechung is consistent with the view of Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche. In his ground breaking work on the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden, ‘Music Delighting The Ocean Of Protectors’ Kyabje Trijang Rinpoche describes the interplay between Nechung and Dorje Shugden. He describes their relationship as divine theatrics between two enlightened beings, conjuring an illusory play to skilfully spread the Dharma in a degenerate age where people are drawn to melodrama and dissonance.
Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen.
Click on image to enlarge.
To recap the story, it was Nechung who approached Lama Tsongkhapa’s heart disciple Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen (regarded as an emanation of Lama Tsongkhapa himself) to arise as a Dharma protector. His role was to be the special protector of Lama Tsongkhapa’s teachings on Nagarjuna’s treatise on Emptiness. Nechung later reminded Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen of his promise that he made in his past life as Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen, promising to provide the right conditions for him to arise as wrathful protector. From the vantage point of the Dorje Shugden conflict that began in 1996, how the Great Fifth Dalai perceived Nechung is pivotal. By the account of Dorje Shugden detractors, he is a malevolent entity but this itself demeans the Great Fifth Dalai Lama’s view of Nechung. It would contradict Nechung’s oath (sworn to Vajrapani and/or Padmasambhava depending on which version of Nechung’s origins one picks) to give rise and support to a demonic entity if indeed Dorje Shugden is to be regarded as one. Hence the only logical conclusion would be that the opposite must be true. Dorje Shugden must be a truly beneficial being. As such, it was Nechung himself who gave the reincarnation of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen the name ‘Dorje Shugden Tsel’ (Mighty Dorje Shugden) proclaiming, “No one can compete with him! He is the one called Dorje Shugden Tsel, The Mighty One Endowed With Vajra Strength”.
(Top to bottom): Buddha Shakyamuni, Vajradhara, Atisha, Guru Rinpoche, Lama Tsongkhapa, Nechung, Dorje Shugden and Achala. Click on image to enlarge.
In addition, the section of Bell’s thesis on the structure of Nechung Monastery reiterates an earlier work by René de Nebesky-Wojkowitz, called ‘Oracles And Demons Of Tibet’ published in 1956 based on old accounts and scriptures. In Nebesky-Wojkowitz’s book, Dorje Shugden Tsel is said to one day succeed Nechung as the chief Dharma protector of Tibet, a point neither Bell nor any Tibetologists have rejected.
Nechung is definitely a significant deity in the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon. This is especially so given the centrality of the deity in the Dalai Lama’s government. It is said in Bell’s thesis that Nechung is represented by the streaks of red light emanating from the sun at the centre of the Tibetan flag. Hence this thesis on Nechung by Christopher Bell is an important read for anyone interested in the history of Tibetan Buddhism and the evolution of the protector practice of Dorje Shugden from the 17th century to the present day.
Tsem Rinpoche
Christopher Paul Bell’s
“Nechung: The Ritual History and Institutionalization of A Tibetan Buddhist Protector Deity”
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For more interesting information:
- Nechung – The Retiring Devil of Tibet
- 700 Meet a Buddha
- 10 Holy Dorje Shugden Statues in the World
- Dorje Shugden Gyenze to Increase life merits and wealth
- Dorje Shugden Trakze to Dispel Black Magic & Spirits
- Dorje Shugden: My side of the story
- Dorje Shugden Retreat: A Powerful practice to fulfill wishes
- Dorje Shugden Teaching Videos
- H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama
- Largest Dorje Shugden in the World
- Music Delighting the Ocean of Protectors – A Definitive Guide to Dorje Shugden by Trijang Rinpoche
- Panchen Lama’s Dorje Shugden Puja Text
- Sakya Trizin’s Dorje Shugden Prayer
- Shangmo Dorje Putri the Bamo of Sakya
- The 14th Dalai Lama Prayer to Dorje Shugden
- The Great Council of Lhasa
- The Sakya Lineage of Dorje Shugden
- To Sum It Up
- Trode Khangsar – A 400 year old Dorje Shugden Chapel in Lhasa
- Who is Tulku Drakpa Gyeltsen
- Who is Kache Marpo
- Dharma Protectors of Tibetan Buddhism
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While reading this article, I am thankful that we are able to practice Dorje Shugden freely here and now. Although there’s still some negative comments that I’ve heard from time to time, it’s not as harsh and obvious like before. More people have come to know the the truth about Dorje Shugden, his lineage and the benefits. Thankful to our Lama, H. E. Tsem Tulku Rinpoche for introducing this protector to us, especially during the difficult time where propagating DS practice to many was hard.
Thank you Rinpoche.
An interesting monograph by Christopher Bell an expert in Asian and Tibetan Religions, who has taken him travelling and visiting monasteries to get answers of the Tibetan Buddhist deity known as Nechung oracles. His research ending in a book ….Nechung, The Ritual History And Institutionalisation Of A Tibetan Buddhist Protector Deity’, published in 2013, tells all. The rite of the Oracle is ancient, that have played, and continue to play, an important part in Tibetan Government decision. They will consults the oracle known as the Nechung Oracle. This oracle is famous for taking trance of Dorje Dragden who is the emanation of Nechung’s speech.
According to legend, Pehar was subjugated by the great Indian tantric exorcist Padmasambhava in the eighth century and assigned as a protector deity of Samyé Monastery. Pehar’s popularity increased during the seventeenth century, when he became intimately linked with the Fifth Dalai Lama and his administration. Nechung’s origins. The most common is that of Nechung being a very powerful and ancient Persian spirit who was subdued by Padmasambhava . In Bell’s monograph he did mentioned that the Great Fifth Dalai Lama turned the worship of Nechung into a state cult as a means of establishing institutionalised spiritual control over Tibet at a time. Interesting read to know the Tibetan Buddhism history and the rise of the Dharma Protector Dorje Shugden .
Thank you Rinpoche for this interesting read.
Thank you for sharing Bell’s dissertation. There is a clear line of consistency in Nechung’s trust and expectation on Lama Tsongkhapa’s heart disciple Duldzin Drakpa Gyaltsen (regarded as an emanation of Lama Tsongkhapa himself) to arise as a Dharma protector. It was Nechung himself who gave the reincarnation of Tulku Drakpa Gyaltsen the name ‘Dorje Shugden Tsel’ (Mighty Dorje Shugden). It is noted in scriptures and old text, coined in the book ‘Oracles And Demons Of Tibet’ that Dorje Shugden will one day succeed Nechung as the Dharma guardian of Tibet. Hence, Dalai Lama’s renegade in Nechung when it comes to Dorje Shugden is more than baffling, especially so when the Dalai Lama banned DS practice in 1996. His Holiness’ instruction appeared a stark contrast to what the state oracle had decreed .
Nechung Monastery, located just south of Drepung Monastery near Lhasa, is the seat of the Nechung Oracle, the State Oracle of Tibet.
Thank you Rinpoche for this wonderful article by Dr. Christopher Bell.