Dungtse Lhakhang is located just next to the town of Tshongdu in the Jangsa village in Paro. It is a five minute drive from the town across the Pachu and is built at the base of a ridge.
The history of this temple can be traced back to the visit of the famous Tibetan Siddhi, Drupthob Thangtong Gyalpo in the 14th century. This great yogi was an experienced traveller who spent most of his life as a nomad and it was during such travels that he spread his teachings to diverse crowds including the likes of shepherds and cow herders. Besides being a great Buddhist scholar he had a great grasp of engineering and constructed bridges over gorges in many parts of Bhutan as well as in Tibet and Central Asia. Though he did not belong to any particular school of Buddhism, his school is known as the Chagzampa or the School of the Iron bridge builder. He built approximately eight iron chain bridges in various parts of Bhutan, the remnants of which are still visible even today; though the bridges are no longer in use, one can still come across the chains that were used during construction. A classic structure is the bridge above the river Dangmechu in Trashigang, eastern Bhutan.
His visit to Bhutan was born from the invitation of the deities of the Paro and Ha valleys, Jowo Darkay and Ap Chundu. At their request he came to Bhutan in the 14th century though the exact year cannot be determined. Some of the temples that he built in Bhutan are the Doteng Lhakhang, the Phurodo Lhakhang, the Mindrol Lhakhang and the Dungtse Lhakhang.
Though most people attribute the construction of the Dungtse Lhakhang to Thangtong Gyalpo, in fact it was his six disciples and his son that constructed it. Thangtong Gyalpo instructed his six disciples – Lama Re, Lam Ngapa, and Lama Chojie Nong Pa, Lama Kunpang pa, Lama Chojie Drak pa, Lama Nima Sengye and finally his son Thugse Dewa Zangpo to construct a temple which would protect the people in the valley from being afflicted by leprosy. According to a certain legend, the mountain near the temple was seen as a huge tortoise breathing out evil vapours causing leprosy, so Thangthong Gyalpo had this temple built at the mouth of the tortoise thereby stopping it from causing further devastation.
Men of great stature and strength known as the “Nya gads” were employed in the construction to lift the massive pillars used in the temple. The temple that is in the shape of a chorten is a three storied structure. It is said that on the day of construction, the founder himself appeared in the form of five vultures, and circled the temple showering his blessings before taking flight to Tibet. One can also see the central tower (utse), the pinnacle of the temple, chained from four directions to the roof of the temple. It is believed that while the consecration was being performed the central tower moved, attempting to fly to Tibet. Thus to stop it from its flight the central tower was chained down.
The main relics in the temple are two statues of the founder himself. One is supposed to have been installed on the day the temple was constructed. No one has any idea of its origin and of how it came to be in the temple. People however assume that it flew from Tibet and was actually placed by the founder himself. The statue is referred to as the ‘Sung Jon’ or the statue that uttered or spoke words. Thus it is considered the most sacred. The other statues are those of Chenrizig (Avalokiteshvara), Je Khenpo Lama Gyal Wangje, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, Chana Dorji (Vajrapani), and two statues of Lord Buddha Sakya Muni, Guru Rinpoche, Yidam Tandin Yab yum( Hayagriva eith his consort), Milarepa (the cotton clad Yogi), the future Buddha Jowo Jampa (Mietreya), Dorji Chang (Vajradhara) and Tshepamed (Amitayus).
Not many festivals are conducted at the Lhakhang, when compared to others; however a ritual is carried out in honour of the founder on the 4th day of the 1st month known as “Kuchoe” (death anniversary ritual). On the 12th day of the 8th month there is a ritual of fasting known as “Nyungney”.