Pudendum of Legendary Nangkhar Ama

 Baga of Nangkhar Ama

Bhutan’s rich oral tradition had always thrived albeit indelible pursuits from trajectory of modern evolution. In fact, oral history had played an instrumental role in cascading intriguing tales and unraveling series of folklore. Even a tree or rock rattles serenading varied versions of tales which people believe as an unforgiving dogma. On other hand such traditions are often deemed as sheer Bhutanese myth.

Travelers would embark strange natural objects or make unbelievable discoveries while traversing into adventurous places in Bhutan. Amid enchanting journey towards Trashi Yangtse, a clear fissure on the cliff across Drangme chu at Jamkhar is what fascinates passerby. The cliff opposite to Jamkhar village has a crack resembling female pudendum and is associated to Nangkhar Ama’s pudendum. Intimidating versions of tales about the cliff still maneuvers the folks residing nearby but none ascertained on the authenticity of the existing tales.

One account of tale narrates, Nangkhar Ama who resided in Nangkhar village was believed to be only beautiful woman in the region with charming feminist. She possessed secret elixir and anyone seeing her would instantly fill with a passionate lust. Although she was married to one of the wealthy men in the area called Nangkhar Khochi, her greed towards materialistic accumulation enslaved her to entangle in an extra matrimonial affair with Dungro Khochi. He is another wealthy man from neighboring village, Dungro which is just above the Jamkhardrang Bailey Bridge sited at Trashigang-Trashi Yangtse border.  Dungro Khochi was lust driven man. He would not dare disposing his valuable assets to lure women and even believed to have affairs with multitude of women.

Nangkhar Ama coincidentally met with Dungro Khochi who were both desperate into wealth and lust. Over time, their love grew stronger and frequent meetings has become a regular chore. Avoiding public gaze, they secretly met inside the nearby cave of Maentsanlung which lies opposite to Nangkhar village.  The cave displays the scene where the lady of Nangkhar received her ornaments and Dungro Khochi have his lust satisfied. Nangkhar Khochi felt suspicious seeing those expensive ornaments after years of his wife’s extra marital affair with Dungro Khochi. Nangkhar Khochi was displeased hearing the news and both Khochis prepared to fight for Nangkhar Ama since none could sacrifice Nangkhar Ama. The inevitable battle would eventually be disastrous to both the villages and to avert the possible wars, Nangkhar Ama was brave enough to decide not to malign herself the root cause of battle. Therefore, she removed her pudendum; the root cause of conflict and hurled it across the mighty Drangmechu. The flying pudendum landed on the cliff with big ‘Thud!’ to opposite side of swift flowing river bank. The cliff bore an impression of Nangkhar Ama’s pudendum since then. Her bravery sparked off the possible war between two Khochis which would otherwise have brought excruciating sufferings to whole village.  Nowadays people still stereotype the legend and widely misinterpreted the indigenous folklore. With the onset of monsoon season, water trickles down the vaginal opening and legends jokingly share that during that time the women of Jamkhar become unfaithful to their husband for material gains or become easy to lure. However, it is perhaps be apt to mention that there is no ordinary history recorded on such incident and the pranks continues at present day.

There is another oral account, during the time where numerous battles were raging among the giants of Tibet and Bhutan mainly competing their physical strength and intellectual capacity.  Legends has it that Tibetan giant had sent a sack of wheat to count by Bhutanese giant. Bhutanese giant completed the challenge after taking painstaking hours of time. Bhutanese giant in response sent a sack of buckwheat to count but the Tibetan giant failed to count thereupon lost to Bhutanese giant. Tibetan giant could no longer resist the defeat, so he sent coiled sheep horn to be uncoiled and make it straight. Bhutanese giant was perhaps happy and easily straightened after boiling the horn in hot water for prolonged time. In return the Bhutanese giant sent coiled guard to uncoil by Tibetan giant. Despite his repeated attempts the gourd broke into pieces and again had to accept miserable defeat. The Tibetan giant was really frustrated by several defeats and made a call for physical challenge. Accepting the challenge, Bhutanese giant invited Tibetan giant to visit Bhutan. His itinerary in the journey to Bhutan included to travel via Khamdang to Jamkhar direction. Tibetan giant requested a reception to be prepared accordingly to his itinerary. Khamdang Ama was supposed to prepare arrangements but she failed to do her duty. Frustrated Tibetan giant uprooted all the trees in Khamdang area and owing to that reason, Khamdang region is still barren at present days.

Next subsequent reception was to be prepared at Jamkhar by Nangkhar Ama but she too refused the task instead she was taking shower while Tibetan giant reached Jamkhar. He furiously rushed towards Nangkhar Ama upon seeing not a single reception made on the way and ripped out her pudendum. The pudendum was then flung it across the river and landed on the rock symbolizing Nangkhar Ama’s disrespectful act to the giant.

The pudendum cliff served as clock tower to the people of Jamkhar especially Nangkhar before the advent of watch or clock. If there is a shadow dawned on the pudendum cliff, workers disperse for lunch break. People prank with casual statement that if the sun directly beams on the pudendum means time for lunch break.