Omba Nye: Taktsang of East

The great lotus born is an unforgettable figure who propagated and founded Tibetan Buddhism; Vajrayana Buddhism in Bhutan. Guru Rinpoche’s deeds are vastly profound that left many lasting impressions. One is during 8^th century, when King Sindhu Raja of Bumthang invited Guru Rinpoche to visit Bhutan. Buddhism thereafter flourished to every far flung places of the country and the blessed places are considered to be the manifestation of Guru's body, speech, mind, wisdom and secret activities.

Omba is one untouched sacred site of Guru Rinpoche from many holy sites  because of the district’s remoteness. It is located towards northern Trashi Yangtse and takes two hours uphill climb from Kheni or there is another two hours route from Tsangphuchen. The mansion is magnificently pinnacled on rocky cliff giving similar view and uncanny resemblance to Paro Taktsang and people often call it as Taktsang of east. Omba Nye derives its name from letter ‘Om’, an inscription on holy stone surface before getting into the main holy site and believed to have more than hundred inscriptions on the same rock. Omba was initially discovered as sacred holy site of Guru Padmasambhava by Guru Choewang from Kurtoe Ngalamdung. Although no existing details are prevalent about the sacred site, local people believe that Guru Rinpoche blessed the site after his visit to Gomphu Kora and Gongza. Dating back to the oral history, Omba Nye is the epithet of body, Aja in Mongar for speech, Hungrel in Paro Hung for mind, Khenpajong for wisdom and Singye Dzong for secret activities. History has it say that Guru Rinpoche visited the site as per the prophecy and merely following his visions to subdue a snake demon, Phurba Tashi who then said to have tormented community of people. With all his wits, Guru furiously rode on a pony and subdued a demon. Guru Rinpoche meditated for two months in a cave at Om Bha and then headed to Aja Nye in Mongar. At the site, Guru Rinpoche concealed many treasures with the hope to flourish his doctrine and benefit future people. Omba is punctuated with treasures viz. imprints of stupas on the rocks, Guru’s treasure box, Rinchen Terzoed (sacred holy book), Guru’s walking staff and many more Neys are said to have remained unexplored because of scant information and also due to misplacement of Ney Yig. Annually, sacred site attracts hundreds of pilgrims and tourists. People visiting the site have profound advantage to cleanse sins and accumulate countless merits.