Aja Ney and its sanctity

Guru Rinpoche is associated with the sacred secret location of Aja Ney, which is located at an elevation of more than 3,500 meters above sea level. Every year, more than 100 pilgrims from all across the country visit the sanctified place.

It would take a week to complete the journey to Aja Ney.
The holy Aja Nye is home to a number of religious places and symbols, including Guru's foot and body prints, Khando Dowa Zangmo's footprint, Guru Rinpoche's 108 retreat caves, and the footprint of Lam Karma Jamyang, who found the undiscovered important religious location.

There is indeed a Menchu on the Aja Ney.
Many people come to soak in the Menchu since it is believed to treat 18 illnesses, including TB, bodily pains, ulcers, and whooping cough. “We can also see a pair of Jachungs, and it is believed that the wings of the Jachungs comprise 108 butter lights, 108 lakes, and 108 Tsa Tsas.
It also contains a pair of golden fish,” says Kezang Eden, the site's guide.

There is also a stream, which falls from the rocky cliff at Tshekor. It is known as Aai Chhu. The stream falls on a rock basin forming a pool, where it is believed that the Guru had taken bath. “This stream came into existence after Guru’s walking stick was implanted in the rock.

The stream falls on a rock basin forming a pool, where it is believed the Guru had taken bath. A bath in the pool is believed to purify a person,” says Sangay Yeshi, another guide at the Ney.

Among the several sacred spots, the most popular site is a small cave on the bank of Aja Chhu where Guru Rinpoche meditated for three months. The rock that bears 100 sacred syllables ‘Aa’ is said to have been imprinted in the cave after Guru completed his meditation.

About 800 pilgrims across the country visit the sacred site of Aja Ney annually. People as far as Arunachal Pradesh in India also visit to seek blessings and to offer their prayers. “Six of us are visiting the sacred site today. We have heard from our grandparents that there are many sacred sites in Bhutan. So we are very happy to visit all the sacred sites,” says Dhendup Pelzang, a pilgrim from the Indian town of Tawang.

His late father Aja Lam Dorji Tenzin brought up lam Kezang Chhophel, 58, at Aja Ney. According to him, Guru Rinpoche had actually prophesized that it would be discovered by the Ninth Karmapa but due to old age instructed his disciple Lam Karma Jamyang to reveal the Neys.

“I heard from my father, also with less historical background, that in the 8th century when Ugyen Guru Rinpoche visited Tibet he came to Bhutan to subdue one demon, the demon, which was supposed to be in GomKora and after subduing the demon he went back to Tibet.
So on the way to Tibet, he visited Aja and blessed the sacred place. He also meditated there for three months,” says Lam Kezang.
Aja Ney falls under protected areas of the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary. The viability of eco-tourism would be the solution for the benefit of the people living within the park areas.

Meanwhile, Folks who visited the Ney said it was indeed spiritual healing. “It is a sacred site blessed by Guru Rinpoche and I think such site like Aja is very important for not only practicing Buddha Dharma but also promoting this faith, so for the followers of Buddhism and practitioners and also for the potential believers of the faith.
I think we have to really maintain and protect such sites.”

It is believed that the merit gained by chanting one Baza Guru or Mani in Aja is equivalent to thousand times in other places.