MONKEY KING TO BHUTAN’S PROTECTIVE DEITIES

Storylines of Monkey King (Chinese: Sun Wukong, Dzongkha: Teu Jangchu Sempa) have appeared in many visual formats—from feature to animation films to comic books. But what do we really know about Monkey King? Who are his friends Bajie and Pigsy? Actually, monkey king is neither a fictional character nor a mere protagonist of some epic myth. His biography reflects the evolutionary Buddhism or Taoism in Mahayana tradition in India, China, Japan and the Himalayas. Like him, his friends Bajie and Pigsy are also the protective dieties of the monk, Tan Sanzang, shown in the film. 

To go back in time, Monkey King was the prime protective deity of the monk who was an emanation of Chenrigzi (Avalokitesvara). Since Monkey King got freed from captivity by the help of the monk after 500 years, he had an agreement to serve the monk and his mission of Buddha Dharma propagation. Monkey King, otherwise, was never a good being. Thus, he became a Kasuung or Dharma protector like Palden Lhamo and Yeshey Gonpo of Kagyued tradition. 

Buddhists believe, highly learned Lamas and reincarnations of great beings have at least one Kasuung or command guard safeguarding him or her for generations. We have a saying, “བླ་མ་ཐུབ་རུང་། བཀའ་སྲུང་ལུ་མི་ཐུབ།” It means while a Lama can be tolerant to one’s criticism or abuse, his guardian deity (ies) can’t be as forgiving as his master is. If not pleased, their actions can be cold-blooded, furious and extremely harmful to humanity and other elements. So, in the story of Monkey King, everytime anti-Buddhist elements try to harm his master, he gets on defensive mode. He then subdues them on retaliation with his supernatural powers. Often his proactive uncompassionate actions displease his master. Even to enemies, the monk commands the monkey king to show compassion. Eventually, he becomes a compassionate deity commonly referred to as ‘Teu Jangchu Sempa’. 

Similarly, Guru Rinpoche had subjugated many daemons and spirits and they were made the deities of Bhutan. Gyengyen Japa Milan was once a wayward evil supernatural being, and legend tells, following the command of Guru, he got his name Jagpa Milaen or fire stealer for being able to sneak out into the most dangerous den of evils and stole the fire. Shelgyen Karpo of Bumthang is one that can be remembered from the time of King Sindha Raja (aka Chakhar Gyelpo). First Thuktruel Zhabdrung Jigme Drakpa (1724—1761) had been accompanied by Gyelchen Kintu Zangpo or popularly known as Talo Gyelp from Tibet to Bhutan. Palden Lhamo and Yeshey Gompo became his steadfast guardian deities who played important roles in Bhutan’s unification and the series of wars following Zhabdrung’s escape from Tibet. 

Like the Monkey King’s interactions with his master monk, there are many accounts of Zhabdrung’s interactions with Talo Gyelp, Yeshey Gompo, Paldhen Lhamo and others. While Zhabdrung was on a meditation in Khujula, Yeshey Gompo and Palden Lhamo presented him with the freshly slashed vaporizing heart of Tsang Desi. That heinous action of the deities offended Zhabdrung, even though Tsang Desi had to be demolished for posing repeated threats to Bhutan’s sovereignty. Also the legend tells, whoever had attempted to harm Zhabdrung didn’t live long due to Talo Gyelp’s intolerance and unbreakable bondage with his master, the Zhabdrung.