From 15 to 21 February 2026, Bhutan’s Central Monastic Body (Zhung Dratshang) is holding the annual Vajrakilaya Phurpai Drubchen (Vajrakilaya Great Accomplishment Ritual) at Buddha Dordenma Kuensel Phodrang in Thimphu. The Phurpai Drubchen is being held at the Bhutanese capital to celebrate the precious occasion of the forty-sixth birth anniversary of His Majesty the Great Fifth King, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Vajrakilaya is a wrathful yidam deity in Vajrayana Buddhism. He represents the enlightened activity of all Buddhas through four activities: (pacifying, enriching, magnetizing, and subjugating), specifically focusing on clearing extreme obstacles, destroying negative energies, and cutting through ego-clinging. As a fierce form of Vajrasattva, he holds a phurba (ritual dagger) to pin down and transform mental afflictions into wisdom.
The four activities (or four karmas) are, as described in the tantric scriptures of Vajrakilaya, enlightened methods to overcome obstacles and benefit beings. These four activities will be performed from the fifteenth to the twenty-first:
1. Pacifying (zhi ba): Calming sickness, conflict, and negative forces.
2. Enriching/Increasing (rgyas pa): Promoting longevity, wisdom, and merit.
3. Magnetizing (dbang ba): Attracting power, resources, and students.
4. Subjugating/Wrathful (drag po): Overcoming extreme obstacles or malevolent forces.
The Phurpai Drubchen is an event conducted under the auspices of the Central Monastic Body and the Council of Buddhist Universities. His Eminence the Padma Acharya, Tsulag Lopen Karma Rangdrol is currently presiding over the ceremony. The Tsulag Lopen is one of the five most senior monastic officials (lopen) under His Holiness the Je Khenpo and is in charge of scriptural traditions and the five sciences. He will be joined by tulkus, khenpos, and over 300 monks from Tango and Dorden Tashithang Buddhist University.
Khenpo Rinchen Choezang, the abbot (Lam) of Kuensel Phodrang, told BDG: “The purpose of the Vajrakilaya Phurpai Drubchen is to help its beneficiaries to enjoy a successful and long life. This is especially important in the context of our celebrations this month marking His Majesty’s forty-sixth birthday.” Khenpo Rinchen Choezang joined the Dechen Phodrang Central Monastic School at the age of 10 and later completed his Master’s Degree in Buddhist Philosophy from Tango Buddhist University. He also served as Dechen Phodrang Central Monastic School’s Principal.
“Guided by His Majesty’s leadership, the Vajrakilaya Great Accomplishment Ritual will also call for the successful realization of His Majesty’s vision of Gelephu Mindfulness City. In a more general sense, the Central Monastic Body will also pray for peace and happiness to all, and harmony and peace across the globe.”
Gelephu Mindfulness City is the central policy vision of His Majesty, envisaged as a Special Administrative Region that will open a section of the country to foreign investment, tourism, and businesses in a way the rest of the country does not due to concerns about environmental conservation and cultural preservation.
Popularly but erroneously known as “Buddha Point,” Buddha Dordenma Kuensel Phodrang is not only a monastery in its own right, but also home to Bhutan’s largest, most breathtaking statue of the Buddha. It is also one of the largest sitting Buddha images in the world. Made of bronze and gold, it fulfills a prophecy that was predicted by Padmasambhava in the eighth century and discovered by Terton Pema Lingpa.
The name of Buddha Dordenma is a combination of “Buddha” and dorji (Sanskrit for “diamond” or “thunderbolt”) and denma (“seated on a carpet”). The vajra is a profound symbol representing the indestructible, unchanging nature of enlightenment, wisdom, and the ultimate truth of emptiness (shunyata). It acts as a ritual implement in Tibetan Buddhism, symbolizing the skillful means (upaya) to cut through ignorance. The name of the phodrang therefore means “Buddha seated on a vajra carpet,” with the base of the great Buddha serving visually as the diamond carpet the image is sitting on.
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