Monumental phurbas

Vajrayana Arts and Crafts

““In the 20th Century, the renowned gTertön Sonam Zangpo Rinpoche prophesied that a large statue of either Padmasambhava, Shakyamuni Buddha, or a Monumental Phurba should be built in the West in order to bring auspicious circumstances, peace, and happiness to the planet.”

“In 1980, during an interview that took place in California, Kyabje Düd’jom Rinpoche told Chag’düd Tulku Rinpoche that Dorje Phurba would be especially helpful in removing obstacles to Vajrayana being established in the West.””

Monumental phurbas were built in Southern Tibet on the borders of Bhutan in the Aro Gar yogic encampment according to the gDam ngag of Khyungchen Aro Lingma.

They were built in place of chörtens as a means of protecting and authenticating the environment for the practice of Dzogchen. Phurbas large and small (of many kinds) were made — and the land was thereby staked out with vajra nails.

The creative genius of Akyong Düd’dül Dorje inspired Aro Lingma to encourage this practice. ‘Enriching Phurbas’ of Akyong Düd’dül Dorje’ have been built at Khyungchen Aro Ling, Forchtenstein, Austria and Aro Kha‘jong in New York. Another is soon to be built at Drala Jong in Wales.

Forchtenstein phurba

In 2003, a group of apprentices built this monumental enriching phurba of A-kyong Düd’dül Dorje at Khyungchen Aro Ling, outside Forchtenstein, Austria. The phurba was built according to the instructions of Ngak’chang Rinpoche and Khandro Déchen, and it is 15 feet in height, with a blade span of 3 feet 5 inches. Its estimated weight is just over two tons.

UpState New York phurba

This was the second monumental phurba built by Ngakpa Trögyal Dorje.

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Drala Jong phurba

The third Aro gTér Monumental Phurba has been built in Austria by Ngakpa Trögyal Dorje and is waiting to be lowered onto a flatbed truck and brought to Drala Jong.

The phurba is 25ft in length and will stand 30ft height once mounted on a wrathful triangular plinth. Each side of the triangular plinth will be ornamented by three blazing skulls in bas relief — made by Ngakpa Wangdrüp.