Told in the hills
Three lamas, one king and a stone throne
In the early 17th century three Tibetan lamas of the Nyingma school entered Sikkim from different directions: Lhatsun Chenpo, also known as Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, Ngadak Sempa Chenpo and Kathok Rigzin Chenpo. They met at the spot that became Yuksom. Wikipedia's History of Sikkim explains the Lepcha name as 'the place where the three monks met': yukmun for lama and som for three. Tradition holds that Guru Rinpoche had foretold that a fourth man, from the east, would complete their meeting.
Tradition goes on to say that the lamas sent out messengers and found a man named Phuntsog churning milk near present-day Gangtok. Whatever the details, the record is clear on the result. In 1642, aged 38, Phuntsog Namgyal was crowned at Norbugang as the first Chogyal of Sikkim, and the lamas gave him the title of a religious king. The throne is a stone platform with four seats under a large cryptomeria; the highest seat was for Lhatsun Chenpo.
Water from the small Kathok Lake nearby was used for the consecration, and the Norbugang Chorten opposite the throne is said to hold earth and stones from all parts of Sikkim. A depression in a stone near the throne is shown as the footprint of one of the lamas, a tradition you can judge for yourself. Phuntsog Namgyal went on to unite Bhutia, Lepcha and Limbu under one rule; Yuksom remained the capital until his son Tensung Namgyal moved the court to Rabdentse in 1670.
Pinned to the board
Did you know
Dubdi Monastery above Yuksom was established in 1701, and its name is usually translated as 'the retreat'.
The Norbugang Chorten at Yuksom is said to contain earth and stones gathered from all parts of Sikkim.
Yuksom stayed the capital of Sikkim from 1642 until 1670, when the second Chogyal, Tensung Namgyal, moved the court to Rabdentse.
