The modern history of Sikkim begins
from 1642 A.D. with the coronation of Phuntsog Namgyal as the first Chogyal or
king of Sikkim in a tranquil pine covered hill in Yuksom Norbugang in West
Sikkim.
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The Namgyals were scions of the Mi-nyak
House in Kham in Eastern Tibet. It is said that there were three
brothers, chiefs of Kham Mi-nyak. A letter dropped from heaven directed the
middle brother to go south towards Sikkim where his descendents were fated to
rule. It was in Sakya that his eldest son single-handedly raised the pillars of the Sakya monastery
and earned himself the sobriquet of 'Khye Bumsa' (the strength of a lakh of
men).
Khye Bumsa also earned himself the
hand of the daughter of the Sakya hierarch and settled in Chumbi Valley, which
remained, for a long time, the epicenter of the later kingdom of Sikkim.
Long troubled by the fact that he and
his wife were issueless, Khye Bumsa sought the blessings of the Lepcha
chieftain Thekongtek who was reputed to be able to grant the boon of progeny.
Khye Bumsa's wife subsequently bore him three sons. Later Khye Bumsa and Thekong Tek swore the historic pact of eternal friendship
at Kabi Longtsok in North Sikkim.
Khye Bumsa's third son Mipon Rab
succeeded his father. He, in turn, was succeeded by his fourth son Guru Tashi
who moved to Gangtok. Meanwhile Thekongtek passed away and the Lepchas who
started fragmenting into small tribes turned to Guru
Tashi for leadership and protection.
The Sikkim Coronation book describes
Guru Tashi as the 'first ruler of Sikkim who paved way for a regular monarchy'. Five generations later,
it was Phuntsog Namgyal who was consecrated as the first Denjong Gyalpo or the
king of Sikkim by the three great Lamas who came from the North, West and South
to Yuksom Norbugang in West Sikkim in 1642 A.D. The event, predicted as
it was by Guru Rinpoche, was the 'Naljor Chezhi' or the meeting of the four
yogic brothers or the four saints or four sages.
It was preordained
that three saints of great repute from different parts
of Tibet make their way to Bayul Demajong (Sikkim) to discharge their
responsibility of upholding and propogating the
essence of Dharma in the hidden land of Demajong. Thus it was that Lhatsun Namkha Jigme,
Kathog Kuntu Zangpo and Gnadak Sempa Phuntsog Rigzin made their way to Sikkim
separately, and through impenetrable routes.
This historical congregation of the
three holy Lamas is called Yuksom, which in Lepcha means the 'Three Superior
Ones'.
Lhatsun Chenpo impressed on the other
two that they were all Lamas and needed a layman to
rule the kingdom righteously. He further pointed out that, 'In the prophecy of Guru
Rinpoche, it is written that four noble brothers shall meet in Demajong and
arrange for its government. We were three of those who came from the North,
West and South'.
As for the East, he quoted the
oracular guide book Rinchen Lingpa which mentioned, 'One of my four avatars
will be like a lion, the king among beasts, who will protect the kingdom by his
bravery and powers'. The book also mentioned that, 'One named Phuntsog from the
direction of Gang will appear'. So Lhatsun Chenpo deputed a hermit called
Togden Kalzang Thondup and a layman called Passang to lead a party to Gangtok
in invite the person bearing the name of Phuntsog to come to Yuksom Norbugang.
After several adventures, the party
came to Gangtok where they met Phuntsog milking his cows. Phuntsog invited them
in and bade them partake of fresh cow's milk and told them his name was
Phuntsog. He saw the invitation of the
three Lamas as a most fortuitous event and lost no time in setting out for
Yuksom Norbugang with his entire retinue of followers, officers and household
establishment.
The coronation took place in the
Chu-ta or water horse year in 1642A.D. Thus Phuntsog Namgyal was installed on the
throne of Sikkim with the title of 'Chogyal' or king who rules with
righteousness, with both spiritual and temporal powers. While the three Lamas
spread Buddhism in Sikkim, Phuntsog Namgyal started consolidating his kingdom.
Twelve generations of Chogyals ruled
over Sikkim for over 300 years. This tiny Himalayan kingdom however witnessed
tumultuous change in 1972-73. In 1975 the institution of the Chogyal was
abolished and on May 16th, 1975 Sikkim was formally inducted as the 22nd state
of India.
