Aja Ney in Bhutan is a sacred place with a fascinating story. The highlight is a cave near the Aja Chhu river, where Guru Rinpoche meditated for three months. During this time, he subdued a demon and left one hundred “Aa” symbols on the cave’s walls to celebrate his spiritual victory. That’s why the place is called Aja Ney, meaning “the sacred site of a hundred ‘Aa’ inscriptions.” Pilgrims visiting the cave believe that simply seeing these symbols can help cleanse their past misdeeds.The area is filled with other spiritual treasures, including Guru Rinpoche’s footprints, 108 meditation caves, and imprints left by the goddess Khandro Dowa Zangmo. Sacred symbols like the Jachungs, mythical creatures said to carry 108 butter lamps, lakes, and Tsa Tsas (small spiritual sculptures) in their wings, add to the mystical atmosphere.
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