WORLD’S LARGEST STATUTE OF BUDDHA‐II  

(GURU PADMASAMBHAVA)  Takila Bhutan 

Quick Introduction 

A statue of Padmasambhava in the form of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen is being built in Takela,

Lhuntse in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Bhutan to bring peace and harmony to the

world as prophesied by Lord Buddha and the Great Dzogchen masters. The statue will stand

148 feet tall including 30 foot high lion throne and 17 foot high lotus seat.

According to the Mahaparinivana Sutra, when the Buddha was about to pass away at

Kushinagara in India, he said ‘impermanence is the nature of all created phenomenon.

Death being inevitable, the time for my passing into Nirvana has arrived. Of this you should

not grieve… I will be reborn in lotus lake- Dhanakosha, in Uddiyana and will be known as

Guru Padmasambhava’. Guru Padmasambhava is also known as Guru Rinpoche, the

‘Precious Master’.

Guru Rinpoche as prophesized appeared miraculously from the Lake Dhanakosha in

Uddiyana - the present Afghanistan-Pakistan frontier as the reincarnate Buddha. He

discovered the supreme teachings of the true nature and enlightenment, bringing great

benefits to sentient beings. This is why Guru Rinpoche is called the Buddha of the

Vajrayana.

 

Founding Master

Venerable Khenpo Karpo is spearheading the construction of this

gigantic Guru Statue. At a young age he studied under the

renowned Dzogchen master- H.H Jigdrel Yeshe Dorji alias Dudjom Rinpoche and H.H.

Polo Khenpo Rinpoche and served them well. Venerable Khenpo Karpo is one of the

spiritual sons of the two masters. According to the wishes of these masters, he had

established Pelphu Retreat Center at his native place of Zhongmey in Lhuntse district

in 1992. The center has 51 monks.

Motivated by prophesies and blessings of his masters, Khenpo Karpo established the

Druk Odiyana Foundation in 2004 to facilitate the construction of statue. The

Foundation is mobilizing resources under the chairmanship of Venerable Khenpo

Karpo.

 

Project Background 

The stimulus calling for an immaculate and unparalled statue of Guru Nangsey Zilnon

in Bhutan dates back to almost a century ago, when Sir Ugyen Wangchuk, the first

hereditary King of Bhutan, was then the Penlop (Govenor) of Tongsa. Two luminaries

of the 19th century Tibetan Rime (ree may or non-sectarian) movement, Jamyang

Khyentse Wangpo (1820-1892) and Jamgon Kongtrul (1813-?), both accomplished

Dzogchen masters and Tertons revealed that construction of a huge exposed Guru

Nangsey Zilnon statue in Bhutan would be most beneficial for peace, prosperity and

happiness in this world in general and in Bhutn in particular. Later, the late Lama

Sonam Zangpo (1888-1984), a renowned practitioner of the Six Yogas of Naropa and

the most famous yogi of Bhutan confided with Terton Samten Lignpa, a

contemporary revealer of the cycyle of enlightenment now known as the "Yidam

Gongdu or Tagsham Cycyle", a substantial portion of which were major findings

about the life of Khandro Yeshe Tsogyal, that for peace, prosperity and happiness in

this world, we need to reaffirm our refuge to Guru Rinpoche. As per the revelation of

the great late Lama a physical edifice of a Guru Nangsey Zilnon measuring not less

than 5 storeys should be built either in Bumthang or Kurtey in Bhutan.

Outlines of Founder’s Inception/Perception of the Project 

Whilst the exterior would potray Guru Nangsey Zilnon in its symbolic radiant

perfection, the interior structure would house a 3-storey repository representing the

righteousness and the sanctity of paradise. This large statue intends to blend modern

reinforced concrete structural framework draped over and within by traditional

architectural splendor. The exterior edifice of Guru is envisaged to be built up of

bronze over an RCC frame, with all the individual laminates exquisitely and

laboriously hand-shaped and fixed into place. Although bronze will form the basic

statue material, other precious elements such as gold and silver will also be needed

to either guild, frame or form various statue components. This exterior structure

calls for an intricate well-engineered structural framework.

The interior repository will be the representation of the history, culture, literature,

life, and fine arts involving predominantly the teachings and practices of Buddhism.

This is a means for people to defelop generous, peaceful, and clear minds so that

they can earn merit, which is believed to be the source of a happy future.

The Statue of Guru Padmasambhava, in form of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen, symbolizes the

subjugation of negative forces. It will be built seated on a lotus bed on the lion

throne (Sengthri). When completed, the statue will stand 148 feet tall including a 30

foot high lion throne and 17 foot high lotus seat.

The lion throne will be

35 feet wide, measuring

an area of about 9,500

square feet and will

house two main

Lhakhangs (Temple),

with seating capacity of

650 to 700 people for

religious gatherings and

blessings. First Lhakhang

will be known as

Gangzag Nyenjud Lhakhang and the second one will be Rigzin Dagjud Lhakhang. The

vertical connection with staircases from either side will lead to the terrace of the

Sengthri at the base of the lotus seat. The terrace will serve as an inner

circumambulation path. The lotus seat will house a smaller temple, which will be

known as the Gyalwa Gonjud Lhakhang. On four sides, there will be additional

shrines with an open balcony. The Lhakhang can be accessed from three directions,

through covered porches adorned with traditional architectural designs. A wide path

around the base of the lion throne will serve as a space for circumambulation. Eight

stupas will be built around the complex, marking the four corners of the site and four

main directions. With all these in place, the entire complex would symbolically

represent a Mandala with the Guru in the center.

The Dharani (Zung) and other precious relics and religious objects,

together with 100,000 Guru Dewa statues (each 4 inches tall), will be

placed inside the statue as dZhung (Guru Dewa statue will be sponsored

by individual devotees by paying Nu.1000 for locals and US $ 100 for

overseas donors to Druk Odiyana Foundation. The Foundation will then

order the statue from Nepal and inscribe the names of the sponsor on

the back of statue).

The face of the guru statue will measure 14 feet high. It will be made of copper

adorned with pure gold. Once completed and consecrated, the statue will represent

the Three Bodies of the Buddha, symbolizing the past, the present and the future

Buddha.

A Prophetic Purpose

One of his close attendants had once questioned the Buddha on the merits of making

statues, stupas and building monasteries. In response he said:

if someone were to build a huge temple that would house hundreds of thousands of

sangha, and if the same person were to make offerings to the sangha, day after day

for years; or, conversely, if that person were to make a small stupa the size of a

Myrabolan fruit, and a statue of the Buddha the size of the fruit, creation of these

two would be more helpful. Both represent the Buddha’s mind and body. As Buddha

has limitless qualities, any worship or offering made to these two miniatures would

be more precious.

In the 19th century, the two luminaries of the non-sectarian, H.H. Jamyang Khentse

Wangpo and H.H. Jamgon Kontrul Thaye, the accomplished Dzogchen masters as

well as Tertons foretold the need to construct a five-storied idol of Padmasambhave

in the form of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen in Bhutan. They said the statue would bring

peace, prosperity and happiness in this universe and also avert war, famine and

other natural calamities. Also Terton Lerab Lingpa prophesied that a time will come

when there will be a war of horses in Kurteo valley and, to prevent this war, a statue

of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen should be built.

Similarly, the late Lama Sonam Zangpo, the most revered yogi of Bhutan advised

that, a giant statue of Guru Rinpoche be built in Takela in Lhuntse for ensuring

continued prosperity in the world in general and Bhutan in particular.

Location of the project

Terton Lerab Lingpa prophesied, ‘At one point of time, there will be a war of horses

in Kurteo valley. To avert this war, a statue of Guru Nangsi Zilnoen should be built’.

Likewise, the late Lama Sonam Zangpo, the most revered Yogi of Bhutan,

emphasized that, for ensuring continued prosperity in the world in general and

Bhutan in particular, a giant statue of Guru Rinpoche should be built in Takila,

Lhuntse district in eastern Bhutan.

Map of Bhutan-Click to zoom

Takela has one of the beautiful scenic spots in Lhuntse district. The statue will stand

imposingly on the Takela mountain slope overlooking the entire valley of

Tangmachu. The slope then gently descends into the Kurichu River. Belonging to the

Tangmachu community, an old Lhakhang exists at the site of Guru Statue. The

community Lhakhang is on the verge of collapse. Hence, the community graciously

offered the old Lhakhang to the Venerable Khenpo Karpo as the site for the

construction of the Guru Statue together with the surrounding areas measuring up to

31 acres of land. Not a single household will be affected by the project. Besides,

Khenpo will restore the existing old Lhakhang and provide spiritual hone and

sanctuary for elderly people.

Construction Time Frame Estimated to be completed by End of 2009

Interesting Photos 

Statue Prototype& Artist 

 

Financing of the Project 

This gigantic statue has no equals in this world. The exact projection of financial

requirement to complete this statue is rather difficult as planning and design of

Lhakhangs are still evolving. However, the initial estimated cost of equipment, materials

and labor worked out to US $ 3.70 million. Further a substantial cost will be incurred on

the interior design, painting, electrification, landscaping, fencing etc. Some activities

undertaken to generate funds include:

• Making and selling sacred gaws (protection amulet).

It will protect from external danger, internal disease and promote mental peace and

harmony. Each amulet contains a statue of Guru Rinpoche, which is made of 1258

sacred relics of Budha and Bodhusattvas and innumerable great masters and Siddhas

of Tibet and relics from Marpa (master of Milarepa), the 4th Karmapa H.H. Theg Chog

Dorje and the 16th Karmapa H.H. Rang Jung Dorje. Each amulet comes with a Nyang

Drol Pill. Ingesting this pill opens the energy channels in the body, providing great

healing and protection power. When taken at the time of passing, the pill minimizes

the pain of death and ensures higher rebirth.

• Preparing and selling bumter, yangbum, dipsung, takdol, religious texts and

sacred religious objects.

• Collecting donations and contributions.

• Inviting potential foreign donors at project site and request them to sponsor a

specific cost component.

• Applying to the Royal Government for exemption of taxes and levies, quota for

timber, sand and stone.

Status and Financial position

The idea of constructing a statue, Guru Nangsi Zilnon at Takela in Lhuentse was mooted in

2004. Since then, tireless works began to raise fund for the project. With some funds

available the project construction started in February 2008.

Donations

You can also participate in building this great statue by giving your donation in any

form. Cheque within Bhutan can be made in favor of Druk Odiyana Foundation.

Donations from outside Bhutan can be transferred through anyone of the following

three Bank Accounts. So far a sum of Nu 15.095 million has been received as

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Construction Details 

(Coming Soon)

 

Fabrication of Steel Work 

(Coming Soon)

 

Multi­Value Engineering 

(Coming Soon)

 

Conclusion 

(Coming Soon)

 

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Structural Steel ‐ Size  & Wt (Guru Project)June 02, 008

• The total weight of copper in the Statue 31 Tons  

• Total weight of steel in the Statue 125 tons 

• Total weight of the Statue's concrete 27,000 tons 

• The copper  sheeting of the Statue is 2.37mm 

• Height from to of base to torch  46.05m 

• Ground to tip of torch 92.99m 

 

Reference Statue 

The Statue of Liberty Structural Engineer: Gustave Eiffel 

(Year 1875) 

 

                       

 

In Scientific American  (a very old magazine), 

we find schematic diagrams of the base and 

of  the  iron  skeleton.  Gustave  Eiffel  had 

designed  the  inner  skeleton  shortly  before 

he  turned his  attention  to  the  Eiffel Tower. 

The  magazine  tells  how  artist  Auguste 

Frederic  Bartholdi  created  the  huge  figure. 

First he  sculpted her  in a seven‐foot model. 

Then he made an exact copy, roughly 35 feet 

tall.  Finally  he  chopped  that  model  into 

sections  and  enlarged  each  section  by  a 

factor  of  four.  Then  he  shaped  3/32‐inch 

copper plates to those pieces. Each plate was 

to be hung on the steel frame in such a way that it would impose no load on the other plates around it.  

 

The  article  has  a  lot  to  say  about  size.  The  standard  of  comparison  is  the  Colossus  at  Rhodes.  The 

Colossus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world, stood just over a hundred feet tall on a jetty 

at Rhodes. Liberty  is  to stand 151  feet high. And, on her pedestal, she'll  rise over 300  feet above  the 

water.  

 

Though Scientific American doesn't quote it, Emma Lazarus had already written her famous poem, The 

New Colossus. That's the one with the lines that appear on the statue today: "Give me your tired, your 

poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore." The 

wording may have the ring of political incorrectness, but the sentiment is still unique to our America.  

 

Less known are Lazarus' opening  lines, "Not  like the brazen giant 

of Greek fame, With conquering limbs astride from land to land." 

Never mind that the Colossus didn't straddle anything, the point 

is  clear  enough: America meant  to  reclaim  the  grandeur  of  the 

ancient world. The rest of this Scientific American  issue has a  lot 

to say about new kinds of heavy machinery. It pictures Booth's new flying machine ‐‐ an impractical one‐

man ornithopter that certainly never flew. Still, it's showing us America on the march.  

 

The Statue of Liberty  is  leaven  in that  loaf. She trumpets  ideals that we've sometimes  lived up to and 

sometimes failed to. She's the big news in this issue, and the news is important. The magazine dwells on 

nuts and bolts, tables of dimensions. But underneath  it's clear this statue will become a new national 

metaphor. Emma Lazarus calls her the Mother of Exiles.  

Grover Cleveland dedicated her the next year. The iron skeleton was now covered over and that lovely 

lady, clad in cuprous oxide, has called us to be what we all would hope to be, ever since.  

I'm  John  Lienhard,  at  the University of Houston, where we're  interested  in  the way  inventive minds 

work.  

 

"Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me.

I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

Sculptor Frederic Auguste Bartholdi was commissioned to design a sculpture with the year 1876 in mind 

for  completion,  to  commemorate  the  centennial of  the American   Declaration of  Independence. The 

Statue was a joint effort between America and France and it was agreed upon that the American people 

were to build the pedestal, and the French people were responsible for the Statue and its assembly here 

in the United States. However, lack of funds was a problem on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. 

In France, public fees, various forms of entertainment, and a  lottery were among the methods used to 

raise  funds.  In  the United  States,  benefit  theatrical  events,  art  exhibitions,  auctions  and  prize  fights 

assisted  in  providing  needed  funds. Meanwhile  in  France,  Bartholdi  required  the  assistance  of  an 

engineer  to  address  structural  issues  associated  with  designing  such  as  colossal  copper  sculpture. 

Alexandre Gustave Eiffel  (designer of  the Eiffel Tower) was  commissioned  to design  the massive  iron 

pylon and secondary skeletal framework which allows the Statue's copper skin to move  independently 

yet stand upright. 

Back in America, fund raising for the pedestal was going particularly slowly, so Joseph Pulitzer (noted for 

the Pulitzer Prize) opened up  the editorial pages of his newspaper,  "The World"  to  support  the  fund 

raising  effort.  Pulitzer  used  his  newspaper  to  criticize  both  the  rich  who  had  failed  to  finance  the 

pedestal construction and the middle class who were content to rely upon the wealthy to provide the 

funds.  Pulitzer's  campaign  of  harsh  criticism was  successful  in motivating  the  people  of  America  to 

donate.

 

Financing  for  the pedestal was  completed  in August 1885,  and pedestal  construction was  finished  in 

April of 1886.  The Statue was completed in France in July, 1884 and  arrived in New York Harbor in June 

of 1885 on board the French frigate "Isere" which transported the Statue  of Liberty from France to the 

United States. In transit, the  Statue was reduced to 350 individual pieces and packed in  214 crates. The 

Statue  was  re‐assembled  on  her  new  pedestal  in  four  months  time.  On  October  28th  1886,  the 

dedication of the Statue of Liberty took place in front of thousands of spectators. She was a centennial 

gift ten years late. The story of the Statue of Liberty and her island has been one of change. The Statue 

was placed upon a granite pedestal  inside the courtyard of the star‐shaped walls of Fort Wood.  

The United States Lighthouse Board had  responsibility  for  the operation of  the Statue of Liberty until 

1901.  After  1901,  the  care  and  operation  of  the  Statue was  placed  under  the   War Department.  A 

Presidential  Proclamation  declared    Fort  Wood  (and  the  Statue  of  Liberty  within  it)  a  National  

Monument on October 15th, 1924 and  the monument's   boundary was set at  the outer edge of Fort 

Wood.  

In 1933, the care and administration of the National   Monument was transferred to the National Park 

Service. On September 7, 1937,  jurisdiction was enlarged  to   encompass all of Bedloe's  Island and  in 

1956, the island's name was changed to Liberty Island. On May 11, 1965, Ellis Island was also transferred 

to the National Park Service  and became part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument.  

In May of 1982, President Ronald Reagan appointed Lee    Iacocca to head up a private sector effort to 

restore the Statue of Liberty. Fundraising began  for the $87 million restoration under a public/private 

partnership between the National Park Service and the Statue of Liberty‐Ellis Island Foundation, Inc., to 

date  the most  successful  such  partnership  in American  history.  In  1984,  at  the  start  of  the  Statue's  

restoration,  the United Nations designated  the Statue of   Liberty as a World Heritage Site. On  July 5, 

1986 the newly  restored Statue re‐opened to the public during Liberty  Weekend, which celebrated her 

centennial. 

Visitors climb 354 steps to reach the crown or 192 steps in order to reach the top of the pedestal. There 

are 25 windows    in the crown which symbolize gemstones  found on the earth   and the heaven's rays 

shining  over  the  world.    The  seven  rays  of  the  Statue's  crown  represent  the  seven  seas  

and  continents  of  the  world.  The  tablet  which  the  Statue  holds  in  her  left  hand  reads  (in  Roman 

numerals) "July 4th, 1776."  

• The total weight of copper in the Statue is 62,000 pounds (31 tons)  

• Total weight of steel in the Statue is 250,000 pounds (125 tons). 

• Total weight of the Statue's concrete  foundation is 54 million pounds (27,000 tons). 

• The copper  sheeting of the Statue is 3/32 of an inch thick or 2.37mm 

 

• Height from to of base to torch 151'1" (46.05m) 

• Ground to tip of torch 305'1" (92.99m)  

• Heel to top of head 111'1" (33.86m) 

• Length of hand 16'5" (5.00m) 

• Index finger 8'0" (2.44m) 

• Head from chin to cranium 17'3" (5.26m) 

• Head thickness from ear to ear 10'0" (3.05m) 

• Distance across the eye 2'6" (0.76m) 

• Length of nose 4'6" (1.37m) 

• Length of right arm 42'0" (12.80m) 

• Thickness of right arm 12'0" 

• Thickness of waist 35'0" 

• Width of mouth 3'0" 

• Length of tablet 23'7" 

• Width of tablet 13'7" 

• Thickness of tablet 2'0" 

• Ground to top of pedestal 154'0" 

 

• Date Construction of the Statue began in France: 1875 

• Title of Statue: "Liberty Enlightening the World" 

• Sculptor: Auguste Bartholdi 

• Structural Engineer: Gustave Eiffel 

• Statue completed in Paris: June 1884 

• Statue presented to America by the people of France: July 4, 1884 

• Statue dismantled and shipped to US: Early 1885 

• 1885 Transport Ship: French frigate "Isere" 

• Number of individual pieces shipped to US: 350 

• Number of crates required: 214 

• Location of Statue: Liberty Island, formerly Bedloe's Island and Fort Wood 

(fortress for protection of New York Harbor 1811) 

• Architect of the pedestal: Richard Morris Hunt (in 1877) 

• Champion Fundraiser for the Pedestal: Joseph Pulitzer, 

• Treaurer of The American Committee for the Statue of Liberty: Henry A. 

Spaulding 

• Date the cornerstone was laid on Bedloe's Island in New York Harbor: 5 August 

1884 

• Source of Granite for the Pedestal: Leete's Island, Connecticut 

• Date of Final Assembly of statue & pedestal: 1886  

• Official accepting Statue on behalf of US: President Grover Cleveland  

• Date of Acceptance by President: October 28, 1886 

• Date designated a National Monument: October 15, 1924 

 

• Wind speed at which Statue sways 3 inches (7.62 cm): 50 mph 

• Torch sway in 50 mph wind: 5 inches (12.7 cm). 

• Number of windows in the crown: 25 

• Number of spikes in the crown: 7