Kurje - Body Imprint Traditional Cache
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Kurje is one of the most sacred places in Bhutan, because here Guru Rinpoche meditated on a rock and left his body imprint (Ku=body, Jey=imprint).
This was the first place that the Guru visited in Bhutan in the 8th century.
The King of Bumthang had called him here for help: after his son had died in battle, the king forgot to worship his protection deity Shelging Karpo.
The god became angry and drained all life spirits out of the king, who became seriously and incurably ill.
The Guru came, meditated for some time on this thunderbolt-shaped rock and left his body imprint.
Then he changed into his 8 manifestations and began to dance on the grass.
This dance was so wonderful and miraculous that all local deities except Shelging Karpo went there to watch.
After a while, also Shelging Karpo became curious and took the shape of a white lion to have a look.
This was the moment the Guru had waited for: he changed into the mythical bird-like creature Garuda, took the lion into his claws and forced him to return the life spirits to the suffering king.
The king recovered completely and followed the Buddhist Way from now on. Shelging Karpo became a protection deity, his image was kept in the Kurje Lakhang.
So it was from here that Guru Rinpoche started to spread his way of Buddhism all over Bhutan, and every place where the Guru visited and meditated is of significance and sacred.
***GPS reception might be limited, so follow the description***
The wall around the temple is crowned by 108 stupas.
The cache is hidden in the wall, inside facing the temple, below the 18th stupa (counting from the doorway and going uphill).
Before you enter the doorway leading to the temple, follow the stone steps on your right hand uphill. They will lead you past several rocks painted with mantras and loaded with small stupa-shaped offerings (Tsatsas), up and behind the wall that surrounds the temple.
When you are opposite the big cedar tree (it is said to have grown from the pilgrim´s staff the Guru stuck into the ground at this plaace), you can cross the wall.
Inside you face the 18th stupa.
Draw a line down from the right hand end of its base.
Under the lower white ridge are some flat white stones wedged between that lower ridge and the solid white wall - one of these flat stones is loose.
The cache is hidden in a crevice just behind a loose stone on the inside of the wall.
Actually it consists of a zip bag with a logsheet - if you have a better replacement with you, feel free to upgrade.
Please check the current spoiler picture.
Don´t push the container back to deeply, it might vanish!
Be careful!
You can be seen down from the doorway, and there might be people walking on the other side of the wall when you are absorbed in searching for treasures!
You may ask your guide to stand guard - and ask him about the holy waterr of Guru Rinpoche that springs from a rock just 5 min walk from here.
Unfortunately I forgot to take a waypoint there - the police officer who was chatting friendly with me, filling numerous big canisters with the blessed Kurje spring water while my eyes were wandering around, looking for a place to hide my cache, might have distracted me...
Small note on cache maintenance:
There is a local cache guardian who will assist.
Name and contact info on file with geocaching.com.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Mvc ont oruvaq ybbfr fgbar orrgjra erq naq juvgr.
Nobir ulqenag.
Frr fcbvyre cvpgher.
[If the container is gone, your replacement will be very appreciated - thank you!]
