From the archive record
In Bhutan, it is common to find phallus symbols painted on the walls of houses and in temples. It may be a weird sight for us but for Bhutanese, it is a sign of good luck that diverts the evil spirit. The former capital of Bhutan, Punakha has a Phallus handicraft shop that sells wooden craved phallus and paintings. Phallus paintings in Bhutan are esoteric symbols, which have their origins in the Chimi Lhakhang monastery near Punakha, the former capital of Bhutan. The village monastery was built in honour of Lama Drukpa Kunley who lived in the 15-16th century and who was popularly known as the "Mad Saint" or "Divine Madman" for his unorthodox ways of teaching, which amounted to being bizarre and shocking. These explicit paintings, though embarrassing to many urbanites now (this folk culture