Shenrab Miwoche (birth and death dates unknown) — “Shen” is the name of his clan, “rab” means supreme or excellent, “miwo” means man, and “che” means great. Altogether, his name can be interpreted as “The Supreme and Great One from the Shen Clan.” He is also known by the title “Dampa Shenrab,” meaning “Master Shenrab.”
The Mythical Founder of Bön Religion
In Tibetan historical texts, the founder of the Bön religion is sometimes called “Mushen Namkha Longwa Do,” and at other times “Shenrab Miwoche” — both referring to the same figure. According to Tibetan mythology, when Shenrab Miwoche saves beings through compassion, he becomes the “Wise Deity of the Joyful Body of the Heavenly Realm”; when he uses magical powers, he is the true ruler of the worldly realm — the “God of the World”; when he saves through radiance, he becomes the “God of the Present World.” In essence, he is a savior, regarded by Tibetans as the “Great Father” and “Father of Light.”
Bön’s Ultimate Realm and Divine Origins
The Origins of Bön explains the eight-character mantra “Ma Tri” as “Calling upon the most supreme deities, through their power, to reach the blissful land of the divine — the ultimate goal of Bön.” This text describes that highest realm, known as the “Supreme Joyous Land,” as a place where pure streams flow, people drink and wash in them, and are born from lotus flowers. Food is abundant and can be eaten as desired, while tree leaves and bark serve as clothing. Shenrab Miwoche’s characteristics here are reminiscent of the Greek mythological figure Prometheus.
The Journey of a Divine Teacher
In Tibetan folklore and historical records, Shenrab Miwoche’s myth is described as follows: It is said he was born during the reign of the sixth Tibetan king (Zanpu) in the Shen clan of Ongsho Wen, in central Tibet. At the age of 13, a group of demons abducted him and took him across Tibet for a long 12 years.
When he returned to the human world, he had learned the names and abodes of countless demons. He mastered rituals such as divination, blessing, exorcism, ghost sending, and sky worship, and began to spread these teachings. At this early stage, Bön practices primarily involved offerings to heavenly deities above and suppression of demons below.
Heavenly Guidance and Early Life
Another myth tells of three brothers — Daba, Shaba, and Xieba — who studied Bön under the sage Buchi Loggye Tsen. After mastering the teachings, they visited the deity Senra Woger to ask how to save suffering beings. The deity advised them to become teachers in three different lifetimes. After Daba fulfilled his duties in a previous life, Shaba became the spiritual teacher of Shenrab Miwoche in this life.
At that time, Shenrab was still a prince and was born in a place called Weimo Longren, the sacred origin of Bön. Weimo Longren was both a real region and a mythical land. Situated in the west of the world, it occupied two-thirds of the earthly realm and was shaped like an eight-petaled lotus. Its sky mirrored this with an eight-spoked wheel shape.
Weimo Longren: The Sacred Homeland
Within Weimo Longren stood the majestic Nine-Fold Yungdrung Mountain, overlooking all of creation. Its summit resembled a giant crystal stone. Four rivers flowed in four directions from its base: the Lion Spring River to the east, the Horse Spring River to the north, the Peacock River to the west, and the Elephant Spring River to the south. The Palace of Babpo Sogye, located in the south, was Shenrab Miwoche’s birthplace. In the west was Palace of Chiman Gyikye, the residence of his wife Yesa Gyikye Ma, where their three sons — Dobu, Chabu, and Nyo Üchen — were born.
It is said that only through the “Arrow Path” could one enter Weimo Longren. According to legend, when Shenrab visited Tibet, he shot an arrow from his ring, opening a vast tunnel through a mountain wall. Along the path were many ravines and wild beasts.
Shenrab’s Struggles and Mission
From a young age, Shenrab Miwoche began spreading the Bön teachings. His lifelong rival was the demon Chapala Ren. Once, Chapala Ren stole Shenrab’s seven golden horses, prompting him to chase the demon to Tibet. There, Shenrab attempted to introduce his teachings, but the time was not ripe. He vowed to return when the time was right, and to spread Bön from the land of Zhangzhung to Tibet.
Shenrab often transformed himself into fearsome deities to overcome demons. However, over time, his personality changed — he became fierce and violent. He eventually retreated into a cave for solitude until the demon Chapala Ren finally surrendered. This affirms that Shenrab Miwoche is revered in Tibetan mythology as a divine and mythical figure.