Throne holders of Tsongkhapa and Supreme Head of the Gelugpa School of Buddhism
The Ganden Tripa or Ganden Tripa (tib. dGa-ldan Khri-pa) ("Holder of the Ganden Throne") is the title of the spiritual leader of the Gelug (Dge-lugs) school of Tibetan Buddhism, the school which controlled central Tibet from the mid-1600s until 1950s. He is identical with the respective abbot of Ganden Monastery. The present head of the Gelugpa order is the 102nd Ganden Tripa, Thubten Nyima Lungtok Tenzin Norbu and not, as is often misunderstood, the Dalai Lama.
The most recently retired Ganden Tripa, now known as Ganden Trisur, is Khensur Lungri Namgyal, who was the 101st Ganden Tripa.
The Ganden Tripa is an appointed office, not a reincarnation lineage. It is awarded on the basis of competitive examination. Since the position is held for only a 7-year term, there have been many more Ganden Tripas than Dalai Lamas to date (101 as against 14).
Either Tsongkapa (Tsong-ka-pa) (13571419), who founded the Gelug sect, or his successor, Gyaltsab Je (Rgyal-tshab-rje), may be considered to have been the first Ganden Tripa. (After Tsongkhapa's passing, his teachings were held and kept by Gyaltsab Je and Khedrub Je who were the next Abbots of Ganden monastery. The lineage has been held by the Ganden Tripas as the throne holders of Ganden Monastery.)
In January 2003, the Government of Tibet in Exile announced the nomination of the 101st Ganden Tripa. An excerpt from that press release gives his background:
The 101st Ganden Tripa, the Venerable Khensur Lungri Namgyel Rinpoche was born in 1927 in Kham (eastern Tibet). Ordained at eight years old, after fifty years of meditative practices and studies he was elevated by H.H. the Dalai Lama as successively abbot of Gyuto Tantric College (in 1983), and as abbot of Ganden Shartse Monastic University (in 1992).
In 1986 he was the special envoy of H.H. the Dalai Lama to the ecumenical meetings of Assisi in Italy, convened by H.H. the Pope John Paul II. He is a French national and has been living in Paris, France, for more than 20 years. He transmits the Buddhist teachings of his lineage in the Dharma Center, Thar Deu Ling which he founded in 1980.
The 102nd Ganden Tripa, His Eminence Jangtse Choeje Rizong Rinpoche Thupten Nyima Lungtok Tenzin Norbu, was elected on 26th October 2009, the 3rd day of the 9th month, 2136 year of Tibetan calendar.
List of Ganden Tripas
NO |
NAME |
BIOGRAPHICAL DATA |
TENURE |
WYLIE TRANSLITERATION |
FURTHER TITLES |
1. |
Tsongkhapa, Lobsang Dragpa |
1357-1419 |
1409-1419 |
tsong kha pa, blo bzang grags pa |
Je Rinpoche (rje rin po che) |
2. |
Dharma Rinchen |
1364-1432 |
1419-1431 |
dar ma rin chen |
Gyeltshab Je (rgyal tshab rje) |
3. |
Khedrub Geleg Pelsang |
1385-1438 |
1431-1438 |
mkhas grub rje dge legs dpal bzang |
1. Panchen Lama |
4. |
Shalu Lochen Legpa Gyeltshen |
1375-1450 |
1438-1450 |
zhwa lu lo chen legs pa rgyal mtshan |
|
5. |
Lodro Chokyong |
1389-1463 |
1450-1463 |
blo gros chos skyong |
|
6. |
Chokyi Gyeltshen |
1402-1473 |
1463-1473 |
chos kyi rgyal mtshan |
1. Tatsak Rinpoche (rta tshag rin po che) |
7. |
Lodro Tenpa |
1402-1476 |
1473-1476(79) |
blo gros brtan pa |
|
8. |
Monlam Legpa Lodro |
1414-1491 |
1480-1489 |
smon lam legs pa'i blo gros |
|
9. |
Lobsang Nyima |
1439-1492 |
1490-1492 |
blo bzang nyi ma |
|
10. |
Yeshe Sangpo |
1415-1498 |
1492-1498 |
ye shes bzang po |
|
11. |
Lobsang Dragpa |
1422/1429-1511 |
1499-1511 |
blo bzang grags pa |
|
12. |
Jamyang Legpa Lodro |
1450-1530 |
1511-1516 |
jam dbyangs legs pa'i blo gros |
|
13. |
Chokyi Shenyen (Dharmamitra) |
1453-1540 |
1516-1521 |
chos kyi bshes gnyen |
|
14. |
Rinchen Oser |
1453-1540 |
1522-1528 |
rin chen 'od zer |
|
15. |
Panchen Sonam Dragpa |
1478-1554 |
1529-1535 |
pan chen bsod nams grags pa |
(gzims khang gong ma) |
16. |
Chokyong Gyatsho |
1473-1539 |
1534-1539 |
chos skyong rgya mtsho |
4. Lab Kyabgn (lab skyabs mgon) |
17. |
Dorje Sangpo |
1491-1554 |
1539-1546 |
rdo rje bzang po |
|
18. |
Gyeltshen Sangpo |
1497-1548 |
1546-1548 |
rgyal mtshan bzang po |
|
19. |
Ngawang Chodrag |
1501-1551/1552 |
1548-1552 |
ngag dbang chos grags |
|
20. |
Chodrag Sangpo |
1493-1559 |
1552-1559 |
chos grags bzang po |
|
21. |
Geleg Pelsang |
1505-1567 |
1559-1565 |
dge legs dpal bzang |
|
22. |
Gendun Tenpe Dargye |
1493-1568 |
1565-1568 |
dge 'dun bstan pa dar rgyas |
|
23. |
Tsheten Gyatsho |
1520-1576 |
1568-1575 |
tshe brtan rgya mtsho |
|
24. |
Champa Gyatsho |
1516-1590 |
1575-1582 |
byams pa rgya mtsho |
|
25. |
Peljor Gyatsho |
1526-1599 |
1582-? |
dpal 'byor rgya mtsho |
|
26. |
Damcho Pelbar |
1523/1546-1599 |
1589-1596 |
dam chos dpal 'bar |
|
27. |
Sangye Rinchen |
1540-1612 |
1596-1603 |
sangs rgyas rin chen |
|
28. |
Gendun Gyeltshen |
1532-1605/1607 |
1603-? |
dge 'dun rgyal mtshan |
|
29. |
Shenyen Dragpa |
1545-1615 |
1607-1615 |
bshes gnyen grags pa |
|
30. |
Lodro Gyatsho |
1546-1618 |
1615-1618 |
blo gros rgya mtsho |
5. Lab Kyabgn |
31. |
Damcho Pelsang |
1546-1620 |
1618-1620 |
dam chos dpal bzang |
|
32. |
Tshulthrim Chophel |
1561-1623 |
1620-1623 |
tshul khrims chos 'phel |
|
33. |
Dragpa Gyatsho |
1555-1627 |
1623-1627 |
grags pa rgya mtsho |
|
34. |
Ngawang Chokyi Gyeltshen |
1571/1575-1625/1629 |
1623, 1627/1628(?) |
ngag dbang chos kyi rgyal mtshan |
|
35. |
Konchog Chophel |
1573-1644 |
1626-1637 |
dkon mchog chos 'phel |
|
36. |
Tendzin Legshe |
?1664 |
1638? |
bstan 'dzin legs bshad |
|
37. |
Gendun Rinchen Gyeltshen |
15711642 |
16381642 |
dge 'dun rin chen rgyal mtshan |
|
38. |
Tenpe Gyeltshen |
?-1647 |
16431647 |
bstan pa rgyal mtshan |
|
39. |
Konchog Chosang |
?-1672/1673 |
1644(?)/1648-1654 |
dkon mchog chos bzang |
|
40. |
Pelden Gyeltshen |
1601-1674 |
1651/1654/1655-1662 |
dpal ldan rgyal mtshan |
|
41. |
Lobsang Gyeltshen |
1599/1600-1672 |
1658/1662-1668 |
blo bzang rgyal mtshan |
|
42. |
Lobsang Donyo |
1602-1678 |
1668-1675 |
blo bzang don yod |
Namdak Dorje |
43. |
Champa Trashi |
1618-1684 |
1675-1681 |
byams pa bkra shis |
|
44. |
Ngawang Lodro Gyatsho |
1635-1688 |
1682-1685 |
ngag dbang blo gros rgya mtsho |
|
45. |
Tshulthrim Dargye |
1632? |
1685/1695-1692/1699 |
tshul khrims dar rgyas |
|
46. |
Ngawang Pelsang |
1629-1695 |
? |
ngag dbang dpal bzang |
Chinpa Gyatsho |
47. |
Lobsang Chophel |
* 17. Jh. |
1699-1701 |
blo bzang chos 'phel |
|
48. |
Dondrub Gyatsho |
* 17. Jh. |
1702-1708 |
don grub rgya mtsho |
|
49. |
Lobsang Dargye |
* 17. Jh. |
1708-1715 |
blo bzang dar rgyas |
|
50. |
Gendun Phuntshog |
?-1724 |
1715-1722 |
dge 'dun phun tshogs |
|
51. |
Pelden Dragpa |
?-1729 |
1722-1729 |
dpal ldan grags pa |
1. hor tshang gser khri |
52. |
Ngawang Tshephel |
1668-1734 |
1730-1732 |
ngag dbang tshe 'phel |
|
53. |
Gyeltshen Sengge |
1678-1756 |
1732-1739 |
rgyal mtshan seng ge |
1. gtsos khri sprul |
54. |
Ngawang Chogden |
1677-1751 |
1739-1746 |
ngag dbang mchog ldan |
1. Reting Rinpoche (rwa sgreng) |
55. |
Ngawang Namkha Sangpo |
1690-1749/1750 |
1746-1749/1750 |
ngag dbang nam mkha' bzang po |
1. Shingsa Rinpoche (shing bza' ) |
56. |
Lobsang Drimed |
1683-? |
1750-1757 |
blo bzang dri med |
|
57. |
Samten Phuntshog |
1703-1770 |
1757-1764 |
bsam gtan phun tshogs |
|
58. |
Chakyung Ngawang Chodrag |
1707-1778 |
1764-1778? |
bya khyung ngag dbang chos grags |
|
59. |
Chusang Ngawang Chodrag |
1710-1772 |
1771-1772? |
chu bzang ngag dbang chos grags |
|
60. |
Lobsang Tenpa |
1725-? |
6 Jahre |
blo bzang bstan pa |
|
61. |
Ngawang Tshulthrim |
1721-1791 |
1778-1785 |
ngag dbang tshul khrims |
1. Tshemon Ling (tshe smon gling) |
62. |
Lobsang Monlam |
1729-1798 |
1785-1793 |
blo bzang smon lam |
|
63. |
Lobsang Khechog |
1736-1792 |
1792 (6 Monate) |
blo bzang mkhas mchog |
|
64. |
Lobsang Trashi |
1739-1801 |
1794-1801 |
blo bzang bkra shis |
|
65. |
Gendun Tshulthrim |
1744-1807 |
? |
dge 'dun tshul khrims |
|
66. |
Ngawang Sanggye |
1746-1824 |
1807-1814 |
ngag dbang snyan grags |
|
67. |
Jamyang Monlam |
1750-1814/1817 |
1814 (3 Monate) |
'jam dbyangs smon lam |
|
68. |
Lobsang Geleg |
1757-1816 |
1815-1816 |
blo bzang dge legs |
|
69. |
Changchub Chophel |
1756-1838 |
1816-1822 |
byang chub chos 'phel |
Yongzin Trijang Dorje Chang |
70. |
Ngawang Chophel |
1760-1839 |
1822-1828 |
ngag dbang chos 'phel |
stag brag pandi ta, 1.stag brag |
71. |
Yeshe Thardo |
1756-1829/1830 |
1829-1830 |
ye shes thar 'dod |
|
72. |
Jampel Tshulthrim |
* 19. Jh. |
18311837 |
'jam dpal tshul khrims |
1. khams lung |
73. |
Ngawang Jampel Tshulthrim Gyatsho |
1792-1862/1864 |
1837-1843 |
ngag dbang 'jam dpal tshul khrims rgya mtsho |
2. Tshemon Ling |
74. |
Lobsang Lhundrub |
* 18. Jh. |
? |
blo bzang lhun grub |
|
75. |
Ngawang Lungtog Yonten Gyatsho |
* 19 Jh.-1853? |
1850-1853 |
ngag dbang lung rtogs yon tan rgya mtsho |
|
76. |
Lobsang Khyenrab Wangchug |
?-1872 |
1853-1870 |
blo bzang mkhyen rab dbang phyug |
|
77. |
Tshulthrim Dargye |
? |
1859?-1864? |
tshul khrims dar rgyas |
|
78. |
Jamyang Damcho |
* 19. Jh. |
1864?-1869? |
jam dbyangs dam chos |
|
79. |
Lobsang Chinpa |
* 19. Jh. |
1869?-1874? |
blo bzang sbyin pa |
|
80. |
Dragpa Dondrub |
* 19. Jh. |
1874?-1879? |
grags pa don grub |
|
81. |
Ngawang Norbu |
* 19. Jh. |
1879?-1884? |
ngag dbang nor bu |
|
82. |
Yeshe Chophel |
* 19. Jh. |
1884?-1889? |
ye shes chos 'phel |
|
83. |
Changchub Namkha |
* 19. Jh. |
1889?-1894? |
byang chub nam mkha' |
|
84. |
Lobsang Tshulthrim |
* 19. Jh. |
1894?-1899? |
blo bzang tshul khrims |
|
85. |
Lobsang Tshulthrim Pelden |
1839-1899/1900 |
1896-1899/1900 |
blo bzang tshul khrims dpal ldan |
Yongzin Trijang Dorje Chang |
86. |
Lobsang Gyeltshen |
1840-? |
1900--1907? |
blo bzang rgyal mtshan |
|
87. |
Ngawang Lobsang Tenpe Gyeltshen |
1844-1919 |
1907-1914 |
ngag dbang blo bzang bstan pa'i rgyal mtshan |
3. Tshemon Ling |
88. |
Khyenrab Yonten Gyatsho |
* 19. Jh. |
1914?-1919 |
mkhyen rab yon tan rgya mtsho |
Drigungpa Khyenrab Ynten |
89. |
Lobsang Sanggye Gyatsho |
* 19. Jh. |
1919?-1924? |
blo bzang snyan grags rgya mtsho |
|
90. |
Champa Chodrag |
1876-1937/1947 |
1920/1921-1926 |
byams pa chos grags |
|
91. |
Lobsang Gyeltshen |
?-1932 |
1927-1932 |
blo bzang rgyal mtshan |
|
92. |
Thubten Nyinche |
?-1933? |
1933 |
thub bstan nyin byed |
1. gtsang pa khri sprul |
93. |
Yeshe Wangden |
* 19. Jh. |
1933-1939 |
ye shes dbang ldan |
1. mi nyag khri sprul |
94. |
Lhundrub Tsondru |
?-1949 |
1940-1946 |
lhun grub brtson 'grus |
Shangpa Lhndrub Tsndr |
95. |
Trashi Tongthun |
* 19. Jh. |
1947-1953 |
bkra shis stong thun |
|
96. |
Thubten Kunga |
1891-1964 |
1954/1958-1964 |
thub bstan kun dga |
|
97. |
Thubten Lungtog Tendzin Thrinle |
1903-1983 |
1965 |
thub bstan lung rtogs bstan 'dzin 'phrin las |
Yongdzin Ling Rinpoche[6] |
98. |
Jampel Shenpen |
1919-1988/1989? |
? |
'jam dpal gzhan phan |
|
99. |
Yeshe Donden[7] |
?-1995 |
? |
ye shes don ldan |
|
100. |
Lobsang Nyima Rinpoche |
* 1928 |
1995-2003 |
blo bzang nyi ma |
|
101. |
Khensur Lungri Namgyel |
* 1927 |
2003-2009 |
lung rig rnam rgyal |
2. ri rdzong sras sprul |
102. |
Thubten Nyima Lungtok Tenzin Norbu |
* 1937 |
2009- |
thub bstan nyi ma lung rtogs bstan 'dzin nor bu |
Rizong Sras Rinpoche |
|