The History of Gaden Tripas
Throne holders of Tsongkhapa and Supreme Head of the Gelugpa School of Buddhism
The Ganden Tripa or Gaden Tripa (tib. dGa’-ldan Khri-pa) (“Holder of the Gaden 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 Gaden Monastery. The present head of the Gelugpa order is the 102nd Gaden Tripa Thubten Nyima Lungtok Tenzin Norbu and not, as is often misunderstood, the Dalai Lama.[1]
The most recently retired Gaden Tripa, now known as Gaden Trisur, is Khensur Lungri Namgyal, who was the 101st Gaden Tripa.
The Gaden 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,[2] there have been many more Gaden Tripas than Dalai Lamas to date (101 as against 14).
Either Tsongkapa (Tsong-ka-pa) (1357–1419), who founded the Gelug sect, or his successor, Gyaltsab Je (Rgyal-tshab-rje), may be considered to have been the first Gaden Tripa. (After Tsongkhapa’s passing, his teachings were held and kept by Gyaltsab Je and Khedrub Je who were the next abbots of Gaden monastery. The lineage has been held by the Gaden Tripas – the throne holders of Gaden Monastery.)
In January 2003, the Government of Tibet in Exile announced the nomination of the 101st Gaden Tripa. An excerpt from that press release gives his background:
The 101st Gaden 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 Gyutö Tantric College (in 1983), and as abbot of Gaden 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 a Dharma Center, Thar Deu Ling[3] which he founded in 1980.[4]
The 102nd Gaden 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 Gaden Tripas
| No | Name | Biodata | Tenure | Wylie | 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. Penchen Lama |
| 4. | Shalu Lochen Legpa Gyeltshen | 1375–1450 | 1438–1450 | zhwa lu lo chen legs pa rgyal mtshan | – |
| 5. | Lodrö Chökyong | 1389–1463 | 1450–1463 | blo gros chos skyong | – |
| 6. | Chökyi Gyeltshen | 1402–1473 | 1463–1473 | chos kyi rgyal mtshan | 1. Tatsak Rinpoche (rta tshag rin po che) |
| 7. | Lodrö Tenpa | 1402–1476 | 1473–1476(79) | blo gros brtan pa | – |
| 8. | Mönlam Legpa Lodrö | 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 Lodrö | 1450–1530 | 1511–1516 | jam dbyangs legs pa’i blo gros | – |
| 13. | Chökyi Shenyen (Dharmamitra) | 1453–1540 | 1516–1521 | chos kyi bshes gnyen | – |
| 14. | Rinchen Öser | 1453–1540 | 1522–1528 | rin chen ‘od zer | – |
| 15. | Penchen Sönam Dragpa | 1478–1554 | 1529–1535 | pan chen bsod nams grags pa | (gzims khang gong ma) |
| 16. | Chökyong Gyatsho | 1473–1539 | 1534–1539 | chos skyong rgya mtsho | 4. Lab Kyabgön (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 Chödrag | 1501–1551/1552 | 1548–1552 | ngag dbang chos grags | – |
| 20. | Chödrag Sangpo | 1493–1559 | 1552–1559 | chos grags bzang po | – |
| 21. | Geleg Pelsang | 1505–1567 | 1559–1565 | dge legs dpal bzang | – |
| 22. | Gendün 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. | Damchö Pelbar | 1523/1546–1599 | 1589–1596 | dam chos dpal ‘bar | – |
| 27. | Sangye Rinchen | 1540–1612 | 1596–1603 | sangs rgyas rin chen | – |
| 28. | Gendün Gyeltshen | 1532–1605/1607 | 1603–? | dge ‘dun rgyal mtshan | – |
| 29. | Shenyen Dragpa | 1545–1615 | 1607–1615 | bshes gnyen grags pa | – |
| 30. | Lodrö Gyatsho | 1546–1618 | 1615–1618 | blo gros rgya mtsho | 5. Lab Kyabgön |
| 31. | Damchö Pelsang | 1546–1620 | 1618–1620 | dam chos dpal bzang | – |
| 32. | Tshülthrim Chöphel | 1561–1623 | 1620–1623 | tshul khrims chos ‘phel | – |
| 33. | Dragpa Gyatsho | 1555–1627 | 1623–1627 | grags pa rgya mtsho | – |
| 34. | Ngawang Chökyi Gyeltshen | 1571/1575–1625/1629 | 1623, 1627/1628(?) | ngag dbang chos kyi rgyal mtshan | – |
| 35. | Könchog Chöphel | 1573–1644 | 1626–1637 | dkon mchog chos ‘phel | – |
| 36. | Tendzin Legshe | ?–1664 | 1638? | bstan ‘dzin legs bshad | – |
| 37. | Gendün Rinchen Gyeltshen | 1571–1642 | 1638–1642 | dge ‘dun rin chen rgyal mtshan | – |
| 38. | Tenpe Gyeltshen | ?–1647 | 1643–1647 | bstan pa rgyal mtshan | – |
| 39. | Könchog Chösang | ?–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 Dönyö | 1602–1678 | 1668–1675 | blo bzang don yod | Namdak Dorje |
| 43. | Champa Trashi | 1618–1684 | 1675–1681 | byams pa bkra shis | – |
| 44. | Ngawang Lodrö Gyatsho | 1635–1688 | 1682–1685 | ngag dbang blo gros rgya mtsho | – |
| 45. | Tshülthrim Dargye | 1632–? | 1685/1695–1692/1699 | tshul khrims dar rgyas | – |
| 46. | Ngawang Pelsang | 1629–1695 | ? | ngag dbang dpal bzang | Chinpa Gyatsho |
| 47. | Lobsang Chöphel | * 17. Jh. | 1699–1701 | blo bzang chos ‘phel | – |
| 48. | Döndrub Gyatsho | * 17. Jh. | 1702–1708 | don grub rgya mtsho | – |
| 49. | Lobsang Dargye | * 17. Jh. | 1708–1715 | blo bzang dar rgyas | – |
| 50. | Gendün Phüntshog | ?–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 Phüntshog | 1703–1770 | 1757–1764 | bsam gtan phun tshogs | – |
| 58. | Chakyung Ngawang Chödrag | 1707–1778 | 1764–1778? | bya khyung ngag dbang chos grags | – |
| 59. | Chusang Ngawang Chödrag | 1710–1772 | 1771–1772? | chu bzang ngag dbang chos grags | – |
| 60. | Lobsang Tenpa | 1725–? | 6 Jahre | blo bzang bstan pa | – |
| 61. | Ngawang Tshülthrim | 1721–1791 | 1778–1785 | ngag dbang tshul khrims | 1. Tshemon Ling (tshe smon gling) |
| 62. | Lobsang Mönlam | 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. | Gendün Tshülthrim | 1744–1807 | ? | dge ‘dun tshul khrims | – |
| 66. | Ngawang Sanggye | 1746–1824 | 1807–1814 | ngag dbang snyan grags | – |
| 67. | Jamyang Mönlam | 1750–1814/1817 | 1814 (3 Monate) | ‘jam dbyangs smon lam | – |
| 68. | Lobsang Geleg | 1757–1816 | 1815–1816 | blo bzang dge legs | – |
| 69. | Changchub Chöphel | 1756–1838 | 1816–1822 | byang chub chos ‘phel | – Yongzin Trijang Dorje Chang |
| 70. | Ngawang Chöphel | 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 Tshülthrim | * 19. Jh. | 1831–1837 | ‘jam dpal tshul khrims | 1. khams lung |
| 73. | Ngawang Jampel Tshülthrim Gyatsho | 1792–1862/1864 | 1837–1843 | ngag dbang ‘jam dpal tshul khrims rgya mtsho | 2. Tshemon Ling |
| 74. | Lobsang Lhündrub | * 18. Jh. | ? | blo bzang lhun grub | – |
| 75. | Ngawang Lungtog Yönten 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. | Tshülthrim Dargye | ? | 1859?–1864? | tshul khrims dar rgyas | – |
| 78. | Jamyang Damchö | * 19. Jh. | 1864?–1869? | jam dbyangs dam chos | – |
| 79. | Lobsang Chinpa | * 19. Jh. | 1869?–1874? | blo bzang sbyin pa | – |
| 80. | Dragpa Döndrub | * 19. Jh. | 1874?–1879? | grags pa don grub | – |
| 81. | Ngawang Norbu | * 19. Jh. | 1879?–1884? | ngag dbang nor bu | – |
| 82. | Yeshe Chöphel | * 19. Jh. | 1884?–1889? | ye shes chos ‘phel | – |
| 83. | Changchub Namkha | * 19. Jh. | 1889?–1894? | byang chub nam mkha’ | – |
| 84. | Lobsang Tshülthrim | * 19. Jh. | 1894?–1899? | blo bzang tshul khrims | – |
| 85. | Lobsang Tshülthrim 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 Yönten Gyatsho | * 19. Jh. | 1914?–1919 | mkhyen rab yon tan rgya mtsho | Drigungpa Khyenrab Yönten |
| 89. | Lobsang Sanggye Gyatsho | * 19. Jh. | 1919?–1924? | blo bzang snyan grags rgya mtsho | – |
| 90. | Champa Chödrag | 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. | Lhündrub Tsöndrü | ?–1949 | 1940–1946 | lhun grub brtson ‘grus | Shangpa Lhündrub Tsöndrü |
| 95. | Trashi Tongthün | * 19. Jh. | 1947–1953 | bkra shis stong thun | – |
| 96. | Thubten Künga | 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 Dönden[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 |
Extracted from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaden_Tripa
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Tibetan
Sarah
February 20, 2011
Thank you for this history and the list of the throne holders of Gaden. It is very useful when one needs to make a quick reference. The position of Gaden Tripa is not hereditary. Gaden Tripas are chosen based on their performance and service to the monastery and they command great respect from both lay and ordained people.
Arisa
March 5, 2011
Je Tsongkapa is the founder and 1st Gaden Tripa of the Gelug School of Buddhism. There is a difference between the Gaden Tripa and Dalai Lama. Dalai Lama is only Tibet Leader and King whereas Gaden Tripa is the Throne Holder or Spiritual head of the Gelug School of Buddhism. There are more Gaden Tripas than the Dalai Lamas which had existed. The difference is there are only 14 Dalai Lamas and 102 Gaden Tripas. Gaden Tripas are appointed to their post while Dalai Lamas are reincarnations. The most recently retired Gaden Tripa now known as Gaden Trisur is Khensur Lungri Namgyal. And now 102nd Gaden Tripa is H.E. Jangtse Choeje Rizong Rinpoche Thupten Nynima Lingtok Tenzin Norbu.
Rihanna
June 17, 2011
I read somewhere that Gaden Trisu Khensur Lungrig Namgyal has joined Shar Gaden????? Wasn’t he nominated by by the Tibetan Government in Exile???
Rinchen
August 1, 2013
There are so many Gaden Tripa since when Je Tsongkapa has built the Gaden monastery and taught his students about Buddhism.
The Gaden Tripa is not being mixed with the political scene because he is the Throne Holder or Spiritual Head of the Gelug School Buddhism. If the Gaden Tripa mixes with the political scene, it is very hard for him to help the growth in Buddhism. Reason being that he would be so involved with all the activities that he would not be able to focus on his main purpose of spreading Je Tsongkapa’s teachings to the world.