The Glorious Holders of the Yellow Hat DoctrineThe Ganden Tripa or Gaden 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 Khensur Lungri Namgyal, the 101st Ganden Tripa and not, as is often misunderstood, the Dalai Lama.[1]
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,[2] there have been many more Ganden 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 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–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 Gyutö 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 a Dharma Center, Thar Deu Ling[3] which he founded in 1980.[4]
List of Ganden Tripas[edit] 1–25
# 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. 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 –
[edit] 26–50
# name biographical data tenure Wylie transliteration
further titles
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 –
[edit] 51–75
# name biographical data tenure Wylie transliteration
further titles
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
–
[edit] 76–101
# name biographical data tenure Wylie transliteration
further titles
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/Ganden_Tripa )
