The Drikungpa, or more formally the Drikung Kyabgön, is the head of the Drikung Kagyu, a sub-school of the Kagyu (བཀའ་བརྒྱུད, ), itself one of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
Like all other Kagyu lineages, the origins of Drikung Kagyu can be traced back to the Great Indian Master Tilopa who passed on his teachings to Mahasiddha Naropa who lived around the 10th and 11th century. The founder of the Drikung Kagyu lineage was Jigten Sumgön (1143-1217) of the Kyura clan, who was the disciple of Phagmo Drupa. According to historical account from the time, Jigten Sumgön's teachings attracted more than 100,000 people at a time, with the highest number of attendance recorded at 130,000.
From the founding of Drikung Thil Monastery in 1179 to the present day, the Drikung Kagyu lineage has been led by a succession of spiritual heads ("throne-holders"). One of the two current heads of the lineage, Drikung Kyabgön Chetsang Rinpoche, Könchok Tenzin Kunzang Thinley Lhundrup (b. 1946), the 37th Drikungpa resides at Drikung Kagyu Institute at Dehra Dun, India. The other head of the Drikung Kagyu Lineage, the 36th Drikungpa, Drikung Kyabgön Chungtsang Rinpoche, Könchok Tenzin Chökyi Nangwa (b. 1942) lives in Lhasa, Tibet.
Lineage timeline According to The Great Kagyu Masters, the lineage succession is as follows:
NameDate of BirthDate of DeathYear Lineage Holding BegunYear Lineage Holding RelinquishedPhagmodrupa11101170Lord Jigten Sumgon1143121711791217Kenchen Gurawa Tsultrim Dorje1154122112171221On Rinpoche Sonam Drakpa1187123412211234Chen-nga Rinpoche Drakpa Jungne1175125512341255Telo Dorje Drakpa1210127812551278Thog-khawa Rinchen Senge1226128412781284Chen-nga tsamchedpa Drakpa Sonam1238128612841286Dorje Yeshe1223129312861293Chu-nyipa Dorje Rinchen1278131412931314Nyer-gyepa Dorje Gyalpo1283135013141350Nyermyipa Chökyi Gyalpo1335140713501395Shenyen Dondrup Gyalpo1369142713951427Dakpo Wang1395According to The Great Kagyu Masters (Gyaltsen (2006), p. 270), "he went to Five Peaked Mountain in China and achieved the state of immortality." Chetsang Rinpoche is considered an emanation of Chenrezig.14271428Chogyal Rinchen Pal Zangpo1421146914281469Rinchen Chökyi Gyaltsen1449148414691484Gyalwang Kunga Rinchen1475152714841527Gyalwang Rinchen Phuntsok1509155715271534Rinchen Namgyal Chodak Gyaltsen1527157015651570Chokyi Namgyal1557157915701579Tsungme Chogyal Phuntsok1547160215791602Naro Nyipa Tashi Phuntsok1574162816021615Jetsǖn Könchog Rinchen (1st Chetsang)They are not considered brothers by blood, but by lineage.1580165416151626Kunkhyen Chökyi Dragpa (1st Chungtsang)Chungtsang Rinpoche is considered the emanation of both Padmasambhava and Manjushri. Also, one of the Drikung Kyabgŏns.1595165916261659Könchog trinley Sangpo (Chetsang)1656171816591718Trinley Dondrub Chogyal (Chungtsang)1704175417041754Kônchog Tenzin Drodul (Chetsang)1724176617241766Könchog Tenzin Chökyi Nyima (Chuntsang)1755179217551792Tenzin Padme Gyaltsen (Chetsang)1770182617701826Tenzin Chöwang Lodrô (Regent)18261827Jetsǖn Chonyi Norbu (Chungtsang)1827186518271865Könchog Thukie Nyima (Chetsang)1828188118281881Könchog Tenzin Chôkyi Lodrö (Chungtsang)1868190618681906Könchog Tenzin Zhiwe Lodrö (Chetsang)1886194318861943Tenzin Chökyi Jungme (Chungtsang)1909194019091940Tenzin Thuben Wangpo (Regent)19401942Tenzin Chökyi Nangwa (Chungtsang)19421942Könchog Tenzin Kunzang Thinley Lhundrup (Chetsang)19461946
See also Karmapa Shamarpa
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