Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal

1594-1651 - Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, one of the two incarnations of the fourth Drukchen, contributed to unite Bhutan as a state [RY]

Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal

17th century; the 1st, 1594-1651 [RY]

zhabs drung ngag dbang rnam rgyal [17th century founder of Bhutan] [IW]

Short biography of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal

Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal [1594-1651], was the reincarnation of the 4th Drukchen ('brug chen), the Omniscient Pema Karpo (kun mkhyen padma dkar po). Like all previous Drukchen incarnations, he was born into the royal Gya (rgya) family descended from Tsangpa Gyare Yeshe Dorje. His father was Mipham Tenpai Nyima (yab chen mi pham bstan pa'i nyi ma) [1567-1619] the son of 'brug chen mi pham chos rgyal and his mother Sonam Pelkyi Butri (bsod nams dpal gyi bu khrid), daughter of the ruler of skyid shod.

Although he was enthroned as the 18th Abbot of Ralung (rwa lung), the first 'brug pa monastery to be established in Tibet, Ngawang Namgyal was compelled to flee Tibet in 1616 in order to escape the persecution of the powerful king of Tsang, a supporter of the Karma Kagyu, who recognized his own nephew, Pagsam Wangpo (dpag bsam dbang po) (1592-1641) as the 5th Drukchen incarnation.

Following the prophecy of Pema Karpo, Ngawang Namgyal left for western Bhutan, where the Drukpa Kagyu ('brug pa bka' brgyud) school had already been established, and founded the Cheri Monastery in 1619 in Thimphu valley. In 1629, he founded his first fortress, Simtokha Dzong, near Thimphu. Over his 35 years as the temporal and spiritual ruler of Bhutan, Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal repelled a series of Tibetan invasions and overcame internal opposition to unify the country for the first time in its history.

On seven occasions between 1616 and 1679, Tibet launched war against Bhutan, first under the Tsangpa king and, after 1642, under the central Gaden Photang ([dga' ldan pho brang]) government newly established by 5th Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso (ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho) [1617-1682].

So important was the Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal to the stability of Bhutan during this period that his death was kept secret. In 1651 his closest aids announced that Shabdrung had entered strict retreat - and they continued to maintain that he was "in retreat" like this for more than 50 years issuing edicts in his name until 1705.

Primary Teachers

• yongs 'dzin lha dbang blo gros
• mi pham bstan pa'i nyi ma

Students

• pad dkar 'byung gnas [1604-1672] ('brug rje mkhan po 1)
• bsod nams 'od zer [1613-1689] ('brug rje mkhan po 2)
• pad dkar lhun grub [1640-1699] ('brug rje mkhan po 3)
• dam chos pad dkar [1639-1708] ('brug rje mkhan po 4)
• bzod pa 'phrin las [1645-1729] ('brug rje mkhan po 5)
• grub dbang ngag dbang bsam gtan [1631-1709]
• yongs 'dzin bzod pa pad dkar

Primary Lineage

• Kagyu
• Drukpa Kagyu

Reference Sources

Tibetan (chos skad)

• Author: gtsang mkhan chen 'jam dpal bshes gnyen [1610-1684]. Title: dpal 'brug pa rin po che ngag dbang rnam rgyal gyi rnam thar rgyas pa chos kyi sprin chen po'i dbyangs.

• Author: dge 'dun rin chen [1926-1997] ('brug rje mkhan po 69). Title: dpal ldan 'brug pa'i gdul zhing lho phyogs nags mo'i ljongs kyi chos 'byung blo gsar rna ba'i rgyan (lho yi chos 'byung blo gsar rna rgyan).

• Author: slob dpon padma tshe dbang [] Title: 'brug gi rgyal rabs| 'brug gsal ba'i sgron me. ("History of Bhutan by Slobdpon Padma Tshedwang") [ISBN 99936-631-2-3] p.120-192

Dzongkha

• Author: Dasho Dungchen Sangay Dorji [b.]

External Links

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