Jetsun Kunga Drolchog
Jetsun Kunga Drolchog (kun dga' grol mchog, 1507-1566) was both a Sakya and Jonang master and one of the 16th century's greatest non-sectarian masters. A true forerunner of the later Rime movement. He was born in the small kingdom of Mustang in present-day Nepal. At first studying extensively under various Sakya masters, he later became the 24th throne-holder of Jonang monastery and one of the main propagators of the Dro lineage of Kālacakra. From Gyagom Legpa Gyaltsen he received the transmission of the Shangpa lineage and became an avid practitioner of the Six Doctrines of Niguma, which he reportedly passed on to other masters and students more than a hundred times. Especially within the Shangpa lineage he is famous for having eventually received all the twenty-four extant Shangpa transmission lineages of his time. He beheld a vision of the Jnanadakini Niguma and thus received his very own close transmission of the Shangpa teachings from her. After a short-lived rebirth as the Indian prince Rama-Gopala (rgyal sras dga' byed sa skyong), he incarnated as the illustrious Jonangpa master Jetsun Tāranātha.
Primary Teachers
- Lochen Ratnabhadra
- Gyagom Legpa Gyaltsen
- Kunga Chogdrub
- Sonam Tsemo
- Panchen Jampa Lingpa
Primary Students
- Kunga Palzang
- Lochen Gyurme Dechen
- Chöku Lhawang Dragpa
- Khenchen Lungrig Gyatso