Namkha Pelzang

Sangdak Namkha Pelzang (gsang bdag nam mkha' dpal bzang, also known as Chakdor Tulku (phyag rdor sprul sku), was the 12th abbot of Ralung Monastery. His father was the 11th abbot of Ralung, Drukpa Yeshe Rinchen ('brug pa ye shes rin chen, 1364-1413). His brothers, Drungdorwa (drung rdor ba, d.u.) and Sherab Zangpo (shes rab bzang po), were also lineage holders. Sherab Zangpo, also known as Chenrezig Tulku (spyan ras gzigs sprul pa), was the 13th abbot of Ralung and authored a biography of his brother. Drungdorwa, who was not a monk, was the grandfather of Druknyon Kunga Lekpa ('brug smyon kun dga’ legs pa, 1455-1529).

Namkha Pelzang passed away in 1425 at the age of twenty-eight.

Sources

’Jam dbyangs chos kyi grags pa. 1985. Ras chung snyan rgyud gsar ma. Tashijong: Khampa Gar Sungrab Nyamso Gyunphel Parkhang, pp. 65.4 ff.

Roerich, George, trans. 1996. The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, p. 672.

Shes rab bzang po. 1975 (1432). Nam mkha’ dpal bzang gi rnam thar. In: Rwa lun dkar brgyud gser ’phreng. Vol 3, pp. 99-106. Pelampur: Sungrab NyamsoGyunphel Pharkang, Tibetan Craft Community.

Alexander Gardner
December 2009