The lineage of
the Khalkha Jetsun Dampas
The Preincarnations
Taameddov
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Lodoinamdag
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Pandita Barwa'i Tsowo
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Krishnacharya
Krishnacharya is one of the 84 Mahasiddhas, the most famed of the Buddhist tantric masters of India that lived between the 8th and 12th centuries CE. Krishnacharya was a great yogi of Heruka Chakrasamvara and from him a lineage of the deity came that remains in practice to this day.
Ratna Bhahula
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Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo
Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo was an eleventh-century Tibetan translator and author of the Nyingma tradition. He is traditionally described as the last translator of the early translation period. He is counted first among the three luminaries of the Nyingma tradition, alongside Longchenpa and Ju Mipam Gyatso.
Barompa Darma Wangchuk (1127–1194)
Barompa Darma Wangchuk was a significant Tibetan Buddhist figure and the founder of the Barom Kagyu tradition, a branch of the Kagyu school. He was a disciple of Gampopa Sonam Rinchen and played a key role in the spread of Buddhism in Tibet. His students and teachings greatly influenced the development of Tibetan Buddhism. Wangchuk's legacy includes the establishment of Barom Gon monastery, which became a center for his tradition.
Avadhuti Wozer Pel
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Zhang Drukdra Gyaltsen
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Sanggye Rechen
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Kunkhyen Sangha Bhadra
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Jamyang Choje Tashi Paldan (1379–1449)
Jamyang Choje Tashi Palden (1379–1449) was a prominent Tibetan Buddhist master and a key figure in the Geluk tradition. He was a close disciple of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Geluk school. Tashi Pelden established Drepung Monastery in 1416, which became one of the largest and most influential monasteries in Tibet. His teachings and leadership significantly shaped the development of Tibetan Buddhism during his time.
Pandita Chokyi Nyinje
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Jonang Kunga Jetsun Drolchok (1507–1566)
Kunga Drolchok (1507–1566) was a distinguished Tibetan Buddhist master and scholar within the Jonang tradition. His deep commitment to spiritual practice and his scholarly contributions played a significant role in shaping the Jonang and Kagyu schools. As the twenty-fourth Throne Holder of Jonang Monastery, he led with great influence, fostering the development and spread of Jonang teachings. His legacy endures through his profound impact on Tibetan Buddhism and the preservation of the Jonang tradition.
Gaje Sakyong
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Jetsun Taranatha (1575-1634)
Taranatha (1575-1634) was a renowned Tibetan scholar and historian and one of the most important lamas of the Jonang tradition. He dedicated his life to the study and propagation of Buddhism, particularly the Kalachakra Tantra. His historical writings, such as the "History of Buddhism in India," are invaluable resources on Indian Buddhism and its transmission to Tibet. In his later years, Taranatha dedicated himself to spreading the Dharma to Mongolia, where he reincarnated.
The Khalkha Jetsun Dampas
The First Jetsun Dampa:
Zanabazar (1635-1723)
Zanabazar (1635-1723), was the first Khalkha Jetsun Dampa Khutuktu, the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia. Recognized as a reincarnation of Taranatha, he was a key figure in Mongolian religious, political, and cultural life. Zanabazar was an accomplished artist, sculptor, and scholar, known for his exquisite bronze sculptures and the creation of the Soyombo script. His works significantly influenced Mongolian Buddhist art and literature. As a religious leader, he played a vital role in the spread of Buddhism in Mongolia and the establishment of monasteries, leaving a lasting spiritual and cultural legacy.
The Second Jetsun Dampa:
Lobzang Tenpai Dronme (1724-1757)
Lobzang Tenpai Dronme (1724-1757), the Second Khalkha Jetsun Dampa, was recognized as the reincarnation of Zanabazar and enthroned in Ikh Khuree. He received teachings from prominent lamas and contributed to the spread of the Geluk tradition in Mongolia. His tenure was marked by significant efforts to establish and strengthen Buddhist institutions. He traveled extensively, giving teachings and initiating numerous construction projects, including the restoration of temples and monasteries. His contributions greatly influenced the religious landscape of Mongolia during his time.
The Third Jetsun Dampa:
Yeshe Tenpai Nyima (1758-1773)
The Third Khalkha Jetsun Dampa, Yeshe Tenpai Nyima (1758-1773) died young at 15 years old.
The Fourth Jetsun Dampa:
Lobzang Thubten Wangchuk
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The Fifth Jetsun Dampa:
Tsultrim Jigme Tenpai Gyaltsen
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The Sixth Jetsun Dampa:
Lobzang Palden Tenpai Gyaltsen (1843-1848)
The 6th Khalkha Jetsun Dampa, Lobzang Palden Tenpai Gyaltsen (1843-1848), unfortunately, died young at five years old due to smallpox. He passed away only 59 days after being recognized and sent to Urga (what is now Ulaanbaatar). His remains were interred at the Dambadarjaa Monastery in Urga​.Note: Though this incarnation died as a child he is portrayed as an adult in this thangka.
The Seventh Jetsun Dampa:
Ngagwang Chokyi Wangchug Trinle Gyatso (1849-1868)
The 7th Khalkha Jetsun Dampa, Ngawang Chokyi Wangchug Trinle Gyatso (1849-1868), also died at the age of 19.
The Eighth Jetsun Dampa:
The Bogd KhanThe Bogd Khan (1869-1924)
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Born as Agvaan Dorjiev, he was the spiritual and political leader of Mongolia. He was the last khan of Mongolia and played a crucial role in Mongolia's struggle for independence from Qing China. In 1911, he was declared the Bogd Khan of Mongolia, becoming the theocratic ruler of the reestablished independent nation. His reign saw efforts to modernize Mongolia while maintaining its religious and cultural heritage. He remains a significant figure in Mongolian history, symbolizing national identity and resilience.
The Ninth Jetsun Dampa:
Jampel Namdrol Chokyi Gyeltsen (1932 - 2012)
The Ninth Khalkha Jetsun Dampa, Jampel Namdrol Chokyi Gyeltsen (1932-2012), was born in Tibet and recognized as the reincarnation of the eighth Jetsun Dampa, the Bogd Khan. Due to the political turmoil in Mongolia, his identity was kept a secret, and he pursued his studies as a humble monk without the privilege of his predecessors. He later gave back his monastic vows to engage as a tantric practitioner more fully. He fled to India as a refugee after the failed 1959 Tibetan uprising. In exile, he focused on preserving the Ganden and Dakini ear-whispered lineages of the Geluk tradition. In 1991, he was officially enthroned in Mongolia, where he played a key role in revitalizing Buddhism after decades of suppression. He also served as the Head of the Jonang lineage-in-exile to revive and preserve its traditions in India. He passed in 2012 at his residence at Gandantegchenling Monastery in Mongolia.
The Tenth Jetsun Dampa Yangsi (2015 - )
The current Khalkha Jetsun Dampa is a young tulku, or yangsi, born to Mongolian parents around 2015. This yangsi is the first Jetsun Dampa to be reborn in Mongolia, and not Tibet, since the time of the 2nd Jetsun Dampa.In March 2023, at a Chakrasamvara empowerment, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama revealed the yangsi to the world as the guest of honor at the ceremony. Slowly, the child became increasingly more involved in public ceremonies in Mongolia and began his studies to prepare him for his future role as the spiritual leader of Mongolians.