1st Padtselling Tulku Drubthob Namgyal Lhendup
The manifestation of the glorious Vajra Kumara, Siddha Namgyal Lhundup was born in the year 1718 (rabjung 12), in Chapthra Rimtangkhar, Bhutan. He received the name Namgyal Lhundup from Tshamdra Monastery Lama, Je Ngawang Drukpa.
He entered into a strict retreat of Phurpa in Paro Taktsang where, having a vision of the deity, became accomplished in Vajra Kumara.
By the power of past karma, he traveled to Tibet, the land of snow. Being indebted for his benevolence in subduing zombies, a gratitude offering of three hanging scroll paintings was made which still resides as the monastery’s inner sacred object. Subsequently, the master pacified the host of demons at Zhongar Dzong, Bhutan. This act spread his fame, and the people developed faith pledging three kinds of pleasing actions to the lama.
Zhongar being leading in metal crafts, the lama instructed the metal craftsmen to mold the matrix of phurpa to be placed in his monastery. To this date, it is one of the main inner sacred objects of the monastery.
When the Siddha was accumulating one hundred thousand aspirations to good actions (zangchoed moenlam) before the Jowo Statue of Lhasa Tibet, the statue spoke to him prophesying that his destiny lied in the south (Bhutan). On his way to Drukyul (the Land of Thunder Dragon, Bhutan) from Lhasa, he met Ugyen Drimed Lingpa, a combined emanation of Nyenlam Gyalwa Chokyang and Shubu Palgyi Senge. Ugyen Drimed Lingpa recognized him as his doctrine holder prophesied by Guru and therefore bestowed upon him empowerments, reading-transmission and instruction (wang, luung and thri) of Thugdrub Yonten Kunjung, Tshedrub Dorji Sokdrub, Khorwa Jigdrol, etc.,
My distinguished disciple,
Drukpa Geshey Namgyal Lhundup,
Received dharma songs and advice while returning to his homeland.
I have offered him out of immense joy.
— Ugyen Drimed Lingpa.
As per the prophecy of the elders, Siddha Namgyal Lhundup tamed the malicious and obstructing evil forces and bound them to oath, performed deeds for the benefit of sentient beings, and at last displayed passing away into dharmadhatu.
2nd Padtselling Tulku Je Jigme Tenpai Gyaltshen
The second padtselling tulku, the learned and the accomplished master Jigme Tenpai Gyaltshen was born in Trongsa Mangde Trellar accompanied by miraculous signs like the appearance of two suns in the sky and the water turning into a milky color.
When he turned the age of five, he proclaimed to be Siddha Namgyal Lhundrub and insisted on going to Jangchub Pelri Monastery. He was able to describe the monastery in detail and was enthroned in his monastery seat.
He received his upasaka vow from Rigzin Jigme Lingpa who gave him a name Ngagchang Jigme Tenpai Gyaltshen. As per the directives of Rigzin Jigme Lingpa, he received Longchen Nyingthig cycle teaching and Drimed Lingpa’s treasure teaching from Lama Jigme Kundrol. From Khen Tenzin of Ugyen Mindroling Tibet, he received his novice monk vow, and from supreme abbot Dorje Chang Jurmed Thinley Namgyel he completed his study of sutras and tantras.
After benefiting the sentient beings of India, Tibet, Bhutan, and particularly the hidden land of Bumthang, the master passed away into dharmadhatu in the year 1850 coinciding with the fourteenth rabjung fourth day of the fifth month of the iron dog year.
3rd Padtselling Tulku Jigme Droden Dorji
The third padtselling tulku Jigme Droden Dorji was born in the year 1853 coinciding with the fourteenth rabjung water ox year in Bumthang. His family belonged to the Jakar Dung, nobility descending from both Pema Lingpa and Lhalung Pelki Dorji.
From masters like Lama Kunzang Dechen, he learned, starting from the basics of reading and writing to receiving empowerments, reading-transmission, and instruction (wang, luung and thri) of Tertoen Drimed Lingpa’s teaching class of Great Secret Dorje Drub. The tulku passed into nirvana in 1883 at Tang Gamling, Bumthang.
4th Padtselling Tulku Kunzang Thinlay Namgyal
The fourth padtselling tulku Kunzang Thinlay Namgyal was born in 1892, coinciding with the fifteenth rabjung Water Dragon Year at Paro Drugyal Dzong. Rigzin Khamsum Yongdrol, an incarnation of Dorje Lingpa presided over his enthronement and gave him a name Kunzang Ngedon Tenzin Chogyal.
He received Nyingma and Kagyu teachings in their entirety from great lamas like Karmapa Khakyab Dorji, Tokden Sakya Shiri, Dzogchen Khenpo Thubten Nyandrak, and many more. From Chung Trulku he received the monk’s vow. Receiving pith instruction on Longchen Nyingthig and Drime Lingpa’s treasure teachings he put them to practice, becoming accomplished and benefiting karmically connected fortunate ones.
In summary, he benefited the beings and served the buddha doctrine in Bumthang, Mangde, and Bhutan in general. And at last, displayed the passing away to Nirvana in 1957 coinciding with the sixteenth rabjung fire rat year.
5th Padtselling Tulku Pema Kunzang Tenzin Jamtsho
The current fifth padtselling tulku Pema Kunzang Tenzin Jamtsho was born in 1960 coinciding with the sixteenth rabjung fifteenth day of the fourth month of the iron rat year at Tang Namkhai Lhakhang to Binzaibe Choje Thinlay, the direct descendant of Terchen Dorji Lingpa, and Jigme Lhamo.
Soon after he began to speak, he uttered the name of his predecessor Kunzang Thinlay Namgyal and claimed to be his reincarnation. He proclaimed Jangchub Pelri to be his seat and insisted on going there. The Sixteenth Karmapa Rangjung Rigpai Dorji (1924-1981) confirmed the child to be a genuine reincarnation and gave the name Karma Choki Gyaltshen.
Jurme Thegchog Tenpai Gyaltshen, the tenth heart son of Pema Lingpa, enthroned him and named him Pema Kunzang Tenzin Gyamtsho.
He joined the central monastic body at Punakha where he was given the name Tenzin Gyamtsho by the 67th Je Khenpo Nyinzer Trulku Thinlay Lhundup. In the central monastic body of Punakha and Thimphu, he learned the traditions (dances, [mandala] proportions, and chants) of Palden Drukpa Kagyu, and from Tango Choying College, he completed the study of sutras and tantras.
Thereafter, he began working for the benefits of beings within the country and outside the country in diverse places and locations. He also completed the renovation and development work of his monastery at Bumthang. Moreover, tulku initiated the project of constructing winter monastery seat Thubten Shedurb Ling at Gelephu, establishing the community of saffron robe monks, practice center, and continuing the act of benefiting and liberating beings.