Drenpa Namkha
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Drenpa Namkha (Tibetan: དྲན་པ་ནམ་མཁའ་, Wylie: dran pa nam mkha) was a prominent figure in the 8th century Tibetan Bon tradition. Born in the region of Khyunglung Ngulkhar, near Mount Kailash in southwestern Tibet, he is revered as a great yogi and scholar, instrumental in preserving and transmitting the teachings of Bon during a period of intense persecution.[1]
Life and Legacy
Drenpa Namkha is credited with organizing and disseminating many of the Dzogchen Semde teachings, central to the Bon tradition. He is associated with the concealment of Bon texts and ritual objects, known as terma, during times of persecution. These hidden teachings were later rediscovered by tertons, individuals believed to have the ability to uncover such concealed wisdom.[2]
According to Bon sources, Drenpa Namkha married a woman named Oden Barma, who was of high-caste Indian descent. They had twin sons: Tsewang Rigdzin, a renowned Bon teacher, and Pema Tongdrol, often identified with the Buddhist master Padmasambhava.[3]
Iconography
In Bon iconography, Drenpa Namkha is depicted holding a Yungdrung chakshing in his right hand, symbolizing the indestructibility and permanence of Bon teachings. An eye on the sole of his foot represents victory over heretics and the triumph of truth.[4]
Reincarnations and Influence
Drenpa Namkha is believed to have had several emanations throughout history:
- Khöpung Drenpa Namkha: A prince from Zhang Zhung who renounced his royal lineage to become a Bon master and transmitted teachings to future generations.[5]
- Drenpa Zungi Namtrul: Another significant figure believed to be a reincarnation of Drenpa Namkha, continuing his legacy.
Scholarly Contributions
Drenpa Namkha's biography, detailing his life and teachings, was compiled into an eight-volume work by sPa-tshang Sonam Gyantsan and published in Delhi in 1983.[6]
References
- ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur; John Bellezza (August 2007). "Drenpa Namkha". The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Archived from the original on 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ "Drenpa Namkha Biography". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ Karmay, Per (1972). The Treasury of Good Sayings. Oxford University Press. pp. xxxii n.4.
- ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur; John Bellezza (August 2007). "Drenpa Namkha". The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Archived from the original on 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ "Three Drenpa Namkhas in Yungdrung Bon". Yungdrung Bon UK. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
- ^ Mandelbaum, Arthur; John Bellezza (August 2007). "Drenpa Namkha". The Treasury of Lives: Biographies of Himalayan Religious Masters. Archived from the original on 2014-03-10. Retrieved 2025-08-21.
References
- Karmay (1972). The Treasury of Good Sayings, Oxford University Press, London.
- Kvæne, Per (1995). The Bon Religion Of Tibet: The Iconography Of A Living Tradition.