Chökyi Drönma (1422-1455) was a Tibetan princess and Buddhist leader. She was the main

consort __NOTOC__ Consort may refer to: Music * "The Consort" (Rufus Wainwright song), from the 2000 album ''Poses'' * Consort of instruments, term for instrumental ensembles * Consort song (musical), a characteristic English song form, late 16th–earl ...

Thang Tong Gyalpo Thangtong Gyalpo () (1385 CE–1464 CE or 1361 CE–1485 CE), also known as Chakzampa, the "Iron Bridge Maker" (), Tsöndrü Zangpo "Excellent Persistence" (), and the King of the Empty Plain.Sarah Harding. Niguma, Lady of Illusion. Snow L ...

, who recognized her as an emanation of

Machig Labdrön Machig Labdrön (, sometimes referred to as Ahdrön Chödron, ), or "Singular Mother Torch from Lab", 1055-1149) was a female Tibetan Buddhist monk believed to be a reincarnation of Yeshe Tsogyal, and the renowned 11th-century Tibetan tantric ...

through the lineage of

Vajravārāhī In Tibetan Buddhism, Vajravārāhī ("The Diamond Sow", Dorje Pakmo) is a wrathful form of Vajrayogini associated particularly with the '' Cakrasaṃvara Tantra'', where she is paired in yab-yum with the Heruka Cakrasaṃvara. Judith Simmer-Br ...

and appointed her as the first

Samding Dorje Phagmo The Samding Dorje Phagmo () is the highest female incarnation in Tibet''The Power-places of Central Tibet: The Pilgrim's Guide'', (1988) p. 268. Keith Dowman. . and the third highest-ranking person in the hierarchy after the Dalai Lama and the Pa ...

Biography

Chökyi Drönma was born in 1422 as the daughter of Thri Lhawang Gyaltsen, the king of Mangyül Gungthang. In 1438 she married a prince from the Southern Tibetan Kingdom of Lato in order to create an alliance between Gungthang and Lato. In 1440, she gave birth to a daughter. When her daughter was old enough to begin schooling, Drönma negotiated with her husband to have her educated according to Buddhist principals. A few years later she returned to Gungthang with an army to assist in an on-going conflict. While she was away her daughter died. After her death, Drönma formally announced her desire to take religious vows, to which her family refused. She became a student of

and, eventually, his main consort. Gyalpo reportedly recognized her as the incarnation of

through the lineage of

. As part of her relationship with Gyalpo, Drönma received the complete teachings of the Heart Practice (''thugs sgrub'') of treasure teachings from Trasang (''bkra bzang gter kha''), as well as

Chöd Chöd ( lit. 'to sever') is a spiritual practice found primarily in the Yundrung Bön tradition as well as in the Nyingma and Kagyu schools of Tibetan Buddhism (where it is classed as Anuttarayoga Tantra). Also known as "cutting through the ego, ...

(teachings of

and Mahāmudrā) instructions from him. She became the first

, the highest-ranking female

Tulku A ''tulku'' (, also ''tülku'', ''trulku'') is a reincarnate custodian of a specific lineage of teachings in Tibetan Buddhism who is given empowerments and trained from a young age by students of his or her predecessor. High-profile examples ...

in Tibet and the third highest-ranking Buddhist leader after the

Dalai Lama Dalai Lama (, ; ) is a title given by the Tibetan people to the foremost spiritual leader of the Gelug or "Yellow Hat" school of Tibetan Buddhism, the newest and most dominant of the four major schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The 14th and current D ...

and the

Panchen Lama The Panchen Lama () is a tulku of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. Panchen Lama is one of the most important figures in the Gelug tradition, with its spiritual authority second only to Dalai Lama. Along with the council of high lamas, h ...

. As Samding Dorje Phagmo, she contributed to art, architecture, and engineering in Tibet. She was committed to women's education, establishing Buddhist convents, and creating religious dances for women. Drönma was a leading figure in the Tibetan

Bodongpa The Bodongpa or Bodong tradition, is one of the smaller traditions of Tibetan Buddhism falling outside the classification of the four main schools. History Bodong E Monastery (), located in Yutok (), in modern Tashigang (), Lhatse County, was t ...

tradition which gradually waned under Gelugpa rule, but was restored in the modern era. She died at the Manmogang Monastery in Tsari to the southeast of Dakpo, near the Indian border, in 1455.Diemberger, page 236

References

{{Authority control 1422 births 1455 deaths 15th-century Tibetan people Asian royalty Female buddhas and supernatural beings Tibetan Buddhists from Tibet Tibetan women in politics Samding Dorje Phagmos