Incarnation Lineage: Tai Situ Previous Incarnations

Tai Situ Main Page

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Kenting Tai Situpa Previous Incarnations:
Maitreya
Padmasambhava (8th century)
Bang Tobchen (9th century)
Dombi Heruka (8th century)
Shri Simha (8th century)
Darikapa (8th century)
Gyim Shang Shab (8th century)
Lochen Denma Tsemang (8th century)
Marpa Chokyi Lodro (1012-1100?)
Pangkhen Ozer Lama (12/13th century)
Taranata (1575-1635)
Rabten Kunzang of Gyantse (14/15th century)
Rinpong Ngagwang
Gonpo Tsultrim Nyingpo (1116-1169)
Drogon Rechen (1148-1218)
Naljor Yeshe Wangchug (1220-1281)
Rigowa Rinjung (Ratnabhadra) (15th century)
Ta Shing Chen (1345-1376)
Norbu Samphel (1566-1578)

There are numerous Tibetan incarnation lineages that claim Dombi Heruka as a previous incarnation. The most famous of these are the Gelugpa Longdol Lama, the Karma Kagyu Tai Situpa and the Surmang Trungpa Tulku. Longdol Lama also includes Marpa Chokyi Lodro which would also make Marpa as a later incarnation of Dombi Heruka. Tai Situ followers also claim that he is an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Maitreya and Jonang Taranata, thus making Dombi Heruka an incarnation of Maitreya and Jonang Taranata - an additional later incarnation of Dombi Heruka. The Jonang Taranata lineage includes the mahasiddha Krishnacharya as a previous incarnation. It is worth noting that the mahasiddha Darikapa and Krishnacharya both share a very similar iconographic appearance and are commonly confused one for the other.(JW 3-2017).

Padmasambhava and Lochen Denma Tsemang lived during the same 8th century period as teacher and student. The 1st Tai Situ and the Gyantse King, Rabten Kunzang, lived during the same 14/15th century period. Taranata and the 5th Tai Situ lived at the same time as each other and overlapped for much of their lives.

Jeff Watt 3-2025