Teacher: Desi Sanggye Gyatso

Desi Sanggye Gyatso Masterworks

Subjects & Topics:
- Desi Sanggye Gyatso Description (below)
- Sanggye Gyatso Biography
- 5th Dalai Lama Page
- Incarnation Lineages Painting Set
- Potala Palace
- The Five Beryl (Vaidurya) Texts
- Gelug Tradition Main Page
- Confusions: 5th Dalai Lama Iconography
- Others...

Desi Sanggye Gyatso (1653-1705): regent of Tibet after the passing of the 5th Dalai Lama and responsible for the building of the Potala Palace. Sanggye Gyatso was the 3rd and last Desi in the employ of the 5th Dalai Lama.

In 1679 he became the Desi and in 1682 began construction of the Potala Palace. The great religious prayer festival and tea offerings to the three great Gelugpa monasteries in memory of the 5th Dalai Lama was instituted in 1684. In 1702 he reigned as regent and was murdered in 1705 by associates of Lhazang Khan. Je Konchog Wangchug was recognized by the 6th Dalai Lama as the Desi incarnation and the line continues to this day in Mongolia. [Source Tbrc].

Desi Sanggye Gyatso Incarnation Lineage:
Vajrapani, Arhat Anirudha, Dharmaraja Chandrabhadra, Arya Asanga, Tsunmo Yiongma, Gyalbu Gawai Pal, Drangmo Dema, Trulpai Tachog Changshe (Horse), Dharmaraja Bhanga, Khyeu Gyuma Chilwa (Parrot), Khyimdag Palbe, Lonpo Netso Yuting, Lhase Mutri Tsanpo, Trinyen Zungtsen, Gungru Gungtsen, Mune Tsenpo, Lhalung Palgyi Dorje, Drubtob Nyima Dzin, Ngog Legpai Sherab (11th century), Drupai Wangchug Ratna Lingpa (1147-1216), Sechen Chokyi Gyalpo (Kublai Khan 1215-1294), Terton Zangpo Drag, Kedrub Norzang Gyatso, Altan Chokyi Gyalpo (Altan Khan 1507-1582), Mize Sanggye Gyatso 3rd Regent (1653-1705), Je Konchog Wangchug, Tala Ngagwang Palzang, Lharampa Zopa Gyatso, etc.

The incarnation lines of the three great Gelug figures of the time, 5th Dalai Lama, 1st Panchen Lama and the 1st Desi Sanggye Gyatso, were created and solidified in the late 17th century. All three traced each of their previous incarnations so as to weave in and out of each others lives. This is a Gelug system of both incarnation and pre-incarnation and is not necessarily recognized by other Tibetan Buddhist Traditions and incarnation lineages.

[1] An early example of the inter-weaving is with Padmasambhava (Panchen incarnation), Trisong Detsen (Dalai incarnation) and Lalung Pelgyi Dorje (Desi incarnation).

[2] Atisha (Panchen) and his principal student Dromton (Dalai) and Ngog Legpa'i Sherab (Desi).

[3] Sakya Pandita (Panchen), Chogyal Pagpa (Dalai) and Kublai Khan (Desi).

[4] Ensapa Lobsang Dondrub or Lobzang Chokyi Gyaltsen (Panchen), Sonam Gyatso (Dalai) and Altan Khan (Desi).

Jeff Watt 1-2004 [5-2012, 6-2017]