Shamarpa

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Shamarpa (Tibetan: ཞྭ་དམར་པ་; Wylie: Zhwa-dmar-pa; literally, "Person (i.e. Holder) of the Red Crown"), also known as Shamar Rinpoche, is a lineage holder of the Karma Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism.

The first Shamarpa, Khedrup Drakpa Senge (1283-1349), was the principal disciple of the third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje. Rangjung Dorje gave this disciple a ruby-red crown and the title Shamarpa, establishing the second line of reincarnate lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, Karmapa being the first. This was the fulfillment of a prediction of the second Karmapa, Karma Pakshi, who said "Future Karmapas will manifest in two forms". When the fourth Karmapa, Rolpe Dorje, returned the red crown to the second Shamarpa, he recalled Karma Pakshi's prediction, saying, "You are the one manifestation, while I am the other. Therefore, the responsibility to maintain the continuity of the teachings of the Kagyu lineage rests equally on you as it does on me."

The present (14th) Shamarpa is Mipham Chokyi Lodro, born in Derge, Tibet in 1952. At age four he was recognized by his uncle the 16th Karmapa. After the death of the 16th Karmapa in 1981, the Shamarpa recognized Thaye Dorje as the 17th Karmapa in 1994. The 14th Shamarpa presently resides in India.

Shamarpa is considered the manifestation of Amitabha Buddha. He is traditionally associated with Yangpachen monastery near Lhasa.

[edit] The Shamarpa lineage

Khedrup Drakpa Senge, (1284-1349)
Shamar Khachö Wangpo, (1350-1405)
Shamar Chöpal Yeshe, (1406-1452)
Shamar Chokyi Drakpa Yeshe Pal Zangpo, (1453-1526)
Shamar Köncho Yenlak,(1526-1583)
Shamar Mipan Chökyi Wangchuk,(1584-1629)
Shamar Yeshe Nyinpo, (1631-1694)
Palchen Chökyi Döndrup, (1695-1732)
Könchog Geway Yungnay,(1733-1741)
Mipam Chödrup Gyamtso,(1742-1793)
(unnamed physician in Tibet, forced into hiding by the regents of the 11th Dalai Lama who sought to submerge the Kagyu school into the Geluk school)
Tugsay Jamyang Rinpoche
(an infant who survived only a year)
Mipham Chokyi Lodro, (1952 - )