Ngok Kunga Dorje (rngog kun dga' rdo rje) was born in 1157, a wood ox year, the son of Ngok Jo Tsultrim Sherab (rngog jo tshul khrims shes rab, 1115-1158) and his wife Dardze (dar mdzes). His father died when he was only seven months old.
According to tradition age six he could recite the Mañjuśrī-nāmasaṃgīti. When he was ten his famous grandfather Ngok Dode (rngog mdo sde, d.u.), with whom he had studied, died, so his remaining training was done under Ngok Joro (rngok jo ro, d.u.).
Although Kunga Dorje wanted to become a monk, it was considered most important that he, being an only son, would continue the family line. He was over twenty-five when he married a woman named Zhikmo (zhig mo). They had three sons: Rinchen Gyelpo (rin chen rgyal po, 1181-1248), Ziji Drakpa (gzi brjid grags pa, 1202-1281), and Gyelpo Ga (rgyal po dga', 1205-1284).
At Zhung Treuzhing (gzhung spre'u zhing), the birthplace of his great-grandfather Ngok Choku Dorje (rngog chos sku rdo rje, 1036-1097), he founded a monastic educational institution. This became be an important center for tantric teachings for many subsequent generations of Kagyupas.
Bibliography
Roerich, George, trans. 1996.The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, p. 409.
Tshe dbang rgyal. 1994.Lho rong chos 'byung. Lhasa: Bod ljongs bod yig dpe rnying dpe skrun khang, pp. 59-60.