The Treasury of Lives

The Third Drubgyud Tulku, Jangchub Nyima, was born in 1666 to a mother named Norkyi (nor skyid) and a father named Sonam Dorje (bsod nams rdo rje) of the Drongpa ('brong pa) clan.

The Tenth Karmapa Choying Dorje (karma pa 10 chos dbyings rdo rje, 1604–1674) recognized him as the reincarnation of the Second Drubgyud Tulku and gave him the title and name Karma Drubgyud Jangchub Nyima (karma sgrub brgyud byang chub nyi ma). A prophecy is said to have predicted that an emanation of Marpa Lotsāwa (mar pa lo tsA ba, c.1012–1097) would be born in the Drongpa clan that year with the word "drub"(sgrub) in his name. It further stated that this child would be a great bodhisattva, and that if he was brought to the sacred site of Cakrasaṃvara containing the word "ta" (rta), he would greatly benefit the teachings and beings. This is interpreted as referring to Tana Monastery (rta rna dgon), the seat of the Yelpa Kagyu tradition.

Jangchub Nyima took full monastic ordination from the Sixth Tai Situ Mipam Trinle Rabten (mi pham 'phrin las rab brtan, 1640~1658–1682). He received the teachings and pith instructions of the Yelpa Kagyu tradition from a lama named Tana Darchuk (rta rna dar phyug).

He spent the majority of his life at Tana Monastery (rta rna dgon), the seat of the Yelpa Kagyu tradition.

He passed away in 1747 at the age of eighty.