Tsepo Tsawarong (btsad po tsha ba rong) was the son of one of the six brothers of Tsangtsa (gtsang tsha spun drug, 12th century), who are counted as the seventh generation from King Namde Osung (gnam lde 'od srungs, b. 842), the son of King Tri Udumtsen (ur dum btsan, r. 836-842), also known as Langdarma (glang dar ma), and his younger wife. It is not clear who Tsawarong's father was from among the six brothers.
When Pakmodrupa Dorje Gyelpo (pag mo grub pa rdo rje rgyal po, 1110-1170) founded Densatil Monastery (gdan sa mthil) in 1158, Tsawarong was one of his sponsors, an indication that he enjoyed a good deal of wealth and privilege.
In the thirteenth century, Tsawarong's descendant Damepa (mda' smad pa) built Gyari Castle (rgya ri mkhar) in Eyul (e yul), in a valley north east of Samye Monastery (bsams yas) in present day Chusum (chu gsum) county. The ruins of this castle, which became the family seat of the prominent Lhagyari family (lha rgya ri) and gave the family its name, are still standing.
Bibliography
Bsod nams stobs rgyas. 2009. Lha rgya ri'i lo rgyus phyogs sgrig. In Bod kyi lo rgyus rig gnas dpyad gzhi'i rgyu cha bdams bsgrigs, vol. 7, pp. 278-311. Chengdu: Si khron mi rigs dpe skrun khang. TBRC W1PD96945.
Petech, Luciano. 1973. Aristocracy and Government in Tibet, 1728-1959. Rome: Istituto Italiano Per Il Medio Ed Estremo Oriente Press, p.19.
Rnam rgyal rgya mtsho. 1999. Lha rgya ri'i gdung rabs. New Delhi: Paljor Publications, pp.16-20. TBRC W00KG09731.