The Treasury of Lives

The Thirty-first Ganden Tripa, Damcho Pelwa (dga' ldan khri pa 31 dam chos dpal ba) was born in Jang Zhab ('jang zhabs) in 1546, the year of fire-horse in the ninth sexagenary cycle. At a young age, Damcho Pelwa travelled to Lhasa and matriculated in the Loseling College of the Drepung Monastic University ('bras spuns blo gsal gling grwa tshang). There he studied the traditional courses in the major subjects of studies in both the sutra and tantra according to the Geluk tradition.

Damcho Pelwa studied for many years, eventually becoming a noted scholar. He stood for a traditional examination of Rabjampa at Ngamrim Chode (ngam rim chos sde); that examination served to spread his reputation in the region. Thereafter, Damcho Pelwa served as educator in Loseling College and taught there for long time before serving as lama at Shartse College of the Ganden Monastic University, where he also taught for an extended period of years. There he was known as Sharpa Damcho Pelwa.

In 1618, in the earth-horse year of the tenth sexagenary cycle, at the age of seventy-three, Damcho Pelwa was enthroned as the Thirty-first Ganden Tripa, and served for three years, until his nirvana in 1620, at the age of seventy-five. Trichen Damcho Pelwa gave teachings in both sutra and tantra and also performed and led the important religious activities of his tradition.

A silver reliquary was built in his memory and installed in Ganden Monastery by Chone Choje Gendun Dargye (co ne chos rje dge 'dun dar rgyas, d.u.).