The Treasury of Lives

Gyelpo Zhabdrung Stansrung Stobden Migyur Tseten Namgyel (rgyal po zhabs drung bstan srung stobs ldan mi 'gyur tshe brtan rnam rgyal) was born in the year 1711. He was the middle of three sons of the royal family of Padum (pa dum), the historical capital of Zanskar (zangs skar), Ladakh. His father's name was Wangchuk Namgyel (dbang phyug rnam rgyal). His elder brother was Druk Stanzin Namgyel (brug bstan 'dzin rnam rgyal) and his younger brother was Sonam Namgyel (bsod nams rnam rgyal).

Pekar Tenzin ('jam dbyangs pad dkar, 17th century), an advisor to King Dekyong Namgyel (bde skyong rnam rgyal, r. 1729–1739) who was serving as the head of Stakna Monastery (stag sna dgon), gave him his ordination vows. Gyelpo Zhabdrung also received from him teachings of Mahāmudrā and the Six Yogas of Nāropa. He was later enthroned at Bardan Monastery (bar dan dgon) in Zanskar, in the role of Drubchen Deva Gyatso, or the head of the monastery.

Gyelpo Zhabdrung went to pursue further studies in Bhutan at Punakha Dzong, Pungtang Dechen (spu na kha spungs thang bde ba chen), where he lived for twenty-six years. According to Skyabje Stakna Rinpoche, prior to this he had gone to Tibet and where he studied at Drepung Monastery ('bras spung dgon) and spent time at Ralung (rwa lung dgon), the seat of the Drukpa Kagyu tradition in Tibet. After completing his studies, he was given the title of Je Khenpo and served as the abbot of Pungtang Dechen Monastery.

After leaving Bhutan he traveled to Ladakh via Mount Kailash (gangs ti se) and Lake Manasarovar (ma pham g.yu mtsho), giving teachings from the Lhodruk (lho 'brug), or Southern Drukpa Kagyu tradition that was dominant in Bhutan. He also was asked to serve as an advisor to King Deskyong Namgyel. On his permanent return to Zanskar he built a two-story monastery near the Sani Stūpa and Monastery (sa ni dgon), Sani Khar. A palace is also located near the monastery, along with several other temples including Jangchub Lhakhang (byang chub kha khang), Gonkhang (dgon khang), Pehar Lhakhang (pe har lha khang), Tengyur Lhakhang (bstan 'gyur lha khang), and Jowo Lhakhang (jo bo lha khang).

In his later years he returned his vows and married Norzin Wangmo (nor 'dzin dbang mo), the daughter of Yangdak Palsang (yang dag dpal bzang). He spent his remaining days at the palace in Padum.