The Jebstundampa incarnation lineage is regarded as the head of Buddhism in Mongolia. The lineage is currently affiliated with both Jonang and Geluk traditions. The First Jebtsundampa, Zanabazar, was identified as the reincarnation of Jetsun Tāranātha (tA ra nA tha, 1575–1634). The list of prior incarnations is as follows: 1) Indian Paṇḍita Barbey Tsobo ('bar ba'i gtso bo), 2) Mahāsiddha Kṛṣṇācārya, 3) Indian tantric master Rātna Bhahula, 4) Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo (rong zom chos kyi bzang po mid 11th cen–early 12th cen.), 5) Barompa Darma Wangchuk ('ba rom pa dar ma dbang phyug 1127–1194), 6) Avadhūti Wozer Pel (a wa dhu ti 'od zer dpal), 7) Zhang Drukdra Gyaltsen (zhang 'brug sgra rgyal mtshan), 8) Sanggye Rechen (sangs rgyas ras chen), 9) Kunkhyen Sangha Bhadra (kun mkhyen sangha bhadra), 10) Jamyang Choje Tashi Pelden ( 'jam dbyangs chos rje bkra shis ldan 1379–1449), 11) Paṇḍita Chokyi Nyinje (chos kyi nyin byed), 12) Jonang Jetsun Kunga Drolchok (rje btsun kun dga' grol mchog 1507–1566), 13) and the Indian prince Gaje Sakyong (dga' byed sa skyong).
Biographies
The First Jetsundampa, Lobzang Tenpai Gyeltsen
b.1635 - d.1723
The Second Khalkha Jetsundampa, Lobzang Tenpai Dronme
b.1724 - d.1757
The Second Khalkha Jetsundampa Lobzang Tenpai Dronme is remembered for the development of monastic complexes in Khalkha Mongolia and his involvement with the Qing court during a period of Mongol insurrection. He was the last of the Jetsundampa incarnations to be discovered in Mongolia – subsequent incarnations would be identified in Tibet – signaling the waning power of Khalkha Mongols in the Qing Empire.
The Third Jebtsundampa, Yeshe Tenpai Nyima
b.1758 - d.1773
The Fourth Jebtsundampa, Lobzang Tubten Wangchuk Jigme Gyatso
b.1775 - d.1813
The Fifth Jebtsundampa, Lobzang Tsultrim Jigme Tenpai Gyeltsen
b.1815 - d.1841
The Ninth Jebtsundampa, Jampel Namdrol Chokyi Gyeltsen
b.1932 - d.2012
Ninth Bogd Jebtsundampa Khutugtu, Jampel Namdrol Chokyi Gyeltsen, was born and educated in Tibet and fled to India in 1959. He was initially identified as Jamyang Choje Tashi Pelden, a pre-incarnation of Tāranātha. The Fifth Reting Rinpoche also identified him as the Ninth Jebtsundampa Khutugtu but, because the Mongolian socialist regime had forbidden the recognition of the Eighth Jebtsundampa Khutugtu's reincarnation, his identity was kept secret for over fifty years, and was only identified as the Ninth Jebtsundampa Khutugtu in 1991. He was enthroned as a head of Mongolian Buddhism as well as a head of the Jonang school in-exile. He taught extensively in Russia and Mongolia during the first decade of the twenty-first century, helping to revive Buddhism there.
