King Kanam Depa

King Kanam Depa aka Powo Kanam Depa was the king of the Powo kingdom, in the southern-western part of Kham, and the paternal grandfather of Dudjom Rinpoche. His children includes:

• Khengen Tulku, Dudjom Rinpoche's father
• Ani Nangsal, Dudjom Rinpoche's aunt, who was connected to Dudjom Lingpa

According to Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal:

Approximately two thousand years ago, the Tibetan king Drigum Tsenpo (the 8th in the line of the original rulers of Tibet) was assassinated by his minister Longam. The king three sons—Jatri, Shatri, and Nyatri—fled. Jatri settled in the Powo area and ruled as king. He and his descendants later came to be known as the Kanam Depa clan. They ruled Tibet’s southern-most regions, centered in Powo but including Pemakö and other valleys, for almost two thousands years. They subdued outlaws and extended their loving protection to the weak, thereby gaining a very special place in Tibetan history. They were dharma patrons mainly for the Nyingma and Kagyu schools and in particular for the great nyingma tertön Rigdzin Düddul Dorje, Taksham Nüden Dorje, and Tsasum Lingpa.

King Kanam Depa’s wife was Tsering Dolma, the sister of Dasang Namgyal Tsarong, who became the commander-in-chief of the Tibetan army.

Internal Links

• Dudjom Rinpoche Family Lineage