Women Disciples of Padampa

Note: This file is related to a blog in Tibeto-logic (click on the link) where some of the bibliographical references may also be found.

This may be described as a small prosopography of late-11th-to-12th-century women’s names, as well as an index to paragraph-lengthed texts about them. It will be of interest primarily to serious researchers into early Tibetan social and religious history.

With no pretensions of completeness, the five choice lists you see below are limited to works that are exclusively devoted to Padampa's women disciples, even though many of them do feature in other contexts.

Names of the women disciples of Padampa appear throughout the core sections of the Zhijé Collection as well as in later derivative works.  Most remarkably, since this has only rarely been noticed before, some of these women's names are attached to songs they sang, making them rare surviving examples of early women’s compositions (I assure you they are there, although there are no indications of them here in this file. Three of these songs, based on versions found in the biography of Padampa, have been translated in Gianotti's book, pp. 157-167). 

Note: The frontispiece is based on a photo taken during one of the Dolan Tibet Expeditions of the 1930’s.

•1•

Source:  The Maroon Carnelian Cycle (Dmug-po Mchong-gi Skor, title visible only in microfilm version), title from colophon, Thun-tshags-kyi Dum-bu zhes bya-ba / 'Jig-rten-gyi Long-gtam-du Gsungs-pa-las / Bud-med-la Gdams-pa, contained in: The Tradition of Pha Dampa Sangyas: A Treasured Collection of His Teachings Transmitted by Thugs-sras Kun-dga’, Kunsang Tobgey (Thimphu 1979), in 5 volumes, at vol. 2, pp. 440-460.  A digitized version of this text appears to be available, based on the Kathmandu set (which would be a copy of the 1979). The introduction indicates three titles from which this anthology was drawn.

440  No title visible. Title line visible in film KHA 152v:  Dmug po mchong gi skor lags so.  It is a collection of advice for women (all of their names are listed here).  Introduction (440.1): bla ma dam pa rnams la phyag 'tshal lo //  rgyal sras mi'i seng ge a tsa ra nag po gzi mdangs can / sangs rgyas gnyis pa lta bu'i dpal mi pham mgon pos gsungs pa / Snying gtam me rtsa ru btab pa gnad kyi yi ge dang / 'Jig rten gyi long gtam du gsungs pa thun tshags kyi dum bu dang / Phyag rgya chen po brda'i brgyud pa la sogs pa'i nang nas / bud med la gsungs pa rnams logs su bsdebs pa'o //  //.  

440.3  Bsgom-ma Chos-skyid.  

441.1  Bsgom-ma Bzang-skyid.  

441.4  Bsgom-ma Dge-skyid [Dge'-skyid].  

441.7  Sgom-ma Chos-rgyan.  

442.2  Sgom-ma Byang-chub-rgyan.  

442.5  Sgom-ma Byin-brlabs-brgyan (Byin-rlabs-rgyan? Byin-brlabs-brgyad?).  

443.2  'Od-dge.  

443.6  Sgom-ma Brtan-sgron.  

444.2  Sgom-ma Skyid-chung-sgron.  

444.5  Sgom-ma Bsod-nams-sgron.  

445.2  Sgom-ma Dge-lcam.  

445.5  Sgom-ma Dben-tsha-lcam.  

446.1  Sgom-ma Nyi-khri-lcam.  

446.4  Jo-sras-ma Mdo-sde.  

447.1  Sgom-ma Shes-rab-dge.  

447.3  bSgom-ma Brtson-'grus-dge.  

447.6  Sgom-ma Bsod-nams-dge.  

448.1  Sgom-ma 'Bro-chung ma.  

448.4  Sgom-ma Nyang-chung-ma.  

448.7  Sgom-ma Byang-chub-skyid.  

449.2  Sgom-ma Brtson-'grus-skyid.  

449.5  Sgom-ma Ye-shes-dge.  

450.1  Sgom-ma Ye-shes-sgron.  

450.3  Sgom ma Yon-tan-dge.  

450.4  Sgom-ma Dbang-dge.  

450.5, 451.7  Rgya-sgom-ma.  

450.6  Sgom-ma Chos-gsal. 

451.2  Sgom-ma Dar-ma-gsal.  

452.2  Yon-bdag-mo Khrom-dge.  

452.4  Yon-bdag-mo Chos-dge.  

452.7  Yon-bdag-mo Bzungs-'dus-dge (Gzungs-'dus-dge).  

453.2  Yon-bdag-mo Kon-sgron (Dkon-sgron, Dkon-mchog-sgron-ma).  

453.4  Yon-bdag-mo Dkon-skyid.  

453.7  Yon-bdag-mo Bzan-skyong.  

454.2  Sgom-ma Dge-bsnyen-ma.  

454.7  Ston-ma Nyi-rgyan.  

455.3  Ston-ma Bsod-nams-rgyan.  

455.6  Ston-ma Rgyan-ne.  

455.7  Ston-ma Byang-chub-dge.

456.2  Ston-ma Dge-sgron.  

456.5  Jo-mo Dri-myed-rgyan (Dri-med-rgyan).  

457.1  Jo-mo Pad-ma-rgyan (Padma-rgyan).  

457.3  Jo-mo Dge-rgyan.  

457.5  Jo-mo Rdo-rje-rgyan.  

457.6  Jo-mo Rdo-rje-dge.  

458.2  Jo-mo Rdo-rje-gsal.  

458.5  Jo-mo Nam-mkha'-rgyan.  

458.7  Jo-mo Nam-mkha'-gsal.  

459.3  Ma-jo Brtson-ne.  

459.4  Lhur Btsun-ma.  

459.7  Jo-mo Gser-btsun-ma.  

460.2  'Bro-chung-ma.  

Colophon (460.4): thun tshags kyi dum bu zhes bya ba / 'jig rten gyi long gtam du gsungs pa las / bud med la gdams pa'o.

•2•

Source:  ZC, vol. 4, pp. 302-323, with the title Jo-mo Nyi-shu-rtsa-bzhi'i Zhu-lan Lor-rgyus dang bcas-pa, contained in: The Tradition of Pha Dampa Sangyas: A Treasured Collection of His Teachings Transmitted by Thugs-sras Kun-dga’, Kunsang Tobgey (Thimphu 1979), in 5 volumes, at vol. 4, pp. 302-323, at pp. 302-313.  In the text itself the names are not numbered.

[1] 303.2 — Jo-mo Sangs-rgyas.

[2] 303.5 — Jo-mo Gser-btsun-ma.

[3] 304.1 — Blan-chung-ma.

[4] 304.4 — Jo-mo 'Bar-ma.

[5] 305.1 — Ri-ma.

[6] 305.4 — Jo-mo Ye-shes-lcam.

[7] 306.2  — [Jo-mo Chos-sgron?].

[8] 306.4 — Jo-mo Ma-gces.

[9] 307.2 — Jo-mo Chos-skyabs (Chos-skyabs-ma).

[10] —         [Jo-mo Chos-skyid?]

[11] 308.1 — Jo-mo 'Gur-mo.

[12] 308.5 — Jo-mo Lha-mo.

[13] 309.1 — Jo-mo Myang-ro-ma.

[14] 309.5 — Jo-mo Dbang-phyug-lcam.

[15] 310.2 — Jo-mo Rdo-rje-rgyan.

[16] 310.5 — Jo-mo Nam-ka-gsal (Nam-mkha'-gsal).

[17] 311.1 — Jo-mo Sgron-ne.

[18] 311.4 — Jo-mo 'Phan-mo.

[19] 312.2 — Jo-mo Rje'u.

[20] 312.4 — Ro-zan-ma.

[21] 312.5 — Shangs-chung-ma.

[22] 312.7 — Jo-mo Zhwa-chung-ma.

[23] 313.1 — Bo-mo Gzho-nu [Bu-mo Gzhon-nu, "young girl," not a proper name].

[24] 313.3 — Nya-ma Khyim-pa ["woman disciple householder," not a proper name].

•3•

Source:  ZC, vol. 4, pp. 302-323, with the title Jo-mo Nyi-shu-rtsa-bzhi'i Zhu-lan Lor-rgyus dang bcas-pa, contained in: The Tradition of Pha Dampa Sangyas: A Treasured Collection of His Teachings Transmitted by Thugs-sras Kun-dga’, Kunsang Tobgey (Thimphu 1979), in 5 volumes, at vol. 4, pp. 302-323, at pp. 314-323.  In the text itself the names are in fact numbered.

[1] 314.3 — Jo-mo Sangs-rgyas.

[2] 315.1 — Gser-btsun-ma.

[3] 315.4 — Jo-mo Rlan-chung-ma.

[4] 315.7 — Jo-mo 'Bar-ma.

[5] 316.2 — Jo-mo Ri-ma.

[6] 316.6 — Jo-mo Ye-shes-lcam.

[7] 317.1  — Jo-mo Chos-sgron.

[8] 317.3 — Jo-mo Mang-ces.

[9] 317.6 — Jo-mo Chos-skyabs.

[10] 318.1 — Jo-mo Chos-skyid.

[11] 318.3 — Jo-mo Dgur-mo.

[12] 318.5 — Jo-mo Lha-mo.

[13] 318.7 — Jo-mo Nyang-ro-ma.

[14] 319.2 — Jo-mo Dbang-phyug-lcam.

[15] 319.4 — Jo-mo Rdo-rje-rgyan.

[16] 320.1 — Jo-mo Nam-ka-gsal (Nam-mkha'-gsal).

[17] 320.4 — Jo-mo Sgron-ne.

[18] 320.6 — Jo-mo 'Phan-mo.

[19] 321.2 — Jo-mo Rje'u-ma.

[20] 321.3 — Ro-zan-ma.

[21] 321.5 — Jo-mo Shangs-chung-ma.

[22] 322.2 — Jo-mo Zhwa-chung-ma.

[23] 322.5 — Ding-ri Sdong-gi bo-mo gzhon-nu [bu-mo gzhon-nu, "young girl of Tingri Dong," not a proper personal name].

[24] 313.3 — nya-ma khyim-pa-mo ["woman disciple householder," not a proper name].

•4•

Source:  Lnga-brgya-pa-rnams-kyi Gtsug-gi Nor-bu Dam-pa Rin-po-che'i Dris-lan Thun-tshags-kyi Dum-bu-las Khol-du Phyung-ba 'Ga', contained in: Mkha'-'gro'i Chos-mdzod Chen-mo, Bod-ljongs Bod-yig Dpe-rnying Dpe-mdzod-khang (Lhasa 2017), vol. 52, pp. 102-111:

Yon-bdag-mo Bsing-ma.  102.

Ma-jo Sgron-ma.  103.

Yon-bdag-mo Bzang-brgyan.  103.

Ma-jo 'Dar-chung-ma.  103.

Rgya-sgom-ma.  104, 106.

Ston-ma Dar-rgyan.  104.

Ma-jo Chos-gsal.  105.

Ston-ma Byang-chub-dge.  106.

Yon-bdag-mo Rgyan-ne.  107.

Sgom-ma Sgron-skyid.  107.

Ma-jo 'Od-gsal.  108.

Yon-bdag-mo Dpal-'dren.  108.

Sgom-ma Byang-chub-skyid.  109.

Ma-jo Snang-gsal.  109.

Jo-sras-ma Brgyan-ne.  110.

Jo-mo Padma-rgyan.  111.

•5•

Source:  Rgya-gar A-tsa-ra Nag-po'i Snying-gtam Nyams-kyi Man-ngag Glen-tshig-tu Btab-pa-las Ma-jo-rnams-la Gdams-pa 'Ga', contained in: Mkha'-'gro'i Chos-mdzod Chen-mo, Bod-ljongs Bod-yig Dpe-rnying Dpe-mdzod-khang (Lhasa 2017), vol. 52, pp. 112-142:

Ma-jo Nyang-ro-ma.  112.

Yon-bdag-mo Bdud-rtsi-skyid.  112.

Yon-bdag-mo Brgyan-ting.  112.

Ma-jo Chos-gsal.  113.

Yon-bdag-mo Byang-chub-skyid.  113.

'Gar-mo Chos-'phreng.  114.

Jo-mo Rin-chen-gsal.  114.

Yon-bdag-mo G.yang-skyid.  114.

Yon-bdag-mo Bzang-nge.  115.

Ma-jo Sgrol-ma.  116.

Yon-bdag-mo Rin-dge.  116.

Yon-bdag-mo Bsod-nams-sgron.  116.

Yon-bdag-mo Dpal-'dren.  116.

Yon-bdag-mo Rin-dge.  117.

Yon-bdag-mo Rgyan-ne.  117.

Sgom-ma Rin-dge.  118.

Jo-mo Dge-sgron.  118.

Yon-bdag-mo Lha-mo-'od.  118.

Jo-mo Tshul-khrims-rgyan.  119.

Jo-sras-ma 'Od-zer-dge.  119, 121.

Lha-cig Khrom-rgyan.  119.

Sgom-ma Byang-chub-dge. 120.

Jo-mo Byang-chub-sgron.  120.

Myang-mo Jo-dga'.  121.

Sgom-ma Rin-chen-gsal.  121.

G.yas-ru'i Gzangs Btsun-ne.  122.

Bla-ma Lcug-gi Sring-mo [“Sister of Lama Chug,” her pr. n. is Rgyal-mo].  122.

[Here a new text seems to begin!  The anthology of women's accounts names its sources as Snying gtam me btsa' ru btab pa gnad kyi yi ge, 'Jig rten gyi long gtam du gsungs pa thun tshags kyi dum bu, Phyag rgya chen po brda'i brgyud pa.]

Sgom-ma Chos-skyid.  123.

Sgom-ma Bzang-skyid.  123.

Sgom-ma Dge-skyid.  124.

Sgom-ma Chos-rgyan.  124.

Sgom-ma Byang-chub-rgyan.  124.

Sgom-ma Byin-rlabs-rgyan.  125.

'Od-dge.  125.

Sgom-ma Bstan-sgron.  125.

Sgom-ma Skyid-chung-sgron.  126.

Sgom-ma Bsod-nams-sgron.  126.

Sgom-ma Dge-lcam.  127.

Sgom-ma Dben-tsha-lcam.  127.

Sgom-ma Nyi-khri-lcam.  127.

Jo-sras-ma Mdo-sde.  128.

Sgom-ma Shes-rab-dge.  128.

Sgom-ma Brtson-'grus-dge.  129.

Sgom-ma Bsod-nams-dge.  129.

Sgom-ma 'Bro-chung-ma.  129.

Sgom-ma Nyang-chung-ma.  130.

Sgom-ma Byang-chub-skyid.  130.

Sgom-ma Brtson-'grus-skyid.  131.

Sgom-ma Ye-shes-dge.  131.

Sgom-ma Ye-shes-sgron.  131.

Sgom-ma Yon-tan-dge.  132.

Sgom-ma Chos-gsal. 132.

Sgom-ma Dar-ma-gsal.  133.

Sgom-ma Ting-'dzin-gsal.  133.

Rgya-sgom-ma.  133.

Yon-bdag-mo Khrom-dge.  134.

Yon-bdag-mo Chos-dge.  134.

Yon-bdag-mo Gzung-'dus-dge.  134.

Yon-bdag-mo Dkon-sgron.  135.

Yon-bdag-mo Dkon-skyid.  135.

Yon-bdag-mo Bzang-skyong.  135.

Sgom-ma Dge-bsnyen-ma.  136.

Ston-ma 'Do-rgyan.  136.

Ston-ma Nyi-rgyan.  137.

Ston-ma Bsod-nams-rgyan.  137.

Ston-ma Rgyan-ne.  137.

Ston-ma Byang-chub-dge.  138.

Ston-ma Dge-sgron.  138.

Jo-mo Dri-med-rgyan.  138.

Jo-mo Padma-rgyan.  139.

Jo-mo Dge-rgyan.  139.

Jo-mo Rdo-rje-rgyan.  139.

Jo-mo Rdo-rje-dge.  140.

Jo-mo Rdo-rje-gsal.  140.

Jo-mo Nam-mkha'-rgyan.  140.

Jo-mo Nam-mkha'-gsal.  141.

Jo-mo Brtson-ne.  141.

Lhur Btsun-ma.  141.

Jo-mo Gser-btsun-ma.  142.

'Bro-chung-ma.  142.

[Colophon title: Thun tshags kyi dum bu zhes bya ba 'jig rten gyi long gtam du gsungs pa las Bud med la gdams pa'o.]