rGya bla'i 'brong nam

00764 

Other names / Alternative spellings 

Social groups (status, family, lineage...) 

lha deity 

Period of activity 

Myth 

Biographical data 

Bla'i 'brong nam, deity of rGya [people], inside the fortress sTegs pa of rGya [people], of the Chab gyi ma gzhug (?) land (ms. PT 1060 l. 92-93 "yul chab gyi ma gzhug rgya mkhar stegs pa'i nang na' / / lha rgya bla'i 'brong nam"). 

Titles 

lha (ms. PT 1060 l. 93) 

Notes 

In later documentation, rGya la 'brong nam/rGya la 'brong rnam is described as the son of sTag chag yal yol and Tshe za Khyad khyud, and the brother of 'O de gung rgyal, Yab lha brdal drug, and Phya lha bram chen. He came as the lha deity of the rGya people (rgya mi mang yi lhar gshegs).

According to mKhas pa lde'u 129na-130ba (2010 ed. p. 217-220), the srid pa'i lha rabs mched bzhi (the four sons of yab sTag cha yal yol and yum Tshe za Khyad khyud), played dice to decide who would stay in the divine land (lha yul) and who would go to the human land (mi yul).

The two younger lost :

- rGya la 'brong went to act as the god of the rGya people (rgya mi mangs) and had nine sons (Kha 'od rgyal ba, Zla 'od rgyal ba, Grags kyi lha, Drung grus kyi rje, Kho de sang pa, Khu 'phangs rgyal ba, dGu sor phyag po, Kha dang chen po, Gar gar rje)

- 'O de gung rgyal went through intermediary space to earth where was god of men and fathered nine gods (lha) and then had another son.

The two older brothers won :

- Phya la bram chen became the god (lha) of the mGon btsun phya, he fathered the phya lcam dral drug.

- gcen Yab lha brdal drug became the lord of all gods at the top of the thirteen celestial levels (gnam rim pa bcu gsum gyi steng nga), he fathered seven sons and a daughter.

See mKhas pa lde'u 129na-129ba, 2010ed. (p. 217-218): 

"[yab stag cha yal yol] ...dang yum tshe za khyad khyud bshos pa'i sras / srid pa'i lha rabs mched bzhi 'khrungs te / yab lha brdal drug / phya lha bram chen / rgya la 'brong nam / 'o de gung rgyal / lha rabs mched bzhi lha yul du gang sdod / mi yul du gang bzhud sho btab pas /... yab lha brdal drug dang / phya lha bram chen gnyis rgyal / gcung gnyis pham ste / rgya la 'brong nam rgya mi mangs yi lhar gshegs / sras dgu khrung te / kha 'od rgyal ba / zla 'od rgyal ba / grags kyi lha / drung grus kyi rje / kho de sang pa / khu 'phangs rgyal ba / dgu sor phyug po / kha dang chen po / gar gar rje dang dgu'o // "

See also Dam can bstan srung gi rnam thar (2003ed. p. 275): 

"...gzhung khungs ma 'ga' zhig las yab lha brdal drug / phya lha bam chen / rgya la 'brong rnam / 'o de gung rgyal te srid pa'i lha rab mched bzhir bshad /..." 

'O de gung rgyal

00625 

Other names / Alternative spellings 

'O de gung rgyal (ms. ITJ 734 l. 5r193, ITJ 740 l. 70) 

'O de lha dpal gung rgyal ba ? (ms. ITJ 734 l. 5r188-189) 

'O de lha dpal phu rgyal (ms. ITJ 734 l. 5r188-189, as suggested in OTDO, although it could also be read as 'O de lha dpal gung rgyal from the digitized document) 

lDe bla gung rgyal ? (ms. PT 1287 l. 17-18, identification unsure) 


Social groups (status, family, lineage...) 

lha deity ?


Period of activity 

myth 


Biographical data 

lDe bla gung rgyal took Dri gum to the sky, but was prevented of doing so by Lo ngam. lDe bla gung rgyal was projected into the snows of the Ti se and departed (gshegs, died? see transl. in Hill 2006 p. 92, ms. PT 1287 l. 17-18) 


Titles 

lha (ms. ITJ 740 l. 70) 


Notes 

Whether 'O de gung rgyal is the same as 'O de spu rgyal or not seems a bit unclear from Old Tibetan material. 

In later tradition, yab 'O de gung rgyal is thought to be the father of the following mountain deities: Yar lung gi Yar lha sham po of Yar lung, byang gi gNyan chen thang lha, rGad stod kyi Jo bo 'gyog chen, shar gyi rMa chen spom ra, Jo bo g.yul rgyal, She'u mkha' ri, sKyid sho Zhog lha phyug po and the gnod sbyin Gang ba bzang po (see Nebesky-Wojkowitz 1996 reprint p. 208-209).

According to mKhas pa lde'u 129na-130ba (2010 ed. p. 217-220), The srid pa'i lha rabs mched bzhi (the four sons of yab sTag cha yal yol and yum Tshe za Khyad khyud), played dice to decide who would stay in the divine land (lha yul) and who would go to the human land (mi yul).

The two younger lost :

- rGya la 'brong became god of the rGya people (rgya mi mangs) and had nine sons

- 'O de gung rgyal went through intermediary space (where he had sons and was know as 'Od lha 'breng 'breng) to earth were he acted as god of men and fathered nine gods (lha) from various mothers (Yar la sham po, 'Chims la than tsho, gcen dBye lha spya dkar and gcung Gro lha gang bu, gcen rTsang lha dar and gcung rTsang la bye'u, Dvags lha sgam po, Thang lha ya bzhur, Kong la de yag, and then had another son, sGam lha'i lha)

The two older brothers won :

- Phya la bram chen became god (lha) of the mGon btsun phya, he fathered the phya lcam dral drug 

- gcen Yab lha brdal drug acted as the lord of all the gods at the top of the thirteen celestial levels (gnam rim pa bcu gsum gyi steng nga), he fathered seven sons, and a daughter.

See "'O de gung rgyal", the son of sTag chag yal yol and Tshe za Khyad khyud, the brother of Yab lha brdal drug, Phya lha bram chen and rGya la 'brong nam and the father of ten deities in mKhas pa lde'u 129na-129ba (2010ed. p. 217-218) :

[yab stag cha yal yol] "...dang yum tshe za khyad khyud bshos pa'i sras / srid pa'i lha rabs mched bzhi 'khrungs te / yab lha brdal drug / phya lha bram chen / rgya la 'brong nam / 'o de gung rgyal / lha rabs mched bzhi lha yul du gang sdod / mi yul du gang bzhud sho btab pas /... yab lha brdal drug dang / phya lha bram chen gnyis rgyal / gcung gnyis pham ste / rgya la 'brong nam rgya mi mangs yi lhar gshegs  / ... 
'o de gu rgyal bya ba de / ...
khu bza' khu ma dang bshos pa'i sras / yar lha sham po dang gcig 'chims yul nag po dgu sul du byon nas / khab kha bza' hor sman dang bshos pa'i sras mchims lha than tsho dang gnyis / khab phyi mo g.yag sngo ma don bshos pa'i sras / gcen dbye lha spyi dkar / gcung gro la gang bu / khab bya bza' mthong sman dang bshos pa'i sras gcen rtsang lha dar / gcung rtsang lha bye'u / khab thang nga dang bshos pa'i sras / dvags lha sgam po / srin yul du gshegs nas srin bza' sbyar lcam ma dang bshos pa'i sras thang lha ya bzhur / kong yul du gshegs nas thang nga kong mo thar dang bshos pa'i sras kong la de yag de nas chab ma smon mo thang dang bshos pa'i sras sgam lha'i lha sras so / 
phya lha bram chen mgon btun phya'i lhar gshegs...
gcen yab lha brdal drug de gnam rim pa bcu gsum gyi steng na lha thams cad kyi rje mdzad..."      

See also  'O de gung rgyal (born from a conch shell egg with other deities according to one of the traditions) in the XVIIth c. Dam can bstan srung gi rnam thar (2003ed. p. 269-278):  

"...dung sgong gi nang nas rim pa bzhin du / rgyal chen gnam lha dkar po / 'o de gung rgyal / mgur lha gsang ba / tig gu dkar po ste gcen po bzhi dang / de rjes nyi spangs sad kyis skyes pa gcig ces pa 'khrungs /... " (p. 270) 

"...bu bdag cag 'a 'ol .... dang / bu mo ... bse ba rgyud rgyud skyes pa bshos pa las chen rje sras drug / mgo sras cha lha brang chen / 'o de... gung rgyal la sogs 'khrungs par / gung rgyal 'od des 'dzam gling khengs shing lha'i gung la bzhugs te 'dre srin byur gsum gyi thog tu rgyal bas 'o de gung rgyal grags /..." (p. 274-275) 

"...gzhung khungs ma 'ga' zhig las yab lha brdal drug / phya lha bam chen / rgya la 'brong rnam / 'o de gung rgyal te srid pa'i lha rab mched bzhir bshad /..." (p. 275) 

"...'o de gung rgyal bod yul gling dgu'i bdag por bzhugs /..." (p. 275)

"... 'od de gung rgyal gyis shes 'bur btsun mo dang bshos pas gcen 'od gung rgyal dang / rgyu lha pho bong gnyis khrung / kha la gtsang du byon nas thang nga gtsang mo dang bshos pas gtsang lha phu dar khrungs / skyid ro ljang sngon du thang nga skyid mo dang bshos pas skyid lha bya ma khrungs / mdo ti ri nag tu thang nga mdo mo dang bshos pas mdo ri bo 'khrungs / yar klung sogs khar thang nga yar mo dang bshos pas yar lha shambho 'khrungs / e yul drug tu / e mo thang nga dang bshos pas mchims lha thang tshogs 'khrungs / kong yul bre nar thang nga kong po dang bshos pas kong btsun de mo 'khrungs pa sogs yul tha dad du yum mi gcig pa du mar bshos pa las sras so sor  'khrungs pa'i lugs dang / yum g.yu bya gshog gcig dang bshos pa las gnyan chen thang lha sogs mched dgu sbrum pa rdzing phyir pha bong sbom pa'i gsham gyi char 'khrungs zhes ngag rgyun khungs mar grags pa sogs lugs mang du snang / gang ltar yang yul khams sgang gtsang stod na dvags lha rje dkar / mnga' ris skor gsum na sku lha ge rod dang / stod lha zang zang / myang yul myang stod na ha'o gang bzang / g.yag ru stod ma shang lha sgo ru / yar klungs su shambho / er e lha dkar po / lung pa nang du ...gnyan lha sbyar ma / chos 'khor rgyal du rta rgod shel lcags / sgam por dvags la sgam po / rol phu dang kong stod du mchis lha spun dgu'am mchims lha sde drug / kong smad du kong lha de yags sam kong lha dkar po / nyang po klu rir nyang lha btsan drug / lho brag tu sku lha mkha' ri / ru mtshams su sku lha sde bzhi / 'dam du gnyan chen thang lha / rma khams su rma chen spom ra sogs te phyogs tha dad pa du mar gung rgyal gyi lha sras mched dgu gshegs te 'gro don mdzad pa las yul so so'i lha 'dre mi gsum gyi mos ngo dang bstun pa'i yab yum / rigs rgyud / cho brang / rnam 'gyur sogs mi 'dra ba du mar bstan pa las mtshan gyi rnam grangs ji snyed par grags /... " (p. 276-277) 

Khri 'i bdun tshigs

00001 

Other names / Alternative spellings 

Khri'i bdun tshigs (ms. PT 1286 l. 31, 42-43) 

Khri bar la bdun tshig (ms. PT 1038 l. 13) 

Social groups (status, family, lineage...) 

lha deity ? 

sPu rgyal btsan po ? 

Period of activity 

Mythical times 

Biographical data 

Khri'i bdun tshigs was the middle son of Yab bla bdag drug, he had three elder brothers and three younger brothers (ms. PT 1286 l. 30-31, 42-43). 

Khri bar la bdun tshig came from the gods of the sky (gnam gyi lha) to earth (sa gdog drug) and became lord of the men...(ms. PT 1038 l. 13-14). 

Khri 'i bdun tshigs's ministers (blon po) were lHo and rNgegs, his priests (bon po) were mTshe and gCo, his cooks (phyag tshang) were Sha (= She'u ?) and sPug (ms. PT 1038 l. 15-16). 

Khri'i bdun tshigs was the father of Khri Nyag khri btsan po'/lDe nyag khri btsan po (ms. PT 1286 l. 30-31, 43). 

Titles 

Notes 

See also "Bar lha tshigs bdun" in rGyal po bka' thang II (bKa' thang sde lnga 2011ed. p. 87): 

"...bod kyi btsan po 'o de spur rgyal de / gnam gyi lha las mi yi rje ru gshegs / tshangs pa phyag nas gnam lha than dgur brgyud / gnam than sprin than char than than dgur byon / rtags chags wal wal sras po mched bzhi la / rje gcig yab la brdal drug bya ba byon / de la sras mchog spun 'dun 'khrungs pa las / bar lha tshigs bdun yab yum mched la gnod / yab yum skor bon zhang po'i yul du spyugs / dmu bza' lde me btsun dang bshos pa'i sras / gnya' khri yan 'khrungs srid pa'i lha rabs yin / rje gcig gnya' khri btsan po bya ba de / mgo nag mi dang srog chags rkyen du byon /..."

Kha rag khyung btsun

00760

Other names / Alternative spellings 

Kha rag khyung btsun (ms. P 307 l. II§5.4-5, III.10)

rDo rje sgron ma (ms. P 307 l. II§5.1)

Kha rag khyung btsun rdo rje sgron ma (ms. PT 307 l. III.11-12)

Social groups (status, family, lineage...) 

srin mo (female demon) 

Period of activity 

Myth 

Biographical data 

rDo rje sgron ma ... is also known as Kha rag khyung btsun (ms. PT 307 l. II§5) 

rDo rje sgron ma / Kha rag khyung btsun was part of a group of seven female deities known as mkha' 'gro ma, shug 'gro ma, srin mo chen mo bdun, and ma chen mo bdun (ms. PT 307 III.1-2). 

That group was composed of: 

- rDo rje kun grags ma also known as rKong la de mo (ms. PT 307 II.§1), 

- rDo rje kun tu bzang a.k.a. Sha myed gangs dkar (ms. PT 307 II.§2), 

- rDo rje kun gsal ma a.k.a. lHa ri g.ya' ma skyol (ms. PT 307 II.§3), 

- rDo rje ye shes mchog a.k.a. bDa' la btsan mo (ms. PT 307 II.§4), 

- rDo rje sgron ma a.k.a. Kha rag khyung btsun (ms. PT 307 II.§5), 

- rDo rje 'od chags ma a.k.a. Byang gi gser tang yi ge 'khor 'dul ma (ms. PT 307 II.§6) 

- rDo rje g.yu sgron ma a.k.a. lHo'i ting ting (ms. PT 307 II.§7). 

They were sisters (sring mo ms. PT 307, l. III.7-8) and were subdued by the Indian mkhan po Pad ma sam ba ba and by Rlang dPal gyi seng ge (ms. PT 307 l. III.4-6). 

Titles 

gtso mo (ms. PT 307 l. II§1.8)

mkha' 'gro ma (ms. PT 307 l. III.1) 

shug 'gro ma (ms. PT 307 l. III.1) 

ma chen mo (ms. PT 307 l. III.1) 

srin mo chen mo (ms. PT 307 l. III.1-2) 

bod khams kyi bdag mo (ms. PT 307 l. III.5-6) 

Notes 

On ms. PT 307, see Dalton 2004.

See also the great gnod sbyin Kha rag khyung btsun, also known as mKha' reg khyung btsun, rDo rje dpal gyi yum, rDo rje khyung btsun ma, Rong gi jo mo kha rag, etc., one of the bstan ma gcu gnyis (in Nebesky-Wojkowitz 1996 reprint p. 181-198).

According to Sle lung bZhad pa'i rdo rje (XVIIIth c.): "gnod sbyin mo gnyis pa / kha rag khyung btsun mo ni / yul ru mtshams jo mo kha rag dang rma chen sbom ra'i mgul ru / 'dar bu stong thang rje'i lcam mor khrungs gdung rus khyung bza' sku mdog dkar mo rma bya'i thul pa gsol zhing dâ ma ru dang me long bsnams pa me  khyung la chibs pa..." (Dam can bstan srung gi rnam thar 2003ed. p. 177-178).

Description of rDo rje sgron ma / Kha rag khyung btsun in ms. PT 307 II§5

Source: Gallica

rKong la de mo

00756

Other names / Alternative spellings 

De mo (inscr. rKong po l. 6)

rDo rje kun grags ma (ms. P 307 l. II§1.1, III.10)

rKong la de mo (ms. P 307 l. II§1.7)

Social groups (status, family, lineage...) 

srin mo (female demon) 

sku bla ? (deity) 

Period of activity 

Myth 

Biographical data 

[In rKong po] the sku la De mo* procreated (with Kar po ? inscr. rKong po l. 6)

rDo rje kun grags ma's body is black.. She is also known as rKong la de mo (ms. PT 307 l. II§1) 

rDo rje kun grags ma / rKong la de mo was the chief (gtso mo ms. PT 307 II.§1) of a group of seven female deities known as mkha' 'gro ma, shug 'gro ma, srin mo chen mo bdun, and ma chen mo bdun (ms. PT 307 III.1-2). 

That group was composed of: 

- rDo rje kun grags ma also known as rKong la de mo (ms. PT 307 II.§1), 

- rDo rje kun tu bzang a.k.a. Sha myed gangs dkar (ms. PT 307 II.§2), 

- rDo rje kun gsal ma a.k.a. lHa ri g.ya' ma skyol (ms. PT 307 II.§3), 

- rDo rje ye shes mchog a.k.a. brDa' la btsan mo (ms. PT 307 II.§4), 

- rDo rje sgron ma a.k.a. Kha rag khyung btsun (ms. PT 307 II.§5), 

- rDo rje 'od chags ma a.k.a. Byang gi gser tang yi ge 'khor 'dul ma (ms. PT 307 II.§6) 

- rDo rje g.yu sgron ma a.k.a. lHo'i ting ting (ms. PT 307 II.§7). 

They were sisters (sring mo ms. PT 307, l. III.7-8) and were subdued by the Indian mkhan po Pad ma sam ba ba and by Rlang dPal gyi seng ge (ms. PT 307 l. III.4-6). 

Titles 

gtso mo (ms. PT 307 l. II§1.8)

mkha' 'gro ma (ms. PT 307 l. III.1) 

shug 'gro ma (ms. PT 307 l. III.1) 

ma chen mo (ms. PT 307 l. III.1) 

srin mo chen mo (ms. PT 307 l. III.1-2) 

bod khams kyi bdag mo (ms. PT 307 l. III.5-6) 

sku bla (inscr. rKong po l. 6) ?*

Notes 

On ms. PT 307, see Dalton 2004.

See also Kong btsun de mo of Kong po, also known as rDo rje bod khams skyong and rDo rje dpal mo che, one of the bstan ma gcu gnyis (in Nebesky-Wojkowitz 1996 reprint p. 181-198, where the great sman mo Kong btsun de mo / rDo rje dpal mo che is distinguished from the great bdud mo rDo rje kun grags ma / bDag nyid chen mo / Byang gi gnam tsho phyug mo).

Description of rDo rje kun grags ma / rKong la de mo in ms. PT 307 II§1

Source: Gallica

*see also Hill 2013b. The author comes to the conclusion that "sku bla" does not refer to De mo.

Sha med gangs dkar

00757

Other names / Alternative spellings 

Sha med gangs dkar (ms. ITJ 740 l. 209) 

Sha myed (ms. PT 1287 l. 470, ITJ 739 l. 2v11) 

Gangs kar (ms. PT 1287 l. 470) 

Gangs gar (ms. ITJ 739 l. 2v11) 

Sha myed gangs kar (reconstructed from ms. PT 1287 l. 470 "sha myed ni gangs kar") 

Sha myed gangs gar (reconstructed from ms. ITJ 739 l. 2v11 "sha myed ni gangs gar") 

Sha myed gangs dkar (ms. PT 307 l. II§2.6-7) 

rDo rje kun tu bzang (ms. PT 307 l. II§2.1) 

Gangs dkar sha myed rdo rje kun tu bzang (ms. PT 307 l. III.10-11) 

Social groups (status, family, lineage...) 

srin mo (female demon) 

sman ? (female deity) 

Period of activity 

Myth 

Biographical data 

Sha myed gangs kar is mentioned in the song of victory over mGar attributed to the btsan po Khri 'dus srong (PT 1287 l. 470)

rDo rje kun tu bzang has a white body, sits on a white cang shes [horse]... She is also known as Sha myed gangs dkar (ms. PT 307 l. II§2) 

rDo rje kun tu bzang / Sha myed gangs dkar was part of a group of seven female deities known as mkha' 'gro ma, shug 'gro ma, srin mo chen mo bdun, and ma chen mo bdun (ms. PT 307 III.1-2). 

That group was composed of: 

- rDo rje kun grags ma also known as rKong la de mo (the leader, ms. PT 307 II.§1), 

- rDo rje kun tu bzang a.k.a. Sha myed gangs dkar (ms. PT 307 II.§2), 

- rDo rje kun gsal ma a.k.a. lHa ri g.ya' ma skyol (ms. PT 307 II.§3), 

- rDo rje ye shes mchog a.k.a. brDa' la btsan mo (ms. PT 307 II.§4), 

- rDo rje sgron ma a.k.a. Kha rag khyung btsun (ms. PT 307 II.§5), 

- rDo rje 'od chags ma a.k.a. Byang gi gser tang yi ge 'khor 'dul ma (ms. PT 307 II.§6) 

- rDo rje g.yu sgron ma a.k.a. lHo'i ting ting (ms. PT 307 II.§7). 

They were sisters (sring mo ms. PT 307, l. III.7-8) and were subdued by the Indian mkhan po Pad ma sam ba ba and by Rlang dPal gyi seng ge (ms. PT 307 l. III.4-6) 

Titles 

mkha' 'gro ma (ms. PT 307 l. III.1) 

shug 'gro ma (ms. PT 307 l. III.1) 

ma chen mo (ms. PT 307 l. III.1) 

srin mo chen mo (ms. PT 307 l. III.1-2) 

bod khams kyi bdag mo (ms. PT 307 l. III.5-6) 

gang sman ? (ms. ITJ 739 l. 2v10-11) 

Notes 

On ms. PT 307, see Dalton 2004. 

The description of rDo rje kun tu bzang / Sha myed gangs dkar in ms. PT 307

Source: Gallica

See also Gangs dkar sha med, also known as rDo rje spyan gcig ma, lHa bu gangs dkar ma, one of the bstan ma gcu gnyis (in Nebesky-Wojkowitz 1996 reprint p. 181-198, where the great gnod sbyin Gangs dkar sha med / rDo rje spyan gcig ma is distinguished from the great bdud mo rDo rje kun tu bzang / Gangs kyi yum chen / Brin gyi bkra shi tshe ring).

Yol dang re'

00751 

Other names / Alternative spellings 

Social groups (status, family, lineage...) 

lha deity 

dru gu (Turk) 

Period of activity 

Mythical times ?

Biographical data 

Yol dang re'*, deity of the Turks (drugu'i lha) inside the fortress of Shu ba' ba leg** in the land of the northern eight sNam (ms. PT 1060 l. 90-91 "yul byang ka' snam brgyad mkhar shu ba' ba leg gyi nang na' / drugu'i lha yol dang re'", see the OTDO transliteration). 

Titles 

Notes 

*Yol dang re', possibly the Tibetan transcription of the Old Turkic Yol täŋri, "road god", attested in the IXth century Old Turkic ms. "Irk bitig", Or.8212/16 § 2, 48 (see, Irk Bitig: the Book of Omens / Talat Tekin. - Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, 1993 p. 9, 21)  

**Ba leg, most likely the Tibetan trancription of the word for town/city in a Turkic language, such as Old Turkic balïk (town) 

Examples in context  of the Old Turkic words yol (road, way), täŋri (god, sky) and balïk (town, city) can be found in A Grammar of Old Turkic / Marcel Erdal. - Leiden: Brill, 2004.