Painting Set: Taranata Incarnations (Complete Set)
Taranata Main Page | Painting Style: KhyenriVideo: Chokyi Nyinche
Taranatha's complete list of pre-incarnations which are depicted in this set of paintings originate from the writings of his immediate Tibetan pre-incarnation Kunga Drolchok (1507-1566). This teacher wrote a series of praises to his past lives, available in his collected works.
However, in the years between Kunga Drolchok's death and Taranatha's birth in 1575, Taranatha himself wrote that he had a pre-incarnation as an Indian prince Ramagopala (Tib: dga byed sa skyong), who lived only 8 years (1567-1574). It was likely that the details of this prince's life were told to Taranatha by his Indian teacher Buddhaguptanatha.
There was also the precedent that Kunga Drolchok wrote that his most recent past life was the Sri Lankan teacher Chokyi Nyingje, a Tibetanised name. Taranatha may have felt confident he had an Indian past life for these reasons.
The list of preincarnations in order is
1. Pandita Barwa'i Tsowo
2. Krishnacarya
3. Ratan Bhahula
4. Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo (1012-1088)
5. Barompa Darma Wangchuk (1127-1198)
6. Ozer Pal
7. Drugdra Gyaltsen
8. Nyo Gyalwa Lhanangpa Sanggye Rinchen (1164-1224)
9. Sanghabhadra
10. Jamyang Choje (1379-1449)
11. Pandita Chokyi Nyingje
12. Kunga Drolchok (1507-1566)
13. Prince Ramagopala (Tib: dga byed sa skyong)
14. Taranatha
Updated by Nick Dharmadi, 8-2026
