Je Tsongkhapa
(Lama Chodpa)

Tsongkhapa Lobsang Drakpa (1347-1419) (tib. blama dje tson kha pa) — a prominent teacher and Buddhist reformer, founder of The Gelug school, also known as the Yellow Hat school. He is very popular in and out of Tibet. Tsongkhapa’s biographies written by his disciples were turned into a series of picturesque thangka that depict the major episodes of the great teacher’s life.

Tsongkhapa is considered to be an incarnation of the Bodhisattva Manjusri and now resides in Tushita heaven along with Buddha Maitreya.

Tsongkhapa is often depicted with his two disciples Khedrup and Gyaltsab. They were highly educated lamas who made a great contribution to the development of Buddhism. They started the reincarnation lines of the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama.

At the top of the thangka is Je Tsongkhapa coming down from Tushita heaven with his disciples to preach. At the bottom are Yamaraja, one of the protectors, and lama invoking Ganden Lha Gyama (tib. bla-ma’i-rnal-‘byor-dga’-ldan-lha-brgya-ma) (the Guru yoga of Je Tsongkhapa «Hundreds of Deities of Tushita»).