Khamtrül Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche
renowned master of shé-dür and char-gÇodpa
Khamtrül Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche was a ngakpa, mainly known as an exorcist (shé-dürpa), weather-maker (char-gÇodpa), and Mahayoga ritual expert. He was widely known as ‘The Dala’i Lama’s weather-maker’, and was always seen with his kangling (human femur trumpet), performing rites whenever His Holiness the Dala’i Lama made public appearances which required good weather. Ngak’chang Rinpoche studied with him between the years 1972 and 1982, learning most of what he knows of symbolic practice, including gar’cham (vajra dance).
Ngak’chang Rinpoche received empowerment into Tröma Nakmo (the wrathful black mother) from Kyabjé Düd’jom Rinpoche, and was advised to study the Mahayoga ritual practices of her sadhana from Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche. In this photograph Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche is performing the rite of shé-dür with bell and gÇod drum. He is wearing a takdröl ornament in his top-knot as a symbol that he has accomplished the first and second ‘Lama Cycles’.
Ngak’chang Rinpoche received the gift of a takdröl from Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche at the time when he received the transmission of his personal family ngakpa tradition. Yeshé Dorje Rinpoche was an incarnation from a small Nyingma family lineage which passed from grandfather to grandson.
