Tishri Kunga Lodrö Gyaltsen (1299-1327), eldest grandson of Sakya Pandita's brother, established four palaces (podrang): Zhithog, Rinchen Gang, Lhakhang, and Ducho. Only the Ducho Palace remains.
According to Jetsun Chime-la (His Holiness' sister), the Ducho Palace was split into two 'cousin' palaces known as the Drolma Podrang and Phuntsok Podrang. The Drolma Podrang was established by Sakya Trizin Jamgon Wangdue Nyingpo's eldest son, Pema Dhondup Wangchuk, while the Phunstok Podrang was established by his youngest son, Kunga Rinchen. The leadership in the Khon Family has then traditionally alternated between the Drolma and Phuntsok Podrangs. The present Sakya throneholder is H.H. Sakya Trizin from the Drolma Podrang at Rajpur, India. While H.H. Jigdral Dagchen Gongma Rinpoche is the current head of Phunstok Podrang, based in Seattle, Washington.
|