Sikkim

Princely States

Sikkim's ruling line traces descent from Padmasambhava – when Queen Zah-mar-rGyan made improper advances to the Buddhist Priest Lopon Bairo-tsa-na and he rejected them, she, offended, complained falsely against the Priest. The Priest was punished but the queen, due to her Karma was afflicted with leprosy. Padmasambhava cured her and in gratitude, offered her one of her daughters, Lhacham Khrom-rGyan. They begot a son gNyan-chen dPal-dByangs who ascended the heavens without leaving his mortal body and his line became famous as Buddhist teachers. Their caste, consequently came to be known as gNyan.

Another version states that in the northern part of Mi-nyak province, in the mountains inhabited a Naga Daitya Se-hu. Se-hu once assumed the forms of seven cavaliers, started north and in the way, came across a witch. The head of the cavaliers had an affair with the witch and their son came to be known as Sehu Gyalpo. Sehu Gyalpo brought even China under his subjugation and sixth from him, rGyal-rGod who ascended the throne 260 years after Sehu Gyalpo was murdered by a minister which ended the kingdom. His line continued as the Dar-seng family who married with Sakya family and became famous as Sakya Pon-chen family from whom the Sikkim line descended.

A third version, which the Sikkim royal family maintains is that they descended from the Tibetan king Trisong Detsen and claim that Padmasambhava prophesized his successors will rule Sikkim. Their noble origin is known as they were able to marry into the Sakya Panchens at their own accord.

The founder of Sikkim, Phuntsog Namgyal noted that he is descended from Trisong Detsen's son rGydalpo-bKayithang-yig and his son Murum-bTsan-po who settled in the northern districts of mDo-kham.

Another version states that they are descended from Indra Bodhi – Buddha mentioned, 112 years after his disappearance, at Lhasa, a king called Dza from Sa-hor(Lahore) will flourish and will obtain Dharma from Vajrapani. He is also known as Indra Bodhi and his son Sakya-Putri also came to be known as Indra Bodhi. Some of his descendents ruled Mi-nyak and this Minyak Au-dong family ruled the area for 25 generations. The 25th invited the Sakya Panchan and received a ruby seal ring from the deity during a rite post which the king's glory increased even further. The same deity called out to his successor to go to the hidden lands South of Tibet called Dema-jong(Sikkim). He left there with his four sons. The existing races of Sikkim Tong-du-ruzhi and Beb-tsan-gyed are descended from them. The eldest of the sons Gyad hBum-bSags(Khye Bumsa) established Pakshi Gompa in Sikkim and one of the younger brothers became an abbot there. In Phari, he built Samdup Lakhang and his father died there. He slowly moved South and settled at Chumbi. When he was there, an athlete nGa-wang Gyad-pai-pal-bar in Bhutan, famous for his strength heard of Gyad hBum-bSags but Gyad hBum-bSags wouldn't fight with him. He coaxed him into a friendly match which saw Pal-bar's ripped out his arm and he returned home crestfallen. Then, he sacrificed a yak to the local deity Ma-sang but it was powerless before Gyad hBum-bSags and asked to be propriated by him before returning bac