Ngakpa Drong’dül Gyalpo

‘The King who destroys the Drong’

Ngakpa Drong’dül Gyalpo (1898-1961) lived in Northern Tibet. He was of Mongolian extract and travelled extensively between Tibet and Mongolia. ’brong’dul rGyal po means ‘The King who destroys the Drong, or Wild Yak’. This name relates to his family ngakpa lineage. He was a renowned exorcist, and it was said that he once protected a family of nomads from the charge of a Drongmdash;by standing in its path, and bringing it to a halt with his gaze.

He wears iron yogis earrings, a rare circular form of takdröl, and an expansive thickly woven ngakpa shawl. As a phurba master he wears a black chuba coat. He wears his hair in the Thor khyil (thor ’khyil) style. The Thor khyil is the topknot of twisted, turned, or coiled hair.