Shamarpa

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In Tibetan Buddhism the Shamarpa also known as Shamar Rinpoche is considered to be a lama in the Karma Kagyu school. For centuries his incarnation line was considered one of the highest within the Kagyu school. Hence, he was titled the Red Crowned Lama mirroring the Karmapa's own Black Crown. A red Crown has also been bestowed upon the Tai Situpa and Gyaltsab Rinpoche.

The Shamarpa is considered the manifestation of the Amitabha Buddha. He is traditionally associated with Yangpachen monastery near Lhasa.

The 1st Shamarpa, Khedrup Drakpa Senge (1283-1349), was the principal disciple of the 3rd Karmapa. The Karmapa, holder of the Black Crown, bestowed on him an identical ruby-red crown and named him "Shamarpa", meaning "Holder of the Red Crown". In this way, a prediction of the 2nd Karmapa Karma Pakshi was fulfilled, in which he stated, that he will manifest in two forms in the future, which should neither be seen as identical nor as different from one another. (Hence the successive Shamarpas are known as the Red Hat lamas). These two forms simply infer that the Karmapa shall have an intermediate regent who is no different from the Karmapa himself. The Karmapa's regents have typically alternated between the Red Crowned Lamas: Shamarpa, Tai Situpa, and Gyaltsab Rinpoche, but have also included Jamgon Kongtrul and Sangye Nyenpa.

The present (14th) Shamarpa is Mipham Chokyi Lodro, born in Derge, Tibet in 1952. At age four he was recognized by his uncle the 16th Karmapa. After death of the 16th Karmapa in 1981, the Shamarpa recognized Thaye Dorje, as the 17th Karmapa, in 1994.

The 14th Shamarpa presently resides in India.

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