Chogyal

Glossaries

Term	Definition
Chogyal	Chogyal is a Tibetan royal title usually translated as “religious king” or “Dharma king”. It refers to a ruler whose political authority is associated with the protection of Buddhism. The term Chogyal comes from Tibetan chos rgyal. It combines the idea of Dharma, meaning Buddhist teaching or religious order, with the idea of kingship. It is usually translated as “religious king”, “Dharma king” or “sovereign of the Dharma”. In the Tibetan and Himalayan world, the title Chogyal refers to a ruler whose political legitimacy has a strong religious dimension. The king is not only regarded as the head of a territory or people. He is also presented as the protector of Buddhism, monasteries, ritual practices and the spiritual order of the kingdom. This conception of power belongs to a tradition in which political authority and religious authority are closely connected. A Chogyal may support monastic institutions, sponsor the construction of temples, monasteries or stupas, and contribute to the preservation of religious traditions. His symbolic role therefore extends beyond the administration of territory alone. The title is especially associated with the Kingdom of Sikkim, in the eastern Himalayas. The rulers who bore this title reigned from 1642 to 1975, when the monarchy was abolished and Sikkim was integrated into India. The first Chogyal was Phuntsog Namgyal, enthroned at Yuksom, and the last was Palden Thondup Namgyal.

Term

Definition

Chogyal is a Tibetan royal title usually translated as “religious king” or “Dharma king”. It refers to a ruler whose political authority is associated with the protection of Buddhism.

The term Chogyal comes from Tibetan chos rgyal. It combines the idea of Dharma, meaning Buddhist teaching or religious order, with the idea of kingship. It is usually translated as “religious king”, “Dharma king” or “sovereign of the Dharma”.

In the Tibetan and Himalayan world, the title Chogyal refers to a ruler whose political legitimacy has a strong religious dimension. The king is not only regarded as the head of a territory or people. He is also presented as the protector of Buddhism, monasteries, ritual practices and the spiritual order of the kingdom.

This conception of power belongs to a tradition in which political authority and religious authority are closely connected. A Chogyal may support monastic institutions, sponsor the construction of temples, monasteries or stupas, and contribute to the preservation of religious traditions. His symbolic role therefore extends beyond the administration of territory alone.

The title is especially associated with the Kingdom of Sikkim, in the eastern Himalayas. The rulers who bore this title reigned from 1642 to 1975, when the monarchy was abolished and Sikkim was integrated into India. The first Chogyal was Phuntsog Namgyal, enthroned at Yuksom, and the last was Palden Thondup Namgyal.