Mel Lotsāwa Lodro Drakpa
Mel Lotsāwa Lodro Drakpa (mal lo tsA ba blo gros grags pa, d.u.) was an important translator during the Second Propagation, primarily involved in the Mahākāla and Cakrasaṃvara tantric traditions. He received the Vajra Panjarnata Mahākāla transmission from Draktengpa Yonten Tsultrim (brag steng pa yon tan tshul khrims), a disciple of Rinchen Zangpo (rin chen bzang po, 958-1055). He received the Cakrasaṃvara transmission from the Newari master Pamtingpa (pham 'thing pa) when he visited Tibet; Mel later went to Nepal and received further transmission from Pamtingpa's brother Bodhibhadra, a disciple of Nāropa. He also received Cakrasaṃvara transmissions from the Tibetan Lokya Sherab Tsekpa (klog skyia shes rab brtsegs pa). If Robert Vitiali is correct, and Mel Lotsāwa is the same as Melgyo Lotsāwa (mal gyo lo tsA ba), then he also received the Nyima Bepai (nyi ma sbas pa) system of Tārā from Danaśīla. Mel Lotsāwa was a teacher of Khon Konchok Gyelpo ('khon dkon mchog rgyal po, 1034-1102) and, at Naletse Nepoche (na la tse gnas po che) in Gungtang (gung thang), of Sachen Kunga Nyingpo (sa chen kun dga' snying po, 1092-1158), some time between 1112 and 1132. According to later Sakya accounts, Sachen distrusted Mel Lotsāwa, viewing him as greedy for gold and engaged in dubious ritual practices. He also gave transmissions to Gyanpul Jungwa (gnyan phul byung ba, d.u.). He taught Mahākāla to Nyelpa Nyimabar (smyal pa nyi ma 'bar), beginning what is known as the Bernak (ber nag) transmission.
Sources
Roerich, George, trans. 1996. The Blue Annals. 2nd ed. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidas, pp. 383, 1051.
Stearns, Cyrus. 2001. Luminous Lives: The Story of the Early Masters of the Lam 'bras Traditions in Tibet. Boston: Wisdom Publications.
Vitali, Roberto. 2001. "Sa skya and the mNga' ris skor gsum legacy: The Case of Rin chen bzang po's Flying Mask." Lungta 14, pp. 5-44.
