Career
In 1158 Dorje Gyalpo built a hermitage at Phagmo Drupa ("Sow"s Ferry Crossing") in a juniper forest in Nedong (Tibetan: སྣེ་གདོང, Wylie: sne gdong) above the Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river valley. After the death of Phagmo Drupa Dorje Gyalpo, his main disciple Jigten Sumgon appointed Chenga Drakpa Jungne as abbot Dentsa Thel. From that time on the Tripon who as a monk, assumed the seat of the local government of Nedon and also ruled as abbot at Dentsa Thel.
Brothers of the Tripon married in order to perpetuate the family line, succession going from uncle to nephew.
In 1322 Changchub Gyaltsen (1302–1364) became the Phagdru Myriarch of Nedong. Power remained in the hands of the Phagmodru family until 1434.