In 1963, the 3rd H.H. Pema Norbu Rinpoche established Namdroling Monastery in Karnataka, South India. Today, it supports more than 5,000 monastics and remains a vital center of the Nyingma lineage. The current throne holder is H.H. Karma Kuchen Rinpoche.
Other prominent figures guiding Namdroling Monastery include H.H. Mugsang Kuchen Rinpoche, H.H. Gyangkhang Rinpoche, H.E. Khenchen Pema Sherab Rinpoche, H.E. Khenchen Namdrol Tshering Rinpoche, and H.E. Khenchen Tsewang Gyatso Rinpoche.
Namdroling Monastery is organized into six main divisions:
1. Junior High Schools
2. Namdroling Administration
3. Penor Rinpoche Charity Foundation (PRCF)
4. Ngagyur Nyingma Institute
5. Retreat Center
6. Ngagyur Nyingma Nunnery
The Ngagyur Nyingma Institute—Higher Buddhist Studies & Research Center—was established in 1978. To date, more than 10,000 Lopons (Masters in Buddhist Philosophy) and over 500 Khenpos (Doctorates in Buddhist Philosophy) have graduated from this institution. Currently, more than 4,500 monks and nuns are studying at the monastery, and many have established Dharma centers all over the world.