Dechen Wangmo

Dechen Wangmo (*?), the 17th Karmapa’s mother, comes from a noble family of very
devoted Dharma practitioners from the Kham region.

Her husband is the 3rd Mipham Rinpoche. Together with him she has two sons. The younger brother of Thaye Dorje, the 17th Karmapa, is the 14th Sönam Tsemo Rinpoche, a Gelugpa and Sakya tulku.

There is not much known about her, but in an interview with Dhagpo Kundreul Ling in 2004
she told about the time, Karmapa was born.
She lived with her husband in Lhasa when Mipham Rinpoche left due to spiritual
commitments in Kham. During this time, she was in the fourth month of pregnancy.
Mipham asked her not to eat meat and to make wishes at the stupa. There had been
248 auspicious signs in dreams and so on. After 10 month and 10 days Karmapa was born. It was
very special, as there was no blood at the time of birth but a white liquid like water. There
were rainbows that day.
When Karmapa was less than a year old, they met with the sister of the 16th Karmapa
for a coffee in Lhasa. When he saw her, his whole face lit up with joy. „Who are you, what
have you got?“ she asked him. He raised his arms and said, „I am the Karmapa.“ They were
both surprised that he could speak and Dorje Khandro was very touched. She immediately
believed it was true and she was sure it was him. The 16th Karmapa had told her that they
would definitely meet again.