Tawen Lodrö Gyaltsen of the Lhakhang Labrang is the fifteenth Sakya throneholder. His father was Kunga Gyaltsen, one of the sons of Sangpo Pel, the eleventh Sakya throneholder. His mother was Machik Sonam Pel, the daughter or sister of Lama Kunpangpa Chodrak Pelzang of the Jonang school.

When Tawen Lodrö Gyaltsen was sixteen, his predecessor, Lama Dhampa Sonam Gyaltsen stepped down, and he was enthroned as his successor. His teachers included with Lama Dhampa Sonam Gyaltsen, Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen, Buton Rinchen Drub, and Sabzang Mati Paṇchen Lodrö Gyaltsen.

It was said that he was an expert in Dharmakīrti’s Pramāṇavārttika, his mastery surpassed only by Sakya Paṇḍita Kunga Gyaltsen and Uyukpa Rigpai Sengge.