The Tibetan Legends

The Tibetan Legends

Songtsen Gampo

The first Religious King of Tibet from the Yarlung dynasty who ruled between 629 and 650 CE. He remains the most famous of the Tibetan monarchs for having made Tibet one of the most important imperial powers in Asia in the seventh century. He is considered as the first law-giver and responsible for the first dissemination of Buddhism in Tibet. He was also the first Tibetan monarch to rule from Lhasa. Details

Another version:

First Buddhist temples
In the seventh century an event occurred that was decisive for Bhutan’s history: the Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo (619-649) erected the first Buddhist temples, the Kyichu-Lhakhang in Paro and the Jampe-Lhakhang in Bumthang.

The erection of the monuments marked the victory of Buddhism over pre-Buddhist deities. Songtsen Gampo wanted to tame a huge demon whose body covered all of Tibet and its neighbouring areas, which posed a particularly big problem to the spreading of buddhism. The king thus decided to erect a temple on each of the demon’s joints so that she would no longer be able to move.

Songtsen Gampo was said to have magically multiplied himself and to have sent all of his emanations into the various areas of Tibet so as to erect 108 temples in one day. Towering over the heart of the demon there is the famous Jokhang-Temple in Lhasa. The demon’s left knee is held by the Jampe-Lhakhang of Bumthang and her left sole is fixed by the Kyichu-Lhakhang in Paro.

The Tibetan king Songtsen Gampo’s act of physically taming pre-Buddhist deities through religious buildings developed into a long tradition.

And so, Songtsen Gampo became the legend that all guides talk about to no end when you visit any Tibetan Buddhist place of worship.


The Confusion Between The Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama - CLEARED

Dalai and Panchen, the two highest Living Buddhas, are the political and religious leaders of inner and outer Tibet. Due to different territories and the number of dependent people, the Dalai and Panchen have varying political rights, but one religion, they are absolutely equal.

The Dalai Lama has always been considered as the incarnation of Avalokitesvara or Buddha of Mercy. He usually lives in Potala Palace, and moves to Norbulingka in summer.

The Panchen Lama has always been regarded as the incarnation of Amitabha or Buddha of Infinite Light. The Panchen Lama lives in Tashilhunbu Monastery, one of the six biggest monasteries of Tibetan Buddhism.

How did the titles Dalai and Panchen come into being?

A: Dalai and Panchen were two disciples of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Yellow Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. They formulated two hereditary systems. These two titles were granted by China's emperors.

The word "Dalai" first appeared in the Ming Dynasty. In 1578, Altan Khan of the Tumet tribe of the Mongols residing in Qinghai invited Sonam Gyatso, leader of the Yellow Sect, to preach in Qinghai. The two leaders enjoyed mutual respect, and exchanged honorific titles. Altan Khan named Sonam Gyatso "Dalai Lama," meaning "omniscience and great authority." After the founding of the Qing Dynasty, the fifth Dalai Lama was invited to Beijing by the Qing emperor in 1652. In 1653, Emperor Shunzhi formally conferred on him the title "Dalai Lama," and granted him a gold seal and gold album. In 1751, the Dalai Lama was put in charge of the region's administration.

The title "Panchen" first appeared in 1645 when the Mongolian chieftain Gushri Khan bestowed it upon the fourth Panchen. In 1713, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty bestowed upon the fifth Panchen the title "Erdini", and granted him a gold seal and gold ablum. The central government also bestowed on him the right to rule parts of Rear Tibet.

Since the conferring of these titles by the Qing emperors, the reincarnation of the Dalai and Panchen has been under the supervision of the central government. After "drawing lots from a golden urn," the soul boys reincarnate must be approved by the central government before their official investiture. Their tonsure, religious names, and choice of teachers must be reported to the central government for ratification, and the central government sends envoys to supervise the enthronement ceremonies of the Dalai and Panchen.

Before 1959, Tibet preacticed a theocratic system whereby political power was integrated with religion. The Dalai and Panchen were therefore both the religious and political leaders of Tibet. The central government's ratification of "soul boys" reincarnate was significant in two aspects: it granted them political power as the highest leaders in Tibet and recognized their leading religious roles. Ratification and conferment procedures were an important exercise of the administrative authority of China's central government.

Hope this clarifies any confusion.