38 



S. C. Das — Life, of Sum-pa Klan-po. 



[No. 2, 



of figures. His fame of learning surpassed that of all other Lamas 

 of his age in Tibet, China, and Mongolia. In the twentieth year of 

 his age he visited Tibet proper, and took his admission as a student 

 in the monastery of Hbras-sPun (Dapun). In the year 1725 he visited 

 Crtsan, where he took the final vows of monkhood from Panchhen i?lo- 

 Zssaft Yeses. In the 22ud year of his age he went on a pilgrimage to 

 Lhokha with a view to visit Sam-yea, and the famous sanctuaries of Yar- 

 luii, where he was very much pleased with an interview with Egya 7sras 

 Rinpochhe (ftag Dvan Hjigs med). Egyal-sras is said to have explained 

 to him in a prophetic manner what he was destined to achieve and how 

 he should proceed to Amdo, for the purpose of founding monasteries and 

 temples there, and also for diffusing Buddhism in China. In his 23rd year 

 he was appointed i/Khanpo (abbot) of <Sgo Man in Ubras spun. In the 

 following year, when a dispute arose between the two provinces Dvus and 

 Gtsah, he persistently declined to allow the monks of his college to 

 take up arms against their enemies, as it was an act prohibited by the 

 laws of Buddhism. The monks of other colleges followed his example and 

 desisted from fighting. He filled the chair of fS'go-rnan for a period of 

 five years, after which he returned to Amdo. In the 30th year of his 

 age, in pursuance of the prediction of JSgyal-sras, he founded tho monas- 

 tery of Bshad iS'grub-jdifi with about eighty monks. He brought the 

 recluse hermitage of -Bsauugrtan-^lih ri-khroii with fifteen monks, which 

 was founded by DpaZ ZDan hod sser, under his own monastery, and 

 afterwards called it by the name of Sum-pa rikrotZ. At tho age 

 of thirty-four, at the command of the emperor Ckbin-lun (divine pro- 

 tector), and in the 2nd year of his reign, he visited China. Both ichau 

 skya Bol-pafti rDorje and he were presented to the emperor, who asked 

 them many questions on religious matters. Sumpa Khanpo is said to 

 have answered all of them without any difficulty whatever. Pleased with 

 him the emperor commanded that he be appointed tho spiritual guide of all 

 the chiefs of Mongolia, and he also conferred onhim a high sacerdotal rank 

 by letters patent, and authorized him to bear the title of Huthogtn (saint). 

 The Lama respectfully accepted all the imperial favours, with the excep- 

 tion of the title of Huthogtu which honour he respectfully declined, accord- 

 ing to him it being intended for those who aspired to worldly glory. The 

 emperor was struck with the Lama's indifference to such a high 

 honour, and remarked that within his vast empire he did not know 

 one who like him could look with indifference at such an exalted distinc- 

 tion, Henceforth he rose high in the esteem of the emperor and was 

 declared to be a real Lama. He resided in China for nine years. The 

 emperor occasionally used to call him to his presence. The Lchan 

 skya, who presided at the head of Labrang (church), commanded that all 



