S4 Sarat Chandra Das —The Hierarchy of the Dalai Lama. [Extra No. 
the monastery of Namgyal Ta-tshang 1 on Pot ala, hnt the Shwn- 
mar (red-cap) Lamas whose power was again ascendant under the 
auspices of the ruler of Tsang, dispossessed him of this institution, con¬ 
verting it at the same time to a monastery of their own school. In 
3574, the Tsang army under Rinchen Piing-pa invaded u 2 and after sub¬ 
jugating it, withdrew to Tsang. About this time, the messenger of 
Altan Khan arrived and Sonam Gya-tsho was but too glad to accept 
the invitation for the purpose of converting the Mongolians to his creed. 
He set out ou his journey to Mongolia in the company of the Khan’s 
messenger, but owing to the numerous invitations he received on the 
way from the various chiefs and nobles of Tibet and who importuned him 
for his blessings, his journey was retarded. Tashi Rabdan. therefore, 
parted company with him at Radeng* and proceeded to Mongolia, 
in advance of the Lama. Being informed that the incarnate Phagpa 
was coming, Altan Khan deputed three of his generals to welcome 
him. While passing through Arig-thang, Nau-tshoand upper Mongolia, 
the Lama received the deputations which brought the tidings of the 
welcome that would be accorded him by the Khan. Altan himself ad¬ 
vanced up to Tshab-cha, at the source of the Hoangho, a place situated 
to the South East of Lake Kokonor. At the first meeting the Khan 
addressed ihe Lama by the title—Tale Lama Vajradhara , 4 Tale 
being the Mongolian equivalent of Gya-tsho 5 which signifies “ Ocean.” 
But the Lama’s real name was Sonam Gya-tsho which signified 
“The ocean of merit.” Thus originated the name Dalai (from Tale) 
Lama by which the Buddhist hierarchs of the line of Gadun-dub came 
to be known in Mongolia, China and Tibet. From that time Gya-tsho 
became a necessary and inseparable part of the name of Gadun- 
dub’s successors. The Mongolians readily embraced Buddhism and 
became devout followers of the Yellow-cap Church. With a view to 
commemorate his visit to Mongolia, Sonam Gya-tsho, under the auspices 
of the Khan, founded the monastery of Choikhorling 6 in the Mongol 
capital. About this time the monastery of Kumbum* was founded at 
the birth place of Tsongkhapa in Amdo. 
On his return journey Sonam Gya-tsho visited Khukukhukto 7 
* 
Gabet 
1 
4 
6 
Kurnbum, it may be remembered, waa visited by Abbe Hue and 
and later on by Mr. W. W. Bockhill. 
“4 in Tibetan, 
