88 Sarat Chandra Das —The Hierarchy of the Dalai Lama. [Extra ZSTo. 
having passed from the hands of a Tartar General to those of a Lama ? 
the power of the Dalai Lama, who had lately returned from China, full 
of glory, greatly increased. Lozang Gya-tsho, besides being a scholar, 
well read in the sacred literature, was a shrewd statesman of great 
ability. He made Tin-leh nnconsciouslv subservient to his wishes in 
the government of the country. In 1668, the Lesrict died leaving the 
Government in the hands of a lavman named Choinon Deba, an incident 
which afforded Lozang Gya-tsho a still better opportunity to exercise 
his influence more effectually in the affairs of the state. 
In 1670, Da-ven Khan died leaving the throne to his son Ratna 
Talai Khan. On the retirement of Choipon Deba in 1671, Lama Lozang 
Jin-pa was appointed Desrid of Tibet. Since the conquest of Tibet by 
Gushi Khan, the internal administration of the country, which was 
vested iu the Desrid. had been practically directed by Lozang Gya-tsho, 
who, since his return from China, was considered as the holiest man on 
the face of the earth on account of his having become the spiritual tutor 
of the Emperor of China. He was reverentially called Gongsa-nga- 
pachenpo, 1 the fifth supreme Lama, the four who preceded him being 
Gadundub the founder of the hierarchy, Gaduu Gya-tsho, Sonam Gya- 
tsho and Yontan Gva-tsho. 
•/ 
Talai Khan having become powerless in Mongolia itself, bis Desrid 
became a non-entity in Tibet. In the year 1678, Lozang Gya-tsho 
assumed the supreme control of the country and appointed Sangye- 
Gya-tsho, a lavman of great wisdom and learning, as Desrid in the place 
of Lozang Jin-pa. Thus the sovereignty over Tibet and Kham 
practically passed from Talai Ratna Khan, the great-grandson of Gushi 
A 
Khan, tp the Tale Lama Nag-wang Lozang Gya-tsho, the supreme 
hierarch. 
The ancient castle of Srontsan-Gampo, the first Buddhist King of 
Tibet, which stood on the hill called Marpoi-ri (the red bill!, was 
selected by Lozang Gya-tsho for his court. He transferred his residence 
and cour t called Chyog-le Namgyal from Dapung to there, and laid the 
foundation of the famous palace of Phodang Marpo, now called Gahdan 
Phodany Chyogle Namgyal . s 
The name of the hill at the same time became changed into Potala, 
because the residence of Bodhisnttva Avalokhecvara, the patron saint of 
Tibet, whose spirit was believed to have appeared both in King Srong- 
tsan Gampo and himself, was mentioned in the sacred books to have 
, 
