11 Facts About Gendun Gyatso

Gedun Gyatso, Gendun Gyatso Palzangpo, was considered posthumously to have been the second Dalai Lama.

Gedun Gyatso was born near Shigatse at Tanak as Sangye Phel, in the Tsang region of Central Tibet.

Gendun Gyatso's father, Kunga Gyaltsen, was a ngakpa of the Nyingma lineage, a famous Nyingma tantric master.

Gendun Gyatso's mother was Machik Kunga Pemo, they were a farming family.

Gendun Gyatso was proclaimed the reincarnation of Gendun Drup as a young boy – according to some sources at the age of four years, and to others at eight.

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Gendun Gyatso received his novice vows from Panchen Lungrig Gyatso in 1486, at the age of ten, and his vows of an ordained monk from Ghoje Choekyi Gyaltsen who gave him his ordination name of Gedun Gyatso.

Gendun Gyatso remained at Tashilhunpo until he was 16 or 17 but, then, due to "some controversies or jealousy" he had to leave the monastery and went to Lhasa to study at Drepung Monastery.

Gedun Gendun Gyatso was a renowned scholar and composer of mystical poetry, who traveled widely to extend Gelugpa influence, and became abbot of the largest Gelugpa monastery, Drepung, which from this time on was closely associated with the reincarnation line which eventually would be known as that of the Dalai Lamas.

Gendun Gyatso is said to have been the first to discover the sacredness of Lake Lhamoi Latso.

Gedun Gendun Gyatso became abbot of Tashilhunpo in 1512 at the age of thirty-six.

Gendun Gyatso then became abbot of Sera monastery in 1525; Sera had been founded in 1419, by Jamchen Chojey, a disciple of Tsong Khapa.