2nd Dalai Lama

Who was 2nd Dalai Lama?

Gendun Gyatso Palzangpo, also Gendun Gyatso was the second Dalai Lama, although he was not known by that title during his lifetime.

He was born near Shigatse at Tanak, in the Tsang region of central Tibet. His father, Kunga Gyaltsen, was a ngakpa of the Nyingma lineage, a famous Nyingma tantric master. His mother was Machik Kunga Pemo, they were a farming family.

Legend has it that soon after he learned to speak, he told his parents his name was Pema Dorje, the birth name of Gendun Drup and that his father was Lobsang Drakpa, which was Tsongkapa's ordination name. When he was four, he reportedly told his parents he wished to live in the Tashilhunpo monastery to be with his monks.

He was proclaimed the reincarnation of Gendun Drup as a young boy - according to some sources at four years old, and to others at eight.

He 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. At the age of eleven, he was enthroned as the reincarnation of Gendun Drubpa at Tashilhunpo monastery. He received his novice and then full ordination vows.