3rd Dalai Lama facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sonam
Religion	Buddhism
Personal
Born	1543 Tolung, Ü-Tsang, Tibet
Died	1588 (aged 44–45) Mongolia
Senior posting
Title	3rd Dalai Lama
Period in office	1578–1588
Predecessor	Gendun Gyatso
Successor	Yonten Gyatso
Chinese name
Chinese	索南嘉措
Transcriptions
Tibetan name
Tibetan	བསོད་ནམས་རྒྱ་མཚོ་
Transcriptions Wylie bsod nams rgya mtsho Tibetan Pinyin Soinam Gyaco

Sonam Gyatso (Tibetan: བསོད་ནམས་རྒྱ་མཚོ་, Wylie: bsod nams rgya mtsho, ZYPY: Soinam Gyaco; 1543–1588) was a very important leader in Tibetan Buddhism. He was the first person to be called "Dalai Lama." However, this special title was later given to the two leaders who came before him. This means he is known as the 3rd Dalai Lama.

Sonam Gyatso was born near Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, in 1543. When he was young, he was recognized as the new life of the 2nd Dalai Lama, Gendun Gyatso. He was then officially made a leader at Drepung Monastery. His main teacher was Panchen Sonam Dragpa, who was a very respected Buddhist scholar. Sonam Gyatso studied at Drepung Monastery and later became its head, called an abbot. Soon, monks at another big monastery, Sera Monastery, also chose him as their abbot. He even studied some different kinds of Buddhist teachings, called tantric doctrines.

By the 1570s, Sonam Gyatso and his group of Buddhists, called the Gelug order, became very powerful in Tibet. He even led the funeral of a Tibetan king in 1564.

How the Dalai Lama Title Began

The special title "Dalai Lama" was first given to Sonam Gyatso in 1578. It was given by a powerful Mongolian ruler named Altan Khan. The word "Dalai" comes from a Mongolian word meaning "ocean." So, "Dalai Lama" means "Ocean Teacher" or "Ocean of Wisdom."

For a long time, only people from the family of Genghis Khan could rule Mongolia. This made it hard for other leaders to gain power. Altan Khan wanted to be a strong ruler, and he thought that connecting with Buddhism could help him. He believed he was the new life of Kublai Khan, a famous Mongolian emperor.

Altan Khan chose the Gelug order of Tibetan Buddhism. This group was founded by a great teacher named Je Tsongkhapa. In 1577, Altan Khan invited Sonam Gyatso, the leader of the Gelug order, to come to Mongolia. He wanted Sonam Gyatso to teach Buddhism to his people.

When they met, Sonam Gyatso announced that Altan Khan was the new life of Kublai Khan. In return, Altan Khan gave Sonam Gyatso the title "Dalai Lama." Altan Khan also decided that the two leaders before Sonam Gyatso should also be called Dalai Lamas. This is why Sonam Gyatso became known as the 3rd Dalai Lama.

Altan Khan and Mongolia's New Faith

Sonam Gyatso played a big part in spreading the Gelug school of Buddhism. He found a powerful supporter in Altan Khan. Altan Khan first invited Sonam Gyatso to Mongolia in 1569. At first, Sonam Gyatso sent a student instead. The student told him about the great chance to share Buddhist teachings in Mongolia.

Altan Khan invited Sonam Gyatso again. This time, Sonam Gyatso decided to go. His journey to Mongolia was a big event. Thousands of animals were given to him as gifts. Many horsemen came to escort him to Altan Khan's court. When he arrived, over ten thousand people greeted him. Altan Khan himself wore a white robe to show his strong belief in the Buddhist teachings, called the Dharma.

This meeting was very important. Altan Khan built Mongolia's first monastery, called Thegchen Chonkhor. A huge project began to translate Tibetan Buddhist books into Mongolian. Within 50 years, most Mongolians became Buddhists. Tens of thousands of monks joined the Gelug order and were loyal to the Dalai Lama.

Sonam Gyatso taught that it was time for Mongolia to fully accept Buddhism. He asked them to stop old customs like animal sacrifices. He also said that images of old gods should be removed. He taught that no life, animal or human, should be taken. Military actions should be stopped, and the old custom of women dying on their husbands' funeral fires should end. Altan Khan agreed to these changes and made them laws.

Sonam Gyatso publicly said that he was the new life of a famous Tibetan teacher named Drogön Chögyal Phagpa. He said that he and Altan Khan had come together again to spread Buddhism. This connection with the Mongols later helped the Gelug order become the main rulers of Tibet. This happened during the time of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama.

Altan Khan died in 1582, just four years after meeting the 3rd Dalai Lama. Altan Khan's son, Sengge Düüreng, continued to support Buddhism strongly. Two years later, the 3rd Dalai Lama visited Mongolia again. On his way, he founded the Kumbum Monastery. This monastery was built at the birthplace of the great teacher Je Tsongkhapa.

Sonam Gyatso also founded other monasteries. One was Lithang Monastery in Eastern Tibet. Another was a small monastery that later became known as Namgyal Monastery. This monastery became the personal monastery for all the Dalai Lamas who came after him. By 1585, he was back in Mongolia. He helped more Mongolian princes and their tribes become Buddhists.

In 1587, the Chinese emperor gave Sonam Gyatso a special title and a seal of authority. The Dalai Lama was invited to visit the Ming emperor in China. He accepted the invitation, but he became sick and died in 1588 in Mongolia. He was 45 years old.

After his death, Altan Khan's great-grandson, Yonten Gyatso, was chosen as the 4th Dalai Lama.

Sonam Gyatso once said, "To others give the victory and the spoils; The loss and defeat, take upon oneself." This shows his humble and wise nature.

See also

In Spanish: Sonam Gyatso para niños