Origins & Early Life

The 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso (Tibetan: ཚངས་དབྱངས་རྒྱ་མཚོ, Wylie: tshangs-dbyangs rgya-mtsho) (1 March 1683 – after 1706) was recognized as the 6th Dalai Lama after a delay of many years, permitting the Potala Palace to be completed. He was an unconventional Dalai Lama that preferred a Nyingma school yogi's life to that of an ordained monk. He was later kidnapped and deposed by the Koshut Lhazang Khan. The death of the 5th Dalai Lama remained concealed for many years by his Kalon, in order to complete the building of the Potala Palace.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

The 6th Dalai Lama was born in southern Tibet, known as "Monyul", at Urgelling Monastery, which is in modern-day Tawang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India. He was officially located at the age of either 13 or 14. As a youth, he showed high levels of intelligence with unconventional views. Later and while living as a lay practitioner and a yogi, he grew his hair long, dressed as a regular Tibetan, and was said to also drink alcohol and openly accept women as companions. He was said to be a popular Dalai Lama in Lhasa's Shol neighborhood located at the base of the Potala.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

During a power struggle between Mongolians and Qing China in Tibet and Lhasa...

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