Tashi Lhunpo Monastery was founded by His Holiness the 1st Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Gedun Drupa in 1447, and in due course of time became the most vibrant monastery in U-Tsang province of Tibet. The monastery grew in importance in the 16th century, when Tashi Lhunpo Monastery’s Abbot, Lobsang Choekyi Gyaltsen (1570-1662) was recognized by the 5th Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of Amitabha, the spiritual teacher of Chenrezig, the patron saint of Tibet, and was given the title Panchen Lama. ‘Panchen’ meaning Great Scholar.
