the history of buddhism among the mongols 401
As an effect of the invitation of the third Dalai Lama by Sengge
Dügüreng, the aqar region became of primary importance for the
expansion of the Yellow Doctrine in Eastern Mongolia. Also in the
southwest, however, the activities of dGe-lugs-pa missionaries led to
an ever-increasing number of princes who were interested in the new
religion, who collected books, and who used these books to enhance
their prestige.^107 With the third Dalai Lama, a new era had begun.
His fame had also reached Northern Mongolia as Abadai Sayin Khan
(1554–1588), one of the most powerful princes of Northern Mongolia
had visited him in 1587, i.e., during his sojourn in aqar, in order to
receive the title of Khan from him^108 and in order to invite him to the
north.^109 The Dalai Lama, however, did not comply with the invitation,
nor did he comply with an invitation sent to him by the Ming emperor
Wanli (1573–1619). In 1588 bSod-nams-rgya-mtsho died during
a sojourn in the Eastern Mongolian Qarain.^110
- The Era after Altan Khan
6.1. The Question of Succession of the Dalai LamaThe question of the successor to bSod-nams-rgya-mtsho was solved in
a very signi cant way. According to the Buddhist doctrine, the Dalai
Lama could decide himself whether or not and where he would be
reborn. The plant of missionary work in Mongolia was still very weak,
but the good relations with the Mongolian princes were promising, but
had to be dealt with with care. Therefore, the Dalai Lama decided
not to reappear in Tibet, but in Mongolia, and, more appropriately,
in the family of Altan Khan, descendent of inggis-Khan, as son
of Sümer Dayiing, the fourth son of Sengge Dügüreng Khan, the
oldest son of Altan Khan of the Tümed. This decision was realised
by Bandida Siregetü Güüsi orúi, the rst reincarnated Lama (Tib.
sprul-sku, Mong. qubilan) of the Siregetü Úoo monastery in Kökeqota,
and some other high-ranking Lamas who had come to Mongolia for
this purpose. Together with the princes of the Tümed, they appointed
(^107) Úiral 1996, p. 161.
(^108) Schmidt 1829, p. 253; Bawden 1989, p. 30; Ya 1991, p. 26; Kollmar-Paulenz
2001, p. 331 n. 667. 109
Cendina 1999, pp. 42–43.
(^110) Kollmar-Paulenz 2001, pp. 336–337. According to Úiral 1996, p. 162, the Third
Dalai Lama died in the aqar territory.