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It was during the reign of Altan Khan that Buddhism came to Mongolia. Altan Khan invited the spiritual leader of Tibet Sodnomjamtso in 1577 and adopted the Lamaism, one of the varieties of Buddhism, so called yellow faith. At the grand ceremony held in connection with the assumption of the new faith and the abandonment of shamanism Altan Khan elevated Sodnamjamtso to be the head of the entire yellow faith and bestowed on him the title of Dalai Lama. Henceforth, the head of the Buddhist church in Tibet has become known as the Dalai Lama. Dalai means in Mongolian "Ocean". After Altan Khan other Mongolian princes followed his example. Abtai, one of the influential princes of Halha met the Dalai Lama in Huh-hot, they agreed together to promote the yellow faith in Halha. Upon return to his domain Abtai Khan did his best to disseminate the yellow faith in the country. He built the first famous Lamaist monastery Erdene Zuu at the site of the ancient Khara-Khorum. Soon the whole country was full of monasteries and temples. The third Dalai Lama was found reborn in Mongolia. The nephew of Altan Khan was made the Fourth Dalai Lama. |