Songtsen Gampo

Songtsen Gampo is the father of Tibetan Buddhism. He helped bring Buddhism to Tibet and enter the Tibetan people's lives. If it wasn't for the efforts of Songtsen Gampo, Tibet might have no Jokang or alphabet, among other things. He ruled Tibet from 617 to 650 during the Yarlung Dynasty. At this time Bön was the dominant religion and there was no Tibetan written language. After a Tibetan script was created, several thousand Buddhist texts were translated. Songtsen Gampo was able to expand the Tibetan empire and gained respect from neighboring areas. There is also a pillar that is before the Potala which states an agreement for the Chinese and Tibetans to respect each other's culture. However, credit for Tibet's success can also be attributed to his two wives, who helped him gain cultural awareness. Also do to one of Songsten Gampo's princesses, he commissioned 13 temples across Tibet to protect Tibet from a demoness. Songsten Gampo was the gradfather of King Trisong Detsen and was tought of as the human emanation of Avalokiteshvara. He meditated in a cave for several years that is now located at the core of the Potala palace.