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7th Dalai Lama : Kelsang Gyatso : Bskal-bzang-rgya-mtsho (1708-1757)
Son of Sonam Dargya and Lobsang Chotso, Kelsang Gyatso was born in Lithang in 1708, two years after the death of Tsangyang Gyatso - the 6th Dalai Lama.
It is told that Tsangyang Gyatso predicted his rebirth:
White crane, lend me your wings,
I go no farther than Lithang,
And thence, return again.
Thupten Jampaling Monastery, founded in Lithang by the Third Dalai Lama, noticed the child and also the state oracles of Lithang predicted that the newborn child would be the reincarnation of the late Dalai Lama. But due to turbulent political situation, the Dali Lama couldn't be could escorted to Lhasa, and he was taken to Kumbum monastery, where he was ordained by Ngawang Lobsang Tenpai Gyaltsen.
In 1720 he was enthroned in the Potala Palace and took the novice vows of monkhood from Panchen Lobsang Yeshi, getting the name Kelsang Gyatso, and went to be fully ordinated as a monk in 1726 from Panchen Rinpoche.
Article information resources : Dalailama.com
