The PANCHEN Lamas, abbots of Tashilhunpo Monastery cam e in to existence in th e17 th century when the fifth Dalai Lama gave this title to his beloved and learned tutor. Panchen means great scholar so called hidden texts were then discovered that proved he was reincarnation of AMITABA the Buddha of infinite light and traced the incarnation back two centuries to one of first abbot Tashilhunpo.Thus counted not as the first but as the fourth Panchen Lama in a similar fashion , the great fifth had already been established as an incarnation Tibet Patron deity, Chenrezi the Bodhisattva of Compassion.from 17 centure Dalai Lama and Panchen Lama initiated one another as divine leaders and older one served as tutor to the younger.When a panchen Lma died a search began at once fo r the infant boy who was believed to be his new incarnation just like the Dalai Lama.

Some Tibetan consider Panchen Lama even holier than Dalai Lamas.They were thought to be less tainted by wordly affairs because they had no secular authority.Foreignrs named them Tashi Lamas and created a myth that were wise all knowing holu man.In fact they mixed in politics sometime rivaled the dalai lamas and conducted independent foreign policies which foreign power tried to exploit .There has been ten Panchen Lamas.

The first, second, third panchen Lamas were all learned scholars and successive abbots of Tashilhunpo Monastery who upheld the yellow hats sect.
The fourth (1569-1662) was learned tutor of the fifth Dalai Lama who honoured him with a divine status and title of Panchen The fifth (1663-1737) lived through the mixed -up succession to the sixth Dalai Lama .In 1728 chineese emporier hoping to divide Tibet offered him soverginity over all westrn Tibet but he did not accept it.

The sixth 1738-1780 was distuinguished by his writing and interest in the world. He befriended George Bogle .the gold he naively sent as a gift to the governor of India whetted Britains interest in Tibet.He also traveled to China but in Peking he caught small pox and died.

The seventh 1781-1854 was protected by china from Nepalese Raids.
The eight 1854-1882 died before he got caught up in foreign affairs.
The ninth 1883-1937 had severe conflict with thirteen dalai Lama.both the Chinese an dthe british tried to wow him.Fearing revenge from the Dalai Lam for his support of China he fled in died in exile.

The tenth from 1938 was born in China and did not confirmed as a genuine incarnation until age 11. His close stormy relationship with Tibet new Chinese administrator resulted in his virtual disappearance of many years after 1961.He held honorific poisons and worked in Beijing.He used to return Tibet occasionally to visit Tashilhunpo Monastery. He developed culture and religious development in Tibet even staying in Beijing.