Buddhism in Tibet: Three Dharma King (ཆོས་རྒྱལ། Chosgyal) of Tibet.

Three Dharma King of Tibet.

The Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo, Trisong Detsen and Tri Ralpachen aka Ralpachen were considered as three Dharma king (Chogsyal) of Tibet. Three of them has brought larger range of Buddhism in Tibet during their reign. They had built numerous temples and translated numbers of Buddhist text and also printed countless text to preserve and enhance Buddhism in Tibet. The details of Three Dharma king of Tibet are mentioned as follows.

1. Songtsen Gampo (srong btsan sgam po): Songtsen Gampo is 33^rd King of Tibet and credited with introduction of Buddhism in Tibet. He is emanation of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara or chenrezik in Tibet and also first of the three Dharma king of Tibet. During his reign, he has built lots of temples at Tibet including Rasa Trulnang and Ramoche. He got married to Nepalese Princess Bhrikuti aka lha chuk tritsun and Chinese Princess Wencheng. At the age of 13, his father was poisoned and acceded to the throne and moved the capital to Lhasa. He has not only introduce Buddhism in Tibet but also unified the Tibet by making laws, regulations and taxation's systems in a country. After performing countless religious and political works, He was finally passed away in 650 CE due to illness.

King Trisong Detsen

    2. Trisong Detsen (khri srong lde btsan): King Trisong Detsen aka Trisong Deutsen (khri srong lde'u btsan) is thirty eighth king of Tibet. He is son of King Me Aktsom and second Dharma king of Tibet (second of the three great religious kings). Moreover he is one of the main disciple of Guru Rinpoche and due to his efforts, the great masters Shantarakshita aka Shyiwa Tsho and Guru Padmasambhava visited Tibet from India to preach the Buddhism. He has ruled from 755 AD to 797/804 AD and he has played pivotal role in introducing Buddhism in Tibet. some of the wives of Trisong Detsen are Lhamo Tsen (lha mo btsan), Changchub Drön (byang chub sgron), Gyalmo Tsün (rgyal mo btsun), Magyal Tsokarma (rma rgyal mtsho skar ma) and Yeshe Tsogyal from the Kharchen (mkhar chen) family before offering to Guru Rinpoche. His four son includes Mutri Tsenpo (mu khri btsan po), Mune Tsenpo (mu ne btsan po), Muruk Tsenpo (mu rug btsan po) and Mutik Tsenpo (mu tig btsan po) aka Senalek (sad na legs). However some believes Trisong Detsen has three sons Mune Tsenpo, Desong (lde srong) aka Senalek, and Murug or Mutik Tsenpo. He has only a daughter called Princess Pema Sel who is died at age of eight and later reborn as terton Pema Ledrel Tsal and Kuenkhen Longchen Rabjam who revealed the complete Khandro Nyingtik.

King Tri Ralpachen.

3. King Tri Ralpachen aka Ralpacan (ral pa can): He is also known as Titsuk Detsen and became 41st King of Tibet. Ralpachen is one of the grandson of Trisong Detsen and son of Mutik Tsenpo aka Sadnalegs. He is third of the three Dharma King of Tibet, who is extremely devoted to the teachings of the Buddha and he has built one thousand temples. He has invited many scholars from India such as Surendrabodhi aka lhé wangpo changchub, Shilendrabodhi (tshul khrims dbang po byang chub), Danashila and so on. He has simplified all the translations made during his forefathers in accordance with grammar rule and made easier to understand. King Tri Ralpachen is second of five brother, the eldest prince Tsangma took Buddhist vows and latter reach to Bhutan and stated lots of noble families in Bhutan. Third brother of Ralpachen is Langdarma who was anti-Buddhist and ruled after the death of Ralpachen. Two younger brother was died from the young age.