| Warren Hastings
was keen to establish relationship with Tibet for trade purposes. He dispatched a mission
under Mr.Bogle in 1774 to negotiate with the Tashi Lama, the chief pontiff of Tibet. At
Tashilumpo, Bogle, a man of considerable tact, had a friendly reception. The Tashi Lama,
on his part, asked that he might be given a place on the banks of the Ganga River
sacred. His idea was to set up a temple there
for the Tibetans visiting India. Bogle returned in 1775 and Warren Hastings at once
granted a site for the Tibetan temple, and had it built under the supervision of
Bogle. When it was complete, the Tashi Lama sent down land and temple were assigned
to a Saivite sannyasi named Puran Gir Gosain.1
1 It was peculiar that the famous Buddhist temple
at Bodh Gaya where Lord Buddha received his divine inspiration had also gone into the
hands of the saivite Gir Gosains. |
