Thothori Nyantsen


Lha Thothori gNyan bTsan was the 28th King of Tibet according to the Tibetan legendary tradition. Lha "divine, pertaining to the gods of the sky" is an honorary title and not a part of his proper name.
He belonged to the Yarlung dynasty connected to the Yarlung district in Southern Tibet. Modern scholars believe that he was a historical ruler, as he is also mentioned in a Chinese source. They date his rule to the fifth century, because the 33rd king Songtsän Gampo died in 650; other calculations putting his birth at 173 or 254 are nowadays rejected. He did not rule over the whole of Tibet; his power was probably limited to the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyon area.
According to an indigenous legend, Buddhist scriptures first arrived in Tibet in his time. The tale claims that this happened in a miraculous way, but there may be an historical background. In any case, this first contact of Tibetans with Buddhism cannot have been more than an incident without lasting impact.
The cintamani is said to be one of four relics that came in a chest that fell from the sky during the reign of king Lha Thothori Nyantsen. Though the king did not understand the purpose of the objects, he still kept them in a position of reverence. Several years later, two mysterious strangers appeared at the court of the king, explaining the four relics, which included the Buddha's bowl and a mani stone. These few objects were the bringers of the Dharma to Tibet.