Zaya Pandita

Zaya Pandita was the fifth son of Babakhan, a minor [[Khoshut]] prince. After Babakhan converted to [[Tibetan Buddhism]] in the early 17th century, he, like many other Oirat princes, wished for one of his sons to enter the Buddhist clergy. In pursuit of his wish, Babakhan chose Zaya to become a [[śrāmaṇera]] ("novice monk"). In 1615, Zaya journeyed to [[Lhasa]] where he would study and practice Buddhism, including study under the guidance of the [[Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, 4th Panchen Lama]].

Zaya Pandita was the fifth son of Babakhan, a minor [[Khoshut]] prince. After Babakhan converted to [[Tibetan Buddhism]] in the early 17th century, he, like many other Oirat princes, wished for one of his sons to enter the Buddhist clergy. In pursuit of his wish, Babakhan chose Zaya to become a [[śrāmaṇera]] ("novice monk"). In 1615, Zaya journeyed to [[Lhasa]] where he would study and practice Buddhism, including study under the guidance of the [[Lobsang Chökyi Gyaltsen, 4th Panchen Lama]].

In 1638, Zaya Pandita left Tibet at the direction of the [[Panchen Lama]] to conduct missionary work among the [[Mongols]]. One year later in 1640, he assisted [[Erdeni Batur]], Khun Taiyishi of the [[Choros (Oirats)]] tribe, in assembling a pan-Mongol conference between the Oirat and the [[Khalkha Mongols]]. The purpose of the conference was to encourage the formation of a united Mongolian front against potential external enemies, such as the [[Kazakhs]], [[Manchu people|Manchus]], and [[Russians]] and to settle all internal matters peacefully. The conference produced a code, which provided protection from foreign aggression to both the Oirat and the Khalkha and guaranteed the free movement of people throughout Mongol land.

In 1638, Zaya Pandita left Tibet at the direction of the [[Panchen Lama]] to conduct missionary work among the [[Mongols]]. One year later in 1640, he assisted [[Erdeni Batur]], Khun Taiyishi of the [[Choros (Oirats)|Choros]] tribe, in assembling a pan-Mongol conference between the Oirat and the [[Khalkha Mongols]]. The purpose of the conference was to encourage the formation of a united Mongolian front against potential external enemies, such as the [[Kazakhs]], [[Manchu people|Manchus]], and [[Russians]] and to settle all internal matters peacefully. The conference produced a code, which provided protection from foreign aggression to both the Oirat and the Khalkha and guaranteed the free movement of people throughout Mongol land.

When not engaged in diplomacy between the Oirat and the Khalkha, Zaya Pandita spread Tibetan Buddhism to the Oirats, the Khalkha and even the [[Kalmyk people]] in far away Russia. In furtherance of his missionary work, Zaya Pandita composed a new alphabet, based on the traditional Mongolian alphabet, called "[[Clear script]]" (''todo bichig'') to transcribe the Oirat language as it is pronounced. By doing so, Zaya Pandita eliminated the ambiguities of the traditional Mongolian alphabet.

When not engaged in diplomacy between the Oirat and the Khalkha, Zaya Pandita spread Tibetan Buddhism to the Oirats, the Khalkha and even the [[Kalmyk people]] in far away Russia. In furtherance of his missionary work, Zaya Pandita composed a new alphabet, based on the traditional Mongolian alphabet, called "[[Clear script]]" (''todo bichig'') to transcribe the Oirat language as it is pronounced. By doing so, Zaya Pandita eliminated the ambiguities of the traditional Mongolian alphabet.