What is "panchen lama"

The Panchen Lama ( THL Penchen Lama), or Panchen Erdeni (, THL Penchen Erténi), is the highest ranking lama after the Dalai Lama in the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, the lineage which controlled western Tibet from the 16th century until the Battle of Chamdo and the subsequent 1959 Tibetan uprising.

There were two candidates for the present (11th) incarnation of the Panchen Lama: one, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was recognized by the 14th Dalai Lama on 14 May 1995; the alternative, Gyaincain Norbu, was selected by the Government of the People's Republic of China. Gedhun Choekyi Nyima vanished from the public eye shortly after being named at aged six. It has been claimed that Gedhun had been taken into protective custody from those that would spirit him into exile and is now held in captivity against the wishes of the Tibetan people, whereas the Chinese government states that he is living a "normal" private life. Tibetans and human rights groups continue to campaign for his release.