The 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, who turns 90 this July 6 is so far the longest living of all the Dalai Lamas. His reincarnation will be identified by the Gaden Phodrang Trust.The previous 13 Dalai Lamas all took birth either in the year that their predecessor died, or a year later. They were mostly recognised as the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation when they were two or three years old.Here are brief profiles of the previous 13 Dalai Lamas, and how they were found, according to Tibetan Buddhist tradition. A few of them died at a young age.Born in 1391 in Gyurmey Rupa, near Sakya in the Tsang region of central Tibet to Gonpo Dorjee and Jomo Namkha Kyi, a nomadic family, his given name was Pema Dorjee. He died in 1474, at the age of 84, while in meditation at Tashi Lhunpo monastery.Gedun became the disciple of the Great Tsongkhapa, an influential Tibetan Buddhist monk, philosopher, and tantric yogi whose efforts led to the formation of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, in 1416.Gedun’s loyalty and devotion to Tsongkhapa earned him the title of Principal Disciple. Tsongkhapa handed Gedun a new set of robes as a sign to spread Buddhist teachings all over Tibet.In 1447, Gedun founded the Tashi Lhunpo monastery in Shigatse, one of the biggest monastic universities of the Gelug school. (There are four main schools of Tibetan Buddhism – Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug.)The 2nd Dalai Lama, Gedun Gyatso (1475–1542)Story continues below this adHe was born in 1475 in Tanag Sekme, near Shigatse in the Tsang region of central Tibet to Kunga Gyaltso and Machik Kunga Pemo, a farming family. When he was able to speak, he told his parents that his name was Pema Dorjee (the given name of the First Dalai Lama), and that he would live in Tashi Lhunpo monastery.In 1525, he became the abbot of Sera monastery, and died at the age of 67 in 1542.The 3rd Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso (1543-1588)He was born in 1543 in Tolung, near Lhasa, to Namgyal Drakpa and Pelzom Bhuti, a rich family. His parents’ other children had died, and to ward off any misfortune they fed him the milk of a white goat, and named him Ranu Sicho Pelzang – “the prosperous one saved by goat’s milk”.When he was three years old, the then ruler of Tibet, Sonam Dakpa Gyaltsen, recognised him as the reincarnation of the Second Dalai Lama. He was later given the name of Sonam Gyatso. In 1588, he died while teaching in Mongolia.The 4th Dalai Lama, Yonten Gyatso (1589-1617)Story continues below this adHe was born in 1589 in Mongolia to the Chokar tribal chieftain Tsultrim Choeje, who was the grandson of Altan Khan and his second wife PhaKhen Nula.In 1617, at the age of 27, he died at Drepung monastery. With predictions from state oracles and auspicious signs at his birth, the abbot of Gaden monastery recognised him as the reincarnation of the Third Dalai Lama, and he was given the name of Yonten Gyatso.The 5th Dalai Lama, Lobsang Gyatso (1617-1682)He was born in 1617 in Lhoka Chingwar Taktse, south of Lhasa, to Dudul Rabten and Kunga Lhanzi.Sonam Choephel, the chief attendant of the Fourth Dalai Lama, paid a visit to the Chong-Gya boy after hearing of his exceptional abilities and showed him articles belonging to the previous Dalai Lama. The boy at once said those belonged to him.Story continues below this adSonam Choephel kept the discovery of the Fifth Dalai Lama a secret because of the turbulent political situation at the time. When things settled down, the Fifth Dalai Lama was taken to Drepung monastery, where he was ordained into monkhood by the Third Panchen Lama, Lobsang Chogyal, and was given the name Ngawang Lobsang Gyatso.He decreed the construction of the Potala Palace in Lhasa, but died in 1682 at the age of 65, before the palace could be completed.The 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso (1682-1706)He was born in 1682 in the region of Mon Tawang in present-day Arunachal Pradesh to Tashi Tenzin and Tsewang Lhamo.In order to complete the Potala Palace, the wishes of the Fifth Dalai Lama were carried out, and his death was kept a secret for 15 years. People were told that the Great Fifth Dalai Lama was continuing his long retreat. On important occasions the Dalai Lama’s ceremonial gown was placed on the throne.Story continues below this adAlso Read | The Dalai Lama, his successor, and ChinaHowever, when Mongol princes insisted on having an audience with the Dalai Lama, an old monk called Depa Deyrab of Namgyal Monastery, who resembled the Dalai Lama, was hired to pose in his place. He wore a hat and eyeshadow to conceal the fact that he lacked the Dalai Lama’s piercing eyes.In 1697, the 14-yr-old Tsangyang Gyatso was enthroned as the Sixth Dalai Lama. In 1706, he was invited to China, but he died on the way.The 7th Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso (1708–1757)It is believed that Tsangyang Gyatso predicted his own rebirth at Lithang in Kham when he wrote this song: “White crane, lend me your wings, I go no farther than Lithang, And thence, return again.”The boy who would be the Seventh Dalai Lama was born in 1708 to Sonam Dargya and Lobsang Chotso in Lithang.Story continues below this adMonks at the Thupten Jampaling Monastery, which was founded by the Third Dalai Lama, were astonished by the wonders of the child, and also the state oracles of Lithang that predicted that the newborn child would be the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama.Due to the turbulent political situation prevailing at the time, he was not taken to Lhasa but to Kumbum monastery, where he was ordained. In 1720, he was enthroned in Potala Palace.In 1751, when he was 43 years old, the Dalai Lama constituted the Kashag or Council of Ministers, a practice that the Central Tibetan Administration follows even today, and became the spiritual and political leader of Tibet. He died in 1757.The 8th Dalai Lama, Jamphel Gyatso (1758-1804)He was born in 1758 at Thobgyal, Lhari Gang, in the Tsang region of southwestern Tibet. His father, Sonam Dhargye, and mother, Phuntsok Wangmo, were originally from Kham, and traced their ancestry to Dhrala Tsegyal, one of the legendary heroes of the Gesar epic.Story continues below this adAs soon as he was conceived, the Lhari Gang area was blessed with a bumper harvest, with each stalk of barley bearing three, four, and five ears, which was unprecedented. As his mother and a relative had their supper in the garden, a huge rainbow appeared, and its one end touched the mother – an extremely auspicious omen that is associated with the birth of a holy being.After his birth, Jamphel was often observed looking heavenward with a smile on his face, and attempting to sit in a meditative lotus posture. As the infant Jamphel began to speak, he said – “I will go to Lhasa at the age of three.”He was eventually recognised as the Eighth Dalai Lama. He died in 1804 at the age of 47.The 9th Dalai Lama, Lungtok Gyatso (1805-1815)He was born in 1805 in Dan Chokhor, a small village in Kham, to Tenzin Choekyong and Dhondup Dolma.Story continues below this adHe was recognised as the Dalai Lama’s reincarnation in 1807, and enthroned at the Potala Palace in 1810. However, he died in 1815 at the very young age of 9.The 10th Dalai Lama, Tsultrim Gyatso (1816–1837)He was born in 1816 in Lithang in Kham to Lobsang Dakpa and Namgyal Bhuti. He was recognised in 1822, and was enthroned in the Potala Palace the same year.He constantly battled ill health, and died in 1837.The 11th Dalai Lama, Khedrup Gyatso (1838-1856)He was born in 1838 at Gathar in Kham Minyak to Tsetan Dhondup and Yungdrung Bhuti. He was recognised in 1841, and was enthroned in Potala Palace the following year.He died in 1856 in Potala Palace.The 12th Dalai Lama, Trinley Gyatso (1856–1875)He was born in 1856 in Lhoka, a place near Lhasa, to Phuntsok Tsewang and Tsering Yudon. In 1858, he was escorted to Lhasa where he was given the name Thypten Gyatso.In 1873, he took on full responsibility as both spiritual and political leader of Tibet but died in 1875 at the age of 20 in Potala Palace.The 13th Dalai Lama, Thupten Gyatso (1876-1933)He was born in the Fire Mouse year of 1876 at Langdun in Dagpo, central Thakpo Tibet, to Kunga Rinchen and Lobsang Dolma, a peasant couple. In 1877, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama following predictions from the State Oracle Nechung and other auspicious signs at his birthplace. In 1879, he was enthroned at the Potala Palace.In 1914, he strengthened Tibet’s military force by organizing special training for the Tibetan army. In 1917, he established the Men-Tsee-Khang (Tibetan Medical and Astrology Institute) in Lhasa to preserve the unique traditional Tibetan medical and astrological systems.In 1923, he established the Police Headquarters in Lhasa for the security and welfare of the Tibetan people. In the same year, he established the first English school of Tibet in Gyaltse.He died in 1933 at the age of 58.