In 1578 Altan Khan presented the spiritual title of Dalai Lama, in honor of Sonam Gyatso's profound teachings conferred in Mongolia, which soon became a Tibetan Buddhist country.

He established a cho-yon or priest and patron relationship with Altan Khan, ruler of numerous Mongol tribes[5] and a prince of Ming China.

When they arrived there, they were greeted by over ten thousand people, including Altan Khan dressed in a white robe to symbolize his devotion to the Dharma.

[10] Some sources say this first meeting between Sonam Gyatso and Altan Khan took place in Amdo[11] near Lake Kokonor,[12] which was heavily populated by Mongolian peoples.

[13] Altan Khan had Thegchen Chonkhor, Mongolia's first monastery, built, and a massive program of translating Tibetan texts into Mongolian was commenced.

Within 50 years most Mongolians had become Buddhist, with tens of thousands of monks who were members of the Gelug school, loyal to the Dalai Lama.

[18] The alliance with the Mongolians would later prove instrumental in establishing the Gelug school as the spiritual and political leaders of Tibet during the reign of the Great Fifth Dalai Lama.

[19] Altan Khan was succeeded by his son Sengge Düüreng who continued to diligently support Buddhism, and two years later the 3rd Dalai Lama made another visit to Mongolia.

In October of 1587, Gyalwa Sonam Gyatso was promoted to Duǒ Er Zhǐ Chàng (朵儿只唱) by the emperor of China, and seal of authority was given.

[22][23] The Dalai Lama was again invited to meet the Ming emperor, and this time he accepted but fell ill and died in 1588, at the age of 45,[20]) in Mongolia while returning to Tibet.