Taranatha (tA ra nA tha) was born at Karak (kha rag) in 1575, into the hereditary line of the great Tibetan translator Ra Lotsawa Dorje Drak (rwa lo tsA ba rdo rje grags). His Tibetan name was Kunga Nyingpo (kun dga' snying po), but he is generally known by the name Taranatha, which he received in a vision from a great Indian adept.