The Trandruk temple, founded by Songsten Gampo in the seventh century, is possibly Tibet's earliest geomantic temple, which suppresses the left shoulder of the supine demoness of Tibetan mythology. While the Jokhang may predate Trandruk, there is no clear consensus as to which site is the oldest. Later, Trandruk was revered as one of Trisong Detsen's three royal temples together with Samye and Jokhang. It is part of the Yarlung pilgrimage circuit known as "three sanctuaries, three chortens." During the period following the collapse of the Tibetan Empire, it is likely that religious activity may have quietly continued in the area, and toward the end of the eleventh century Trandruk was revitalized. Since around that time, it has been associated with the powerful Gyer clan, of which the Negu, Begu and Khangsar families form branches. It was converted to a Geluk institution in the seventeenth century and eventually grew to have twenty-one temples.
