 Considerable controversy surrounded the enthronement of the 17th Karmapa, as there was not just one contender for the vacated throne, but two.Both contenders were represented by rival factions who wanted to get their candidate recognised as the true incarnation of the 16th Karmapa.The alternative to Urgyen Trinley Dorje was Thaye Dorje, who enjoyed the authoritative backing of Shamar Rinpoche.