Central khurul of Kalmykia "golden abode of Shakyamuni Buddha". Buddhist temple (Elista), central khurul “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni Opening schedule of the Golden Abode
Kalmykia these days attracts the attention of people practicing and studying Buddhism. Kalmyks are a people whose primordial religion is Buddhism, dating back 2,550 years of history. The main population adheres to the Mahayana tradition - the Great Vehicle. In addition, the steppe republic has a rich history and culture, original crafts, distinct oriental architecture, and is famous for its friendliness and hospitality, and excellent national cuisine.
The largest Buddhist temple in Russia and Europe was inaugurated in the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia on December 27, 2005 after the visit of the spiritual leader of Buddhists, His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, to Elista, which took place at the end of November 2004. Early in the morning of December 1, before flying to India, His Holiness the Dalai Lama held a brief ceremony to consecrate the construction site of the future temple in the very center of Elista.
With the blessing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, the Central Kalmyk khurul “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” becomes one of the most important centers development of Buddhism in the world. Evidence of this is the huge number of tourists of various religions and social status, pilgrims and world-famous politicians, athletes, actors, singers. Many call Elista khurul “a pearl among the steppes,” and the Republic of Kalmykia itself is called “the lotus country.”
When visiting the khurul “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni”, be sure to walk around the khurul one, three or more times, rotating the prayer wheels and reciting OM MANI PADME HUM or another mantra you know. Your spiritual merits will increase many times over, because khurul is holy place, like a mandala, where there is big statue Buddha Shakyamuni, collected all the teachings of the Buddha - “Ganjur”, donated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, his monastic robes are kept, as well as a myriad of statues and images of Buddhist deities and defenders of the Dharma.
Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni in Elista (Russia) - description, history, location. Exact address and website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.
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The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni is a significant Buddhist temple in Europe and the Republic of Kalmykia, a majestic and bright place, the dominant feature of all of Kalmykia and Elista, located in its very heart and visible from every corner of the city.
Previously, there was a reinforced concrete plant here, but with the blessing of the Buddhist leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, who came to Elista (the city of contrasts) in November 2004, a stunning Buddhist temple was erected. Before leaving Elista for India, His Holiness the Dalai Lama consecrated the place where the future khurul was to be built. The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni was erected in 9 months according to the design of S. Kurneev, V. Gilyandikov and L. Amninov.
In the center of the hall there is a huge golden statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, covered with gold leaf, the authors of which were Kalmyk artists under the direction of the Honored Artist-Sculptor of Russia Vladimir Vaskin.
The magnificent khurula building (56 m high), consecrated on December 27, 2005, houses the largest Buddha statue in the country and Europe (12 m). Prayers, festive divine services and rituals are performed here. The golden abode of Buddha Shakyamuni is surrounded by a fence with four entrances from four cardinal directions, in which 108 snow-white stupas alternate at five-meter intervals.
The main gate is the southern one, through which, according to Kalmyk tradition, one enters the temple. Seventeen pagodas with installed statues famous Buddhist teachers of the Nalanda monastery and “kurde” prayer drums with prayers embedded in them, around which you can make wishes by placing coins at the beginning of the drums and at the end.
At the base of the majestic white temple, built in a style characteristic of Buddhism, believers are greeted by the White Elder (Tsagan Aav), the pagan god of the Kalmyks, the patron saint of the surrounding area.
Built between two staircases beautiful fountain. The entrance to the “Buddha’s abode” is framed by red columns and guarded by lions of a special color, and the massive red doors with carved decorations in the form of gold patterns evoke special admiration.
Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni, Elista
You must enter the temple with your shoes off, wearing the socks you brought with you; women must wear skirts or loincloths (loaned at the entrance), with their legs covered. For proper circulation of energy, temple sculptures must be walked around clockwise.
Interior decoration The temple is admired no less than its appearance. The walls are skillfully painted with scenes from Buddhist culture. Nine tank painters decorated the interior, and the paintings are still updated from time to time. The complete monastic equipment of the 14th Dalai Lama is also kept here. You can buy incense and jewelry in the souvenir shop at the temple.
The central temple of Elista consists of seven levels, each of which has its own functions. The first level of the khurul houses a museum of the history of Buddhist culture, a library, a reading room, and a conference room.
The second floor of the khurul is given over to the prayer dugan. There are benches for worshipers, and in the center of the hall there is a huge golden statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, covered with gold leaf, the authors of which were Kalmyk artists under the direction of the Honored Artist-Sculptor of Russia Vladimir Vaskin. Holy objects are stored inside the Buddha (mantras, incense, prayers, Kalmyk land from all over).
The remaining levels contain administrative offices, exhibition halls, individual reception rooms, the residence of the President of the Republic and the head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia, monastic rooms, the residence of the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso, general technical and ritual premises.
Thousands of tourists and believers visit the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni Elista, a significant center for the development of world Buddhism, every year. It is here that you can become more familiar with Buddhism and its distinctive features. The central Elista khurul, “a pearl among the steppes,” stands out among the modest, miniature city with its incredible power and breathtaking beauty!
How to get there
Address: Elista, crossroads st. Lenin and st. Ilyumzhinov.
Khurul opening hours
From 9:00 to 10:30 - daily general prayer for the well-being of the entire Kalmyk people and all living beings; from 11:30 to 16:00 - daily individual reception (except Mondays); from 14:00 to 16:00 - funeral prayer (yoryal) every Friday.
Despite its relative youth (the temple was completed in 2005), the “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” has the status Buddhist shrine by right: the Dalai Lama personally supervised all stages preceding construction. He not only consecrated the place where the temple was erected, but also approved its sketch, and, most importantly, gave the complex a name. Moreover, for the Buddhist community of Kalmykia, the approval of the external appearance of the khurul by the Dalai Lama was so important that the head of Kalmykia, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, and the Supreme Lama of the Republic, Telo Tulku Rinpoche, personally went to meet with the spiritual leader of the Buddhists. They brought preliminary designs of the temple to Dharamsala - small town in India, where the so-called “Tibetan government in exile” is based (in 1959, the Dalai Lama, along with many other Buddhists, left Tibet in protest against Chinese policies).
His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV visited Kalmykia three times: in 1991, 1992 and 2004. During the third visit, the spiritual leader of Tibetan, Mongolian and Russian Buddhists consecrated the planned site of the construction of the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni khurul.
The poetic name “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” is based on the features of the Kalmyk temple: its design is dominated by gold color, and on the second level of the khurul, in the prayer hall, there is the largest statue in Europe of the founder of Buddhism, Buddha Shakyamuni. According to legend, he was an Indian prince from the wealthy Shakya family, who devoted his life to finding a way out of the cycle of earthly suffering, achieved enlightenment and showed this path to others. The statue reaches 9 m in height. Sitting in the “earth touching pose” asana, the giant Buddha in his left hand holds a patra - a bowl for collecting alms, a symbol of renunciation of worldly life. The statue is covered with gold leaf and encrusted with diamonds: their radiance is a sign that the Buddha’s body is perfect and radiates light. And inside the monument are sacred objects: mantras, incense, jewelry and handfuls of earth from every region of the republic. They are designed to fill the statue with good energy. The walls of the prayer hall are painted with scenes from the life of Buddha and images of all fourteen incarnations of the Dalai Lama. In addition, the decoration of the temple is complemented by about a hundred small statues arranged in beautiful pyramids.
Khurul work schedule
9.00 - 10.30 - general prayer for the well-being of all living beings (daily)
11.30 - 16.00 - individual reception (daily, except Mondays)
14.00 - 16.00 - funeral prayer service (yoryal) every Friday
Temple as a cultural center
On the upper level of the khurul, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, the residence of the Dalai Lama is located. This is not the main residence of the spiritual leader of Buddhism. Moreover, His Holiness has not yet visited the chambers built for him in Elista. The luxurious residence in Khurul is not located for the permanent residence of the Dalai Lama, but so that he knows that he is always welcome in Kalmykia.
In addition, according to the conviction of the Buddhist community of Kalmykia, the khurul of the 21st century should be not just a temple, but an educational and cultural center. Therefore, on the first level of the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni, a library, a museum and a conference hall for holding seminars and lectures on Buddhism, designed for 460 people, were opened. Book publishing houses from Elista, Moscow and St. Petersburg also donated books to the library’s collection; it has publications in Kalmyk, Mongolian, Russian, English and other languages.
Among the Buddhists who visited the temple were Hollywood celebrities. In 2007, Steven Seagal came to see the Golden Abode. “I have never seen temples like this in my life. You are very happy people,” the Hollywood actor admitted during the visit.
There are seven levels in total in the khurul; overall height buildings exceed 60 meters. The temple is visible from anywhere in the city, and its golden roof shines in any weather. The walls of the khurul are snow-white, the gates are painted red, and the roofs of the pagoda are made in gold and green colors. Tibetan artists were specially invited to paint the walls. The main elements on the facade were eight symbols of Buddhist teachings - a wheel, fish, lotus, vessel, umbrella, standard, shell and the geometric figure “endless knot of happiness”. Each of these symbols has a sacred meaning.
The territory adjacent to the khurul is also decorated in accordance with the traditions of Buddhism. Along the perimeter, the complex is surrounded by a low fence with white stupas placed every five meters - dome-shaped structures for storing relics that do not have access inside. The name “stupa” is more typical for India; in Kalmykia they are more often called suburgans. There are four pairs of gates in the fence, their number corresponds to the number of elements and cardinal directions. They are executed in oriental style and are designed to remind that the one entering is embarking on the path of spirituality and enlightenment. A visitor can enter the temple only through the southern gate. The steps leading to them are decorated with cascading fountains with a sculpture of the god of wealth on the top panel, and at the foot of the stairs the guest is greeted by the Kalmyk pagan god, patron of the area Tsagan Aav, made in silver and always decorated with bright ribbons.
The temple was erected on the site of an old reinforced concrete products factory on Lenin Street.
Another treasure of the main Kalmyk khurul can be seen on the perfectly trimmed green lawn, between the paths leading to the entrance to the temple: 17 pagodas with statues of the great Buddhist teachers of Nalanda. The installation of these sculptures around the temple was personally recommended by His Holiness the Dalai Lama: he considers the followers of Tibetan Buddhism to be the spiritual heirs of Nalanda, the largest monastic university of ancient India, founded in the 2nd century BC. e. In the 9th century it was destroyed by Muslims, but its teachers managed to pass on their knowledge and experience to the inhabitants of Tibet, from where Buddhism spread to Mongolia, Kalmykia, Buryatia and Tuva. Statues of Nalanda teachers, who preserved the wisdom of Buddhism for the world, are erected in many khuruls. However, the Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni is unique in this regard. “Perhaps this is the first temple where sculptural images of all seventeen teachers of Nalanda are collected. Previously, we only paid attention to eight teachers, but I added nine more to them. So this temple is a kind of official confirmation of my point of view,” the Dalai Lama explained the special value of the statues.
Perhaps it is thanks to the blessing of His Holiness that all temple complex managed to build in record time - in nine months. 52 organizations participated in the work. The head of the republic invested personal funds in the construction, residents of Kalmykia collected voluntary donations for the construction of the shrine, and musicians gave charity concerts. More than a thousand people were involved in construction work every day, and a whole team was responsible for the architectural part - engineers V.K. Sangadzhiev and V.V. Vasiliev, architects S.E. Kurneev, L.D. Amninov and V.B. Gilyandikov. The efforts of all these people were not in vain: the “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” is considered one of the most beautiful khuruls in the world, and every year thousands of tourists and pilgrims specially come to Elista to see it.
The history of the emergence of Buddhism in Kalmykia
Buddhism came to Kalmykia from Tibet. The religion spread among the ancestors of modern Mongols and Kalmyks from the 13th century, when the Great Mongol Empire was formed. A significant Tibetan document, the Red Book, compiled in the mid-14th century, states that Genghis Khan personally met with the preacher of Buddhism. Representatives of the Oirat-Western Mongolian elite close to the khan became acquainted with the teachings of the Tibetan monks. Many noble Oirats brought Buddhist monks closer to their courts.
The Oirats came to the territory of the Russian state in the 17th century, forming the Kalmyk (Torgut) Khanate in the steppes of the Northern Caspian Sea. It was within the boundaries of this formation that the Kalmyk nation took shape. Moreover, the formation of the future Kalmykia coincided with the popularization of Buddhist teachings among the Oirats: in 1640, at a congress on the occasion of the adoption of a code of laws, Buddhism was declared the state religion for all Mongolian peoples.
In the 18th century, groups of people who wanted to study Buddhism began to travel from Kalmykia to Tibet. According to Buddhist archives, there were so many Oirat disciples that they formed two separate communities in the monasteries. Some of these people, having undergone training in the khuruls of Tibet, returned to their homeland to preach Buddhism.
In the 19th century, the spread of this religion was no less active, but after the revolution of 1917 and the formation Soviet Union its influence has diminished markedly. With the beginning of perestroika, everything returned to normal: in 1988, a Buddhist community was registered for the first time in Elista.
Contribution of the Oirats to the development of Buddhism
According to the essay “The Rule of the Inhabitants of the Ganden Palace over the Entire Space of Tibet in the Late Period of the Spread of the Teaching,” in the 17th century, the Oirats played a significant role in strengthening Buddhism and provided important assistance to Tibet. The document states that in 1641, the “patron and disciple” of the Dalai Lama, the Khosheut Gushi Khan, conquered the territory of Tibet and handed over the reins of government to the Dalai Lama. For this, Gushi Khan was given the name “King of Tibet” and the title of Nomin Khan. The Oirat taishi began to receive honorary titles of khans from the Dalai Lama on a permanent basis: for example, Galdan Boshigtu Khan, a disciple of the Dalai Lama, who, according to some researchers, was being prepared for the role of a new religious leader among the Oirats. Among the taishas who were offered the title of khan were the Volga Kalmyks: Daichin and Ayuka.
The main attraction of Kalmykia, the Buddhist temple “Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni”, is a huge snow-white building, made in a style characteristic of Buddhist culture.
The perimeter of the central khurul in Elista is surrounded by a fence with small statues alternating every five meters. The fence has four entrances on each side of the world, while the temple itself has two entrances from the south (front) and north (service). A visitor can enter the territory of the central khurul through any entrance, but the main one is the southern gate, through which, according to Kalmyk customs, it is customary to enter the temple.
At the foot of the temple, visitors are greeted by the White Elder or Tsagan Aav - the Kalmyk pagan god, the patron saint of the area.
The statue is followed by two staircases, between which there is a fountain. At the top there is a sculpture of the deity of wealth Kubera.
The entrance to the temple is framed by red columns, and the tall red doors decorated with carved gold patterns are especially admired. At the entrance there are lions with characteristic colors.
However, the composition of the Buddhist temple in Elista does not end there. The sculptures scattered throughout the central khurul deserve special attention: in 17 pagodas, gilded figures of Buddhist saints sit on pedestals.
Around central khurul (Elista) there are prayer drums “kurde”, inside of which there are hundreds of prayers.
Buddhist temple in Elista was built in a significantly short time: in 9 months, the builders and architects managed to create not only the temple itself, but also decorate the interior of the khurul. The authors of the project were S. Kurneev, V. Gilyandikov and L. Amninov. It was built on the site of a reinforced concrete products factory and opened in 2005. The main temple of Gol-Sume, 51 meters high, is located on a seven-meter elevation so that it can be seen from different parts of the city.
The interior decoration of the khurul is even more amazing than appearance buildings. Upon entering the khurul, you can find a kind of wardrobe where believers leave their outerwear and shoes, as well as a small souvenir shop where you can buy various jewelry and incense. On the second level, in the main hall of the central khurul, dugan, where prayers take place, there are several benches for believers, and in the center of the room is a golden statue of Buddha Shakyamuni, whose height is 9 meters. The visible part of the statue is covered with gold leaf, and hidden inside the figure of Buddha are objects sacred to Buddhists - mantras, prayers, incense and earth from all over the republic. The authors of the sculpture are Honored Artist of the Russian Federation, sculpture Vladimir Vaskin and a group of Kalmyk artists.
The interior walls are decorated with skillful paintings embodying scenes from Buddhist culture. Nine tank painters worked on the design of the interior of the khurul, who periodically refresh the painting. Also here is the full monastic robe of the 14th Dalai Lama.
The central temple of Elista is divided into seven levels, each of which has its own specific function. On the first level of the central khurul of Elista there is also a museum of the history of Buddhist culture: photographs and objects of Buddhism perfectly reflect the specifics of this religion. Also on the first level there is a conference hall with 460 seats and a library with a reading room, on the second level there is a prayer hall with one and a half thousand seats. The third level is occupied by administration offices, exhibition halls and individual reception rooms, which can be accessed on certain days by appointment. On the fourth level Buddhist temple there is the residence of the President of the Republic Kirsan Ilyumzhinov and the head of Kalmyk Buddhists Tulku Rinpoche, as well as the rooms of the monks. The fifth level is occupied by the residence of the 14th Dalai Lama, the sixth floor is technical, and the seventh floor contains rooms for special rituals.
The Buddhist temple (Elista) is visited annually by thousands of tourists from different parts of Russia and abroad. It is in the central khurul that you can get to know Buddhist culture better and learn the characteristic features and customs of this religion.
Photo: Ilya Shuvalov, Yuri Levko, Alexander Orionov, Leonid Namruev.
The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni is not only one of the main attractions of Elista, but also the largest Buddhist temple in Europe. On the territory of Kalmykia, Buddhist temples are called khuruls.
01. I came to Elista on business and didn’t have any time to visit the sights, but I really wanted to go to the Buddhist temple, especially since we checked in just opposite the complex. Getting up half an hour earlier, I went for a walk.
02. North Gate of the complex are not the main ones, but you can enter from any direction: the gates are located in the four cardinal directions as symbols of the four elements: earth, fire, water and wind. The perimeter of the khurul is surrounded by a fence with snow-white stupas alternating every five meters. Total 108 stupas.
03. The architectural plan of the monastery has the shape of a mandala. The khurul building is surrounded by 17 pagodas with statues of the great Buddhist teachers of Nalanda Monastery. I chose the time of visit very suitable: literally for a few minutes the sun appeared, and then the cold rain began.
04. Kalmykia is the only region in Europe of the traditional spread of the Tibetan form of Buddhism, practiced by Kalmyks since the end of the 16th century.
05. The khurul building is 63 meters high and houses the largest 9-meter Buddha statue in Russia and Europe. You can't take pictures inside, but it's definitely worth a visit. The surface of the statue is covered with gold and diamonds, and inside the statue there are many objects sacred to Buddhists: mantras, various incense, earth from different areas republics, plants and cereals growing on the territory of Kalmykia.
06. You need to walk around the khurul clockwise; large prayer wheels are installed in the corners.
07. Boiler pipes in the background are designed accordingly.
08. The site for the construction of a new khurul was consecrated on December 1, 2004 by the XIV Dalai Lama.
11. Khurul consists of 7 levels. On the first floor there is a library, a museum and a conference room. The second level is a prayer hall with a 9-meter statue of Buddha Shakyamuni. On the third level there are individual reception rooms, where monks, a Tibetan medicine doctor and astrologers receive believers. The fourth level is the residence of the head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia, Telo Tulku Rinpoche, and a small conference hall. On the fifth level is the residence of His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV Tenzin Gyatso. On the sixth level there are utility rooms. On the seventh level there is a meditation room, which can only be visited by clergy.
12. Prayer wheels have been an integral part of Buddhist culture for many centuries. Traditionally, the drums contain tightly rolled scrolls containing mantras. One rotation of the drum is equivalent to reading aloud the millions of mantras placed in it.
14. Main gate of the Golden Monastery
16. U south entrance a statue of the White Elder – Tsagan Aava – was installed
18. The endless knot of happiness symbolizes the changeable nature of existence.
19. On the upper platform of the temple there are 108 small drums.
20. Less than 10 minutes later it started to rain and I returned to the hotel.
21. Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni in the evening.
I can say one thing - I liked it! The temple impresses with its majesty and beauty. It's definitely worth visiting these parts.
