S. L. KUZMIN Candidate of Biological Sciences T. L. SHAUMYAN Candidate of Historical Sciences Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Keywords: Kalmykia, the main Buddhist temple of Kalmykia, Buddhism, reincarnation, Tuva, Shajin Lama, Tsam, Tibetology, Buddhology On September 20-23, 2015, the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia, Elista, hosted colorful celebrations dedicated to the tenth anniversary of the Central Hurul* - the main Buddhist temple of Kalmykia "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha". The Kalmyks migrated to Russia from Dzungaria** over 400 years ago. Since then, they have been the only people in Europe whose traditional religion is Galug Tibetan Buddhism. During the Soviet Union's struggle against religious beliefs, which was accompanied by repressions against clerics, all Buddhist temples in Kalmykia were closed, and then destroyed. During the Great Patriotic War, the Kalmyk people shared the fate of several repressed peoples who were deported to other regions of the USSR. When the Kalmyks returned to their homeland in the second half of the 1950s, they found that not a single church remained on their territory. The situation has been improving since the 1990s. To date, there are 27 churches and monasteries operating in the republic. The main temple is the "Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha", founded on the site blessed by the Dalai Lama XIV during his visit to the republic in 2004. The construction of the temple took place in a very busy rhythm and took about a year. Now it is the largest Buddhist temple in Russia and Europe. It houses the residence of the Supreme Lama (Shajinlama) Kalmykia-Telo Tulku Rinpoche, who is recognized as the reincarnation* * * of the great Indian saint Tilopa (928-1009), as well as one of the highest lamas of Mongolia - Dilov-hutukhta B. Jamsrangava (1884-1965). The community of Central Khurul consists of fully ordained monks who keep their vows. In khurul, not only religious rituals and teachings a ... Читать далее