Another Buddhist stupa erected in Kalmykia
The Stupa of the Descent of the Buddha from the Tushita Heaven was erected near the settlement of Tavn-Gashun in the Yashkul district. The initiators of the construction were the family of Anatoly Mandzhiev, a native of these places.
The monks of the Central Khurul of Kalmykia, led by the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, the honorary representative of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama in Russia, Mongolia, and the CIS countries Telo Tulku Rinpoche, took part in the consecration ceremony of the stupa. The monks of the khurul performed the consecration rituals of Rabne and Chusol — a ritual of ablution and purification of the locality and of all those gathered — and also performed the “Sangsol” ritual, during which they offered fragrant herbs.
Traditionally, before the beginning of the prayer service, the head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia explained to those gathered the essence of the rituals being performed: “The most important thing is not the prayers that the monks will recite, nor the ritual; first and foremost, it is your motivation. Why did you come here today? Why are you present here? In order to accumulate merit — buyan — thanks to which we gain spiritual strength, positive energy for the advancement and realization of all that is intended.”
The Shajin Lama also noted: “Every stupa that is built is not only a benefit for our people, but also serves as a good example of uniting different people in achieving a common goal.”
According to Anatoly Selyanovich's sons Erdni and Alan, many people took part in the erection of the stupa, among them relatives and close ones, neighbors, and also strangers. “It is gratifying that complete strangers, upon learning that we were erecting a stupa, came to help in this good deed,” the brothers note. “Some for a single day, and some for a longer time, but all of them, having made an effort, put a part of themselves into this deed. On behalf of our family, we would like to thank everyone who took part in the construction of the stupa and, first of all, Vladimir Vaskin, under whose direct leadership all stages of the construction proceeded, as well as Maksim Dzhalchinov, who made the decorations for the stupa and the statues of the guardian lions.”
“This stupa is neither a family nor a clan stupa; it was built for the benefit of all people, of all living beings. And we would like to dedicate it to the speediest visit of our spiritual leader and teacher the 14th Dalai Lama to Kalmykia,” Erdni added.
