Ergts… the ritual circumambulation of a holy site…

Today we want to dedicate our post to this very topic. Unfortunately, not everyone who visits our Buddhist temple knows how important it is to circle clockwise around the khurul. It is a sign of veneration and respect for the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha, and, of course, an opportunity to attune oneself for visiting the temple itself.

While performing the ergts, a believer can meditate in silence, repeating the mantras he knows, as well as spinning the prayer wheels. On the grounds of the Central Khurul there are 4 large and 108 small prayer wheels (kürde). Inside each wheel are placed many mantras, the main one being “Om Mani Padme Hum.” When we spin the prayer wheel, it is equivalent to all these prayers being recited.

The ergts can be performed either along the large outer circle, paying homage to the great Buddhist Teachers — the 17 Panditas of the legendary University of Nalanda — or along the small circle, spinning the 108 small prayer wheels.