In the sacred month of Urs Sar, the “Öördin orna teñgrin sang” rite is performed in Kalmykia
As part of the sacred month of Urs Sar, the senior administrator of the Central Khurul of Kalmykia, Yonten Gelung, visited a number of districts, where he performed the “Öördin orna teñgrin sang” rite.
The rite was held in the format of a master class, during which Yonten Gelung explained how this rite is properly performed. For this, books in the Kalmyk language were prepared, in which, in addition to the ritual itself, prayers were included that must be recited before the start of the ritual and after its performance. The book included the prayers “Itkl” (Refuge), “One Hundred Deities of Tushita”, the ritual “Öördin orna teñgrin sang”, magtals (praises) of Mahakala, Okn Teñgr and other protectors of the Teaching, “Malyn Banzragch” - a prayer for the five kinds of livestock, as well as the offering prayer of the golden drink “Altn undn” (Serjim). The compilation and editing of the book was handled by the senior administrator of “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” Yonten Gelung and the director of the Center for the Development of the Kalmyk Language Gennady Korneev.
To date, the rituals have been held in five districts of the republic: Sarpinsky, Ketchenerovsky, Yashkulsky, Chernozemelsky and Yashaltinsky. In the near future, Yonten Gelung plans to visit the remaining districts of Kalmykia.
According to the senior administrator of the Central Khurul, Yonten Gelung, it is very important that the rituals of offering to the deities of the Oirat lands be performed by the residents of the republic themselves. “Performing such rituals is the duty not only of the monks, but of all residents. In the past, every Kalmyk clan necessarily performed such rituals during the sacred months of Urs Sar and Khulgn Sar at their nomadic encampments,” Yonten Gelung said.
“Now, in our time, these traditions need to be revived. That is precisely why we travel around the districts and teach people to properly perform these rites and rituals,” Yonten Gelung added.
