Senior administrator of the Central Khurul of Kalmykia “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” took part in the presentation of the book “The Zyungars”

At the A.M. Amur-Sanan National Library of the Republic of Kalmykia, the presentation of the book “The Zyungars” took place. The compilers of the book are descendants of participants of the Civil War who fought in the 80th Zyungar Regiment, Oleg Minaev and Vladimir Khokhlov.

The presentation was attended by the senior administrator of the Central Khurul of Kalmykia Yonten Gelong, the archpriest of the Elista and Kalmykia Diocese Father Alexei, the ataman of the Kalmyk District of the Great Don Host Erdni Manzhikov, and representatives of the public of the Republic.

The event opened with a joint reading of the ancient Buddhist prayer “Baazr Dara” in the Kalmyk language. This prayer was included by the monk Sandzhi-Rakba Menkov, who during the Civil War years emigrated to Europe, in the collection of prayers “Khurangu iväl, zalvrl tergütn orshv” (A Brief Refuge and Prayerful Appeals to the Teachers). In the pre-revolutionary years the prayer “Baazr Dara” was very popular among the people, especially among the Don Kalmyks.

In his address, the senior administrator of “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” noted the importance of preserving the memory of the events and heroes of the past. “The hardships that befell our ancestors did not break their spirit, and they were able to preserve their faith and culture and carry it down to our days through 70 years of persecutions and obstacles. As for us, in the modern world, each and every one of us individually must make maximum effort in order to be worthy continuers of the deeds of our ancestors. For this we must cultivate in ourselves the right faith, practice the teaching, read prayers, and pass this knowledge on to the future generation,” added Yonten Gelong.

According to Oleg Minaev, a great deal of work was done. Archival materials were collected in France, Germany, and Moscow, as well as through field research in Kalmykia. This edition is the second, revised and expanded. It included more than 2000 names of Don Cossack-Kalmyks and officers who fought as part of the 80th Zyungar Don Regiment of the Don Army of the White movement during the Civil War of 1918-1920. The book also gathers stories by Sandzhi Balykov, articles, excerpts from books, and reminiscences of participants of those events.