The Blessing of the Buddha Himself

Once a year, precisely on the Birthday of the Great Teacher, the faithful of Kalmykia are granted the fortunate opportunity to behold the sacred relics - the Shariras of Buddha Shakyamuni and a sapling of the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree. This sapling was grown from the tree beneath which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Sharira is that which appears in the ashes after the cremation of holy beings. It is believed that the sharira is the very body of the eternal Buddha, and they are venerated as the Teacher himself. Several years ago all these relics were presented as a gift to the Central Khurul of Kalmykia by the government of Sri Lanka. It is gratifying that Kalmykia has become the only place in Europe where the relics of the Buddha are kept. It is important for everyone to understand how fortunate our people and our land are that these relics are preserved in the main Buddhist temple of Kalmykia. It is necessary to tell the young about them, so that they too will preserve them and pray, and above all - receive the blessing of the Buddha himself.