The great prayer festival Ik Yoryal (Monlam Chenmo) has begun at the Central Khurul of Kalmykia.

Today, March 16, the great prayer assembly Ik Yoryal (Monlam Chenmo) began at the Central Khurul of Kalmykia “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni.” The tradition of holding Ik Yoryal during the days of the white month was established as early as by Lama Tsongkhapa in 1409, in honor of the 15 miracles that Buddha Shakyamuni displayed in a contest with the representatives of false teachings.

The Fifteen Miracles performed by Buddha Shakyamuni in Shravasti:

The first miracle: The Buddha stuck a toothpick into the ground, from which grew a gigantic tree that blocked out the entire sky, the sun and the moon.
The second miracle: The Buddha created a mountain on each side of himself. On the mountain on the right side grew fruit trees, and people gathered and feasted on fresh fruit. On the mountain on the left side herds of animals grazed.
The third miracle: The Buddha took water into his mouth, after which he spat it out onto the ground, creating a huge lake. On this lake lotuses grew, illuminating the whole world with their light.
The fourth miracle: By the will of the Buddha, a voice began to sound from the depths of this lake, preaching the Dharma.
The fifth miracle: From the smile of the Buddha there descended rays bestowing blessing upon the three thousand worlds.
The sixth miracle: The disciples of the Buddha were able to read each other’s thoughts, and were also able to see the cause-and-effect relationship (the law of karma).
The seventh miracle: The Buddha appeared in all his might surrounded by a retinue of rulers and his attendants. By his will, in all of them the aspiration for the Dharma was revived, while in his detractors their tongues went numb, their minds became clouded, and they could not undertake any action.
The eighth miracle: The Buddha touched his throne with his hand, thereby creating five monsters that destroyed the seats of his ascetic-detractors. After this the deity Vajrapani appeared, driving them all away. Subsequently many disciples of the ascetics came to follow the teaching of the Buddha.
The ninth miracle: The Buddha grew up to the heavens and began to preach the Dharma to all living beings from all the worlds.
The tenth miracle: The Buddha became visible in all the realms of the material world, preaching the Dharma.
The eleventh miracle: The body of the Buddha began to shine, illuminating thousands of worlds.
The twelfth miracle: The Buddha produced from his body a golden ray that illuminated three thousand worlds. All those whom the ray touched came to follow the teaching of the Buddha.
The thirteenth miracle: The Buddha emitted from his body two rays, each crowned with a lotus flower, on which appeared reflections of the Buddha, which also emitted two rays each, ending in lotuses — and on them appeared reflections of the Buddha. This continued until the lotuses and the Buddhas filled the entire universe.
The fourteenth miracle: The Buddha, with a wave of his hand, created a huge chariot that reached the world of the gods. From it a multitude of similar chariots formed, and in each of them was a reflection of the Buddha. The radiance emanating from these reflections filled all the worlds with light.
The fifteenth miracle: The Buddha filled with the most delicious food all the vessels that were in the city. All the people delighted in this food. Then the Buddha touched the ground: the earth opened, and everyone saw the hell in which all those who had striven to receive from life only pleasure were suffering. All who saw the torments of hell fell to pondering, and the Buddha continued to preach the Dharma.

Ik Yoryal will last 3 days, on March 16, 17 and 18, from 9:00–11:00 and from 13:00–15:00.

The practical aim of “Ik Yoryal” lies in the fact that, according to the words of Nagarjuna, when auspicious wishes are made together with the great Bodhisattvas, the results will be so powerful that they can, for example, prevent war, catastrophe, epidemic and bring enormous benefit to beings. The personal positive impressions of each participant are multiplied by the number of those present.