Buddhist temple in Elista: working hours, address, photo

Elista is the southern city of Russia, quite different from many others, thanks to its interesting history. It was founded in the distant 1865, but it began to be known about it after the revolution in 1917. In the city, from ancient sights known to many - the Red School. This is the construction of the beginning of the last century. And from modern sights - a Buddhist temple in Elista. The address is: Klykova st. The building is located at the intersection of Ilyumzhinov and Lenin streets.

Description of the temple

The largest in our country, and in Europe, is the Buddhist temple in Elista, a photo of which you can see in our article.

Before the coming of 2004, His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived with a one-day visit to the Republic of Kalmykia. Here he consecrated the place of the future Buddhist khurul and gave him the name "Golden abode of Buddha Shakyamuni".

And today this temple complex is considered the most important landmark of the republic. "The Golden Monastery of the Buddha Shakyamuni" is a large building with white walls, decorated in a characteristic for the culture of Buddhism style.

The central structure of the temple along the perimeter is fenced with a fence, in which are built small sculptures. Enter the territory can be on each of the four sides (according to the sides of the world). And the Buddhist temple in Elista has two entrances. The first is a beautiful, ceremonial (from the south), and the second, more modest, is a service one (from the north). You can enter from any entrance, but the Kalmyk traditions presume to enter through the main gate.

rules

At the entrance of the guests meets a sign with an appeal to the guests. According to it, temple visitors need to observe several rules:

1. Respecting the traditions of Buddhists, one should bypass the temple, divine statues and turn the prayer drums clockwise.
2. Entering the prayer hall, you must bow three times, as a sign of respect for the Buddha and his Teaching.
3. Only the true believer can enter the Altar.
4. We must listen to the remarks and advice of lamas and temple staff.
5. You can not touch the painting, ritual objects, litter, sit down in the place of monks, spoil the property or flowers.
6. At the exit from the prayer hall, one should not turn his back to the Buddha.
7. On the territory of the temple you can not shoot videos and take photos.
8. You should talk very quietly and turn off the phone sounds.
9. On the territory of the Buddhist temple you can not smoke and be drunk.
10. Clothes should not be very open.

What is in the territory

The patron of this sacred place is the pagan god TsaganAav or the White Elder. He meets the guests of Khurul.

Behind his statue there are two staircases, at the foot of which there is a beautiful fountain. Climbing the stairs to the top, you meet with the sculptural image of the deity Kubera - the custodian of wealth.

Red columns frame the temple entrance. At those who came for the first time, special delight is caused by red doors, decorated with carved gold elements. Performed in the tone of the entrance portal, near the steps sit proud lions.

In addition, throughout the territory there are many small and not very sculptures. Near the central structure on a pedestal in 17 pagodas sit Buddhist saints in gold robes.

Also on the territory of the temple there are several prayer drums - "kurde" - in which there are hundreds of prayers.

Buddhist temple in Elista: construction and discovery

The construction of the Buddhist temple in the capital of Kalmykia ended rather quickly. Within 9 months, the workers erected a temple, completed all the work on arranging the courtyard and interior (by the way, once there was a factory for the production of reinforced concrete structures). The grand opening of the church took place in 2005.

The most important structure in the composition is called Gol-sume. It is located on an elevation (about 7 m) and at a height of more than 50 meters. This beauty can be seen from any part of the city.

The Golden Monastery

Thousands of visitors come to the city to visit the Buddha's Golden Monastery. And every year their number grows, especially foreigners. Guides know a lot of legendary about the temple, they can tell in detail about the national festivities of the Kalmyks, the reviving Buddhist culture in the republic and much more.

Yes, it is necessary to visit the "Pearl among the steppes" - a Buddhist temple in Elista! Every citizen knows how to get here. Moreover, the capital of Kalmykia is small in size and almost all single-story, so the golden splendor of the temple can be seen from any entrance to the city.

The interior of the temple

The inner vesture of the temple can not be described. Although, the first thing that catches your eye at the entrance is the wardrobe. In it, those who enter pray, take off their upper garments and shoes. Next to the wardrobe is a shop with souvenirs, ornaments, in Buddhist style, and incense.

In the main hall of the central khurul, on the second tier, there is a special place for those wishing to pray - the arc. In it there are many benches for the worshipers, and the center of the tier is decorated with the golden Buddha Shakyamuni (almost 10 m high). Visible to the guests of the statue are covered with the finest gold plates, and inside it are hidden special holy objects: prayers, incense, mantras, brought from different parts of the republic.

The Buddhist temple in Elista inside is decorated with virtuoso painting on the walls. She repeats the subjects of the local culture. The painting was made by nine master tank painters. They are watching her and periodically update.

In the temple there is a donation given to the monk of the Dalai Lama XIV.

How the temple works

You should know that the largest Buddhist temple in Elista, the mode of work has a special:

1. In the morning hours there is an everyday general prayer service for the welfare of the entire people of the Republic of Kalmykia and all life on Earth (from 9.00 to 10.30).
2. In the middle of the day, there comes time for daily reception of individual visitors (from 11.30 to 16.00, except Monday and Friday).
3. There is no reception on special lunar days: 8, 15 and 29. These days are dedicated to special prayers to the deities of the defenders, the Buddha of Medicine and the Green Tara.

Each visitor is given a ticket in advance. At the sessions, at the request of the guests, the monks perform rituals and say prayers. Each of the monks was trained. Also, all passed the initiation rite in the monasteries of Tibet. Among them there are already several young Kalmyk monks who successfully graduated from Drepung Gomang (a special monastery-university).

Special reception on one of the tiers is conducted by Tibetan medicine doctors, graduates of the Institute of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology named after His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala. This is one of the famous educational institutions. Doctors accept from 9.30. Until 14.00, on working days, without an appointment.

On Fridays from 14.00 to 16.00 - a moleben is held for the deceased (yorial).

To inspect the temple works every day without holidays and weekends, from seven in the morning until seven in the evening.

Tiers

The central structure of the temple is divided into 7 tiers. Each has its own essence, its function.

The first level is dedicated to the museum of the history of Buddhist culture. Here there are many photographs and things that very clearly express the essence of belief and allow you to better understand it all who came to the Buddhist temple in Elista. Opening hours of the museum from 10.00 to 17. 00 (except Monday).

The second half of the tier is occupied by the original conference hall (for 460 seats) and a huge library with a reading room. It has a wide variety of books. In the open access the classical Buddhist literature of the canonical direction and books of modern writers. In addition to Monday, the library is open every day from 10 am to 5 pm.

On this tier every day, except Mondays and funeral Fridays, at five evenings free yoga sessions begin. They are open to all comers.

What else can you see by visiting the Buddhist temple in Elista? For example, the second tier - a huge chapel (for 1,500 people). Guests of the city and just citizens can stay here for a long time and find answers to life's questions or simply find peace and harmony. Leaving, many say, do not want: beauty and tranquility fascinate ...

On the third tier there were offices of administration, rooms for individual reception (for visitors on special recording on specially designated days) and exhibition halls.

The fourth level of the Buddhist temple in Elista is the former residence of the sole president of the Republic of Kalmykia-Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the head of the Kalmyk Buddhists Shajin Lama Talo Tulku Rinpoche and the private rooms of local monks.

On the fifth tier there is a representation of the Dalai Lama XIV.

The sixth is a technical room. And on the seventh floor there are special rooms for Buddhist special rituals.

Everyone will find the answers here

Many people come and on personal business to the Buddhist temple in Elista. The recommended time of visit for them is usually signed on specially compiled lists. Guests of the temple come to consult on the philosophy of life, trying to get to the famous doctors of medicine in Tibet. Some meet with astrologers, read literature in the library. Others prefer to attend the Teachings conducted by high-ranking guests, virtuosos of Buddhist practices.