To date, about one percent of Russia's population are Buddhists.Buddhism - a common world religion, but in Russia it knows about it very little.Buddhist temples in our country is also a little.This is due to historical and political reasons.The most famous Buddhist temples are considered to be in St. Petersburg, Buryatia, Kalmykia, the Irkutsk Region and Trans-Baikal Territory.His exotic beauty they attract not only Buddhists from Russia and pilgrims from around the world, as well as tourists, far from this religion.Consider the most well-known such temples of our country.
Buddhist temple in St. Petersburg
Today, visitors and residents of St. Petersburg can enjoy a rather unusual for a Russian tourist attraction - a Buddhist temple.He is known as Datsan Gunzechoyney and became the first institution in Europe.
Originally followers of the religion began to appear in St. Petersburg in the 18th century, when only built Peter and Paul Fortress.While Buddhists in the city was still small, only about 75 people (in 1897).In the first decade of the twentieth century, their number has grown to almost two hundred people.Among them were many foreigners who came from the East, and the Buryats, Kalmyks and representatives of the fashion at the time the Buddhist flow - neobuddizma.
history of the St. Petersburg Buddhist temple
number of Buddhists grew rapidly, but these people did not have a temple, where they could pray.In 1900 Avgan Buryat Lama Dorje who was the representative of the Dalai Lama in Russia, has received permission to build the first Buddhist chapel in St. Petersburg.Money donated for the construction of the Dalai Lama, as well as believers from all over Russia.
However build datsan (Buddhist temple) started only in 1909.Architects were Baranowski GVBerezovsky NM, who created the project in accordance with the canons of architecture in Tibet.Construction of the temple was also under the supervision of a specially created committee of academic Orientalists.
construction datsan was fraught with many difficulties and was completed only in 1915.Despite this, the first services were held there in 1913.
In 1915, the temple was consecrated, and became rector Avgan Dorzhiev.However, he briefly worked for religious purposes.The Soviet period was a difficult time for Russian Buddhists.Already in 1916, they began to leave St. Petersburg.In 1919 Datsan Gunzechoyney was sacked, but in the 1920s-1930s began to function again for religious purposes.In 1935 the church finally closed and all the repression of Buddhist monks.
During World War II the temple was a military station, and only in 1968 the building of the datsan declared a historical monument, and in 1990 the church was handed over to the Buddhists, and he began to work for religious purposes.
Datsan Gunzechoyney today
If you want to visit Buddhist temples in St. Petersburg, then you should pay attention to the Datsan Gunzechoyney.It is the largest Buddhist landmark in the city.There comes a teacher of Buddhist philosophy lectures from Tibet.The monks of the temple every day pray for the health of the living and of the successful rebirth of the dead.Here you can also make an appointment to an astrologer or a doctor - a specialist of traditional Tibetan medicine.
Today, anyone can visit this place.Buddhist Temple Datsan Gunzechoyney works with every day from 10.00 to 19.00 (day - Wednesday).The temple has an official site on the Internet where you can find the schedule of all the prayers and passing it khurals.You can totally free to visit the Buddhist temple.Taking pictures and videos inside the Datsan prohibited.
course, the temple will impress you with its beauty and oriental flavor.On site you can see an interesting sight - Buddhist drums filled with sacred herbs and the paper on which is written 10,800 times the mantra "Om Nama Padme Hum."To bring happiness, it is necessary to twist each drum at least once.
In addition, you can visit not only Buddhist temple in St. Petersburg, but also the community of adherents of this religion.
Buddhist temples in Moscow
in Moscow today live about 20 thousand people who practice Buddhism.However, they do not have a temple, but only a religious center.By the year 2015 in the capital plan to build two Buddhist temples.The first will be located on Poklonnaya Hill, and the second - at the estate.
Both the temple will be built on donations.They complement the already available in those places religious complex, which consists at the moment of the Orthodox churches, Jewish synagogues and Muslim mosques.
first temple, which will be located on Poklonnaya Hill, will be devoted Buddhists, who died in the Great Patriotic War.On the ground floor it is planned to build a chapel for the monks, and the second - to organize an exhibition dedicated to the heroes of World War II.
Ivilginski temple in Buryatia
One of the most famous Buddhist temples in Russia - is Ivilginski temple.It is located in Buryatia, a few hours drive from Ulan-Ude.This place has a great significance for pilgrims not only from Russia but also from around the world.
Ivilginski temple was built in 1945 and became the first Buddhist temple opened in the Soviet era.Today he can visit anyone.There are guided tours specifically for tourists.Ivolginsky Buddhist temple, photo which is given below, very few people can remain indifferent.On the territory of datsan you can take a picture, rotate the special prayer drums and buy souvenirs.
other Buddhist temples in Russia
Another famous Buddhist temple of Russia - Hambyn Hure is located in the city of Ulan-Ude.It is a large Buddhist complex, consisting of several churches and office buildings.When one of them has a university, where students can learn the art of mandala drawing.The main temple complex Tsogchegan arc was consecrated in 2003 and today he regularly holds traditional religious service.
also attracted the attention of pilgrims Buddhist temple Rimpoche-Bagsha, Agin datsan, located in the Chita region, Atsagat datsan near Ulan-Ude and Barguzin Valley Datsan.
Kalmykia located: Temple of the Great Victory, Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni, Hedda Scheddup Choykorling.All of them are unique.
Despite the small percentage of Russians who profess the ancient Eastern religion, in our country it is still possible to find a Buddhist temple.Petersburg, Chita region, Ulan-Ude and other cities have their datsans, some of which were established many years ago.
In Soviet times, the ancient Indian doctrine was subjected to numerous reprisals, many churches have been destroyed, so today the Buddhist tradition in the full sense of the word does not exist in Russia, and there are a small number of datsans.Therefore, Buddhists, who can not go to the temple, visit the respective centers, houses of worship and retreat centers.
