Khamar Monastery on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Khamar Monastery ( mn, Хамарын хийд, ''Khamar Khiid''), founded in 1820, was an important Red Hat sect Buddhist monastic, cultural, and education center in Mongolia’s
Often referred to as “the Terrible Noble Saint of the Gobi”, Danzanravjaa was an educator, poet, and harsh critic of Mongolian society. He supported the idea of public education and respect for women and he founded the monastery in the desert to serve as a model of a more enlightened society. The monastery was deeply engaged with the surrounding community and contained a public library, a museum, and a poetry recital hall. It was also home to Mongolia’s first ever professional public theater, the ''Namtar Duulakh Datsan'' (“story singing college”) which sponsored a touring company of some 300 artistes that performed throughout the Gobi region. By the 1830s the Khamar Khiid included a school for children, the ''Khuukhdiin Datsan'' that provided a non-religious education in Mongolian and Tibetan literature, mathematics, natural science, and history.
In 1937 the monastery’s lamas were driven from the grounds and the complex completely burned to the ground as part of Khorloogiin Choibalsan’s Stalinist purges. Many of the lamas were executed while others were forcibly laicized.
The current monastery was built after the
Gobi, Klasztor Chamaryn (01).jpg, The entrance gate
Gobi, Klasztor Chamaryn (02).jpg, The main stupa
Gobi, Klasztor Chamaryn (03).jpg, Statue of Buddha
Khamar Monastery.jpg, The monastery
Gobi, Klasztor Chamaryn (07).jpg, Prayer wheel and stupas
Khamar Monastery
"Treasures of the Sand" — The Legacy of Danzan Ravjaa
{{Authority control Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia Dornogovi Province Gobi Desert Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia Religious organizations established in 1820 1820 establishments in Asia 1934 disestablishments in Asia Religious organizations established in 1990 1990 establishments in Mongolia
Gobi Desert
The Gobi Desert (Chinese: 戈壁 (沙漠), Mongolian: Говь (ᠭᠣᠪᠢ)) () is a large desert or brushland region in East Asia, and is the sixth largest desert in the world.
Geography
The Gobi measures from southwest to northeast an ...
region until its destruction in 1937. It was rebuilt in 1990. Today it is located in Khatanbulag district, Dornogovi Province, approximately 47 km south of the provincial capital Sainshand. At its height, the monastery reportedly accommodated over 80 temples and some 500 monks.
History
Khamar Monastery was founded in 1820 by Dulduityn Danzanravjaa, a charismatic 17-year-old lamaist monk of the Nyingma red hat school of Buddhism. Danzanravjaa chose the site of the monastery believing the surrounding area radiated with a spiritual energy fostered by the Gobi desert. To the north of the monastery lie a series of caves where monks would retreat and practice high levels of meditation for 108 continuous days (108 being a sacred number in Buddhism).
Often referred to as “the Terrible Noble Saint of the Gobi”, Danzanravjaa was an educator, poet, and harsh critic of Mongolian society. He supported the idea of public education and respect for women and he founded the monastery in the desert to serve as a model of a more enlightened society. The monastery was deeply engaged with the surrounding community and contained a public library, a museum, and a poetry recital hall. It was also home to Mongolia’s first ever professional public theater, the ''Namtar Duulakh Datsan'' (“story singing college”) which sponsored a touring company of some 300 artistes that performed throughout the Gobi region. By the 1830s the Khamar Khiid included a school for children, the ''Khuukhdiin Datsan'' that provided a non-religious education in Mongolian and Tibetan literature, mathematics, natural science, and history.
In 1937 the monastery’s lamas were driven from the grounds and the complex completely burned to the ground as part of Khorloogiin Choibalsan’s Stalinist purges. Many of the lamas were executed while others were forcibly laicized.
The current monastery was built after the 1990 Democratic Revolution in Mongolia
The Mongolian Revolution of 1990, known in Mongolia as the 1990 Democratic Revolution ( mn, 1990 оны ардчилсан хувьсгал, ), was a peaceful democratic revolution which led to the country's transition to a multi-party syst ...
and restoration efforts continue.
Gallery
References
External links
Khamar Monastery
"Treasures of the Sand" — The Legacy of Danzan Ravjaa
{{Authority control Buddhist monasteries in Mongolia Dornogovi Province Gobi Desert Tibetan Buddhism in Mongolia Religious organizations established in 1820 1820 establishments in Asia 1934 disestablishments in Asia Religious organizations established in 1990 1990 establishments in Mongolia