First of Four Tantric Rituals Held in Kalmykia

“Torgyak”, a ritual for removing obstacles, opens a series of tantric ceremonies, and every time the prayer hall is filled to overflowing. Entire families come, bringing their children. Some come for purification. Others for an answer to a question that gives them no peace. Still others simply because they feel they must.

The first half of the day is devoted to prayers. Neither hurried nor loud, they are chanted like steady, unbroken breathing. Later, the dungchen sounds, mingling with the rhythms of drums and paired cymbals. To these sounds, a large torma is brought into the centre of the hall. It looks like a sculpture painted in different colours, and in this ritual it serves not only as an offering to the deities, but also as a ritual weapon directed against harmful forces. It is also called the trident of Erlg Nomin Khan. As the monks explain, the torma symbolically absorbs all the negativity accumulated by sentient beings: anger, envy, mental afflictions and bad karma.

Next comes the most spectacular part of the ritual. The monastic Sangha, led by the ritual master, performs all the necessary ceremonies outdoors. Afterwards, they throw the trident into a straw hut prepared in advance and set it on fire, symbolically striking the “enemy”, which represents our ignorance, wrong views and all our mental afflictions—everything that is a source of suffering. At this point, it is important to walk away without turning back, like victors leaving the battlefield.

The ritual concludes with purification. As the Shajin Lama of Kalmykia, Geshe Tenzin Choidak, emphasises, it is important afterwards to recite mantras, nurture kindness and compassion in our hearts and, of course, teach our children to do the same.

Tomorrow, the tantric rituals will continue with “Jinseg”, the Fire Puja. It begins at 9.00ч.