Good Fortune and Well-Being Invoked in Kalmykia During the “Yangdrub” Ritual
Today, one of the year’s main tantric rituals, “Yangdrub,” was held at the Central Khurul. In the more than two decades since this ancient ritual was revived, many have come to know it as a ritual for invoking wealth and good fortune. However, we should remember that its purpose is not only material well-being, but also spiritual development.
The prayer hall of Kalmykia’s main Buddhist temple is packed. Every year, hundreds of people come to take part in tantric rituals. Today is a special day; today all prayers are addressed to White Mahakala, the deity of wealth and prosperity.
First, the senior monk makes a special offering to the Buddhas in the form of a torma, asking that all obstacles on the path of practice be removed and that these efforts bear fruit.
Throughout the tantric ceremony, which lasts more than 5 hours, the monks, led by Kalmykia’s Shajin Lama, Geshe Tenzin Choydak, recite texts of praise and propitiation to Mahakala, calling upon this Dharma protector to relieve the suffering of poverty and destitution and grant all sentient beings good fortune and well-being. There is a special meaning in this: when a person is not tormented by the hardships of want, when they are protected from the most acute suffering of poverty, they have room for what matters most — learning to see more deeply, think more calmly, and act more kindly.
One of the most vivid parts of Yangdrub is the ritual of invoking Kishg, or happiness.
The monks and worshippers walk around the temple — both outside and inside, calling out yöräl blessings in Kalmyk, while the entire hall responds in unison: “Tiigtkhya!” — “So be it!” In this shared chorus, one can feel a sense of unity and a sincere hope for good things.
“Yangdrub” is often called a ritual of wealth — and rightly so. But its essence is broader: it reminds us that the most precious wealth arises within us. It is the ability to remain calm in difficult times, notice the good, support those who are struggling more than we are, and become even a little better each day. Yangdrub helps us ask not only for material things, but also for wisdom, inner strength, and the ability to make the world a brighter place.
