Presentation of Two Prayer Books in the Kalmyk Language Held at the Library of the Central Khurul of Kalmykia
The first collection, “Өdr bolһna buyn-kishgin zalvrl” (Daily Prayers for Virtue and Happiness), includes short prayers in the Kalmyk language for daily practice. The prayer books provide information on what to do before lighting a butter lamp, which prayer to recite before doing prostrations, and which before eating. The book is small, pocket-sized, so it can be taken to work, on trips, and always kept at hand. The second part of the book consists of the mantras of the main deities to whom people most often turn, together with the praises that are recited before the mantras. The book also includes images of these deities.
For many centuries the Kalmyks have been Buddhists, and over this time a large number of Buddhist texts have been translated into the Kalmyk language. “Of course, someone may ask why the gelyungs in the khurul do not recite prayers in the Kalmyk language. We have said many times that, as far as khuruls and the holding of prayer services are concerned, we have a tradition in which the clergy conduct services precisely in the Tibetan language. This tradition is many centuries old and continues to this day. But at the same time, the gelyungs have given prayers in the Kalmyk language to the laity. Since lay people do not know the Tibetan language and have not studied it, in their daily practices it will be better if they recite in their native language, because it is more understandable, and in prayer it is precisely awareness that matters,” noted the senior administrator of the khurul, Yonten gelong.
The second book, “Malyn banzrgch orshv,” is devoted to illnesses or misfortunes befalling livestock. This prayer book includes five dharanis from the large collection called “Zunduy.” Banzrgch is the Kalmyk pronunciation of the Sanskrit term Pancha raksha (Five Protectors), which safeguard the 5 kinds of livestock (camels, horses, cows, sheep, and goats) from illnesses and misfortunes. As in the previous book, it presents the preliminary prayers that should be recited before beginning to read “Malyn banzrgch,” because without generating bodhichitta and without taking refuge, prayers will have negligible power; therefore, by reading these prayers with great faith, one can receive blessings and accumulate buyn. The book also gives images of amulets for livestock — “Malyn bu” — and images of the spirits that harm domestic animals. Each image of an amulet is captioned to indicate for which kind of livestock it is intended. It is believed that if these images are printed out and hung on the necks of animals, the livestock will be able to avoid many illnesses and misfortunes.
Working on the collection of daily prayers were the head of the Center for the Development of the Kalmyk Language Gennady Korneev, the senior administrator of the Central Khurul “The Golden Abode of Buddha Shakyamuni” Yonten gelong, acharya Bem Mitruev, Candidate of Philological Sciences Ellara Omakaeva, the artists Oleg Chudutov and Timur Tsonkhlaev, Dzhangar Kukeev, and the chairman of the Buddhist community Sogar Muchkinov.
According to Yonten gelong, the compilers of the collections pursued two goals: the revival and development of the Dharma and the development of the Kalmyk language, since reciting prayers in the Kalmyk language will contribute to its development. “The problem of language is one of the most important for us. By reciting prayers in the Kalmyk language, which is close to us for understanding and awareness, people will begin to practice, will begin to move along the path of spiritual development. The Kalmyk language is a language of the Dharma, because it possesses all the terminology necessary to convey the full depth and breadth of the Buddhist teaching. For those who wish to study Buddhism in its full depth and breadth, it is advisable to read texts in the languages that can convey it, including in Kalmyk,” he added.
The release of these two editions is the beginning of a series of books and prayer books. Seven more books and prayer books are being prepared for publication, including ones for students.
The prayer books “Өdr bolһna buyn-kishgin zalvrl” (Daily Prayers for Virtue and Happiness) and “Malyn banzrgch orshv” will be available for purchase at the shop of the Central Khurul. All proceeds will go toward the publication of new books.
