The Third Day of the Annual Tantric Rituals Held at the Central Khurul
On this day the monks performed the obstacle-removing ritual “Torgyak” relying on Kalarupa, one of the protectors of the Gelug school. The ritual consisted of two parts. In the first part, prayers of refuge and prayers for generating bodhichitta were recited, and in the second part the ritual of throwing torma into the fire was performed. The Torgyak ritual is performed so that there are fewer natural disasters, calamities, and man-made catastrophes in the world. This ritual helps pacify harmful spirits and bring harmony to the world. The ritual is directed above all against the enemy, which is understood as ignorance, by which enemies are gripped. The master knows that malevolent spirits and other hostile forces harm people only out of ignorance, thereby accumulating bad karma. For this ritual a special ritual weapon is prepared, which is thrown into the fire at the final stage of the ritual. The ritual master asks the enlightened deities to forgive him for throwing the torma, emphasizing that he is aiming not at them but at the interfering harmful spirits. He asks the deities to step out of the way; to turn aside if they dwell on the earth, and to raise their feet if their realms are above. Then the monks proceed to the place where the ritual torma is burned, where it is thrown inside a straw hut, which is immediately set ablaze. As soon as the fire engulfs the straw hut, the monks must turn around at once and leave. Looking back is strictly forbidden; they must feel like the victors of a great battle leaving the field of combat.
Before the ritual began, the Head of Kalmykia’s Buddhists Telo Tulku Rinpoche spoke. In his speech Telo Tulku Rinpoche called on everyone in these difficult times, the time of the pandemic, when a great number of people suffer from illness, to pray for this pandemic to end as soon as possible. “I believe that if we all pray, if we recite mantras, if we keep kindness, purity, and love in our hearts and minds, if we cultivate these wonderful qualities within ourselves, then we will be able to overcome this illness,” the Shajin Lama noted. Also in his address, the Head of Kalmykia’s Buddhists noted that this year the tantric rituals are being held online for the first time without the presence of the faithful, a measure taken for safety reasons. “As you know, a large number of people come to the tantric rituals, hundreds and thousands, and such a large gathering of people increases the risk of contracting COVID. For this reason, for people’s safety, the tantric rituals are being held online, via live broadcast. I want to thank you all for your understanding and your support,” he added.
Today, October 6, the Central Khurul will hold the “Tangrag Kangso” ritual (the ritual of appealing to the protectors of the teaching). Please note that during the rituals from October 3 to 6 the Central Khurul is closed to visitors. The tantric rituals are being held online with the participation of the monks and khurul staff.
Everyone is welcome to join the rituals via the live broadcast, which will be carried on the official YouTube channel of the Central Khurul and on Instagram.
Names for the prayer service should be sent to the email address moleben.hurul@mail.ru or dropped into the special box at the main gate of the khurul. Offerings can be transferred to the bank card - 4276 6000 1227 9861.
If you have any questions, you can call one of three numbers to receive a consultation with a gelong: +79374645908, +79615405908 , +79897325908.
