(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India has taken a big step to connect Buddhist communities worldwide by gifting a complete set of the Mongolian Kangyur to key monasteries and institutions in Russia. This happened at the Third International Buddhist Forum in Elista, from September 25 to 28. The International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) handed over the 108-volume collection on September 28, through representative Chandan Kumar. The Ministry of Culture’s Gyan Bharatam mission in India prepared these volumes, drawing from sacred texts that trace back to Tibet’s vital role in keeping Buddha’s teachings alive.
For those new to this, the Kangyur holds the direct words of the Buddha, translated from Tibetan into classical Mongolian starting in the 14th century. The project wrapped up in the 17th century under Ligdan Khan, leader of the Northern Yuan dynasty. That version inspired a woodblock-printed edition between 1717 and 1720. Today, these texts let Buddhists dive deep into Buddha’s wisdom, much like the Tengyur offers commentaries from great masters.
Russian Buddhist centers have eagerly sought these Kangyur volumes for years. Representatives even traveled to India to make the request. Now, thanks to India’s sustained work, 10 leading spots across the country—from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Kalmykia, Buryatia, Khabarovsk, Irkutsk, and Altai—finally have them. Leaders from these places sent grateful letters, noting how the fresh prints will boost daily practices, studies, chants, and reflections on Buddha Dharma for monks and everyday followers.
Some volumes arrived in big trunks shipped straight to Kalmykia, with the rest set to follow alongside a holy relic. This move helps thousands of Russian Buddhists engage more closely with the teachings, strengthening ties in transnational Buddhist culture.
India’s push to save and share the Mongolian Kangyur goes back to the 1950s, when Mongolia lost many rare manuscripts and woodblocks during the socialist period. Scholar Raghu Vira stepped in from 1956 to 1958, securing microfilm copies and bringing them to India to prevent total loss. By 1973, India republished the full 108 volumes and sent copies to libraries and Buddhist groups worldwide, including in Russia’s Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Zabaikalye regions.
The effort continued through the National Mission for Manuscripts, started in 2003. In 2020, on Guru Purnima—also known as Dhamma Chakra Day—India presented the first reprinted set to then-President Ram Nath Kovind and the Mongolian Ambassador to India. The IBC’s recent handover builds on this legacy, preserving and spreading Buddha Dhamma through these timeless texts.
Just last year, in September 2021, an Indian delegation including the IBC visited multiple Russian sites like Moscow, St. Petersburg, Chita, Buryatia, Kalmykia, and Tuva. They gifted the Kangyur to places such as Datsan Gunzechoinei in St. Petersburg and the Golden Abode of Shakyamuni Buddha in Kalmykia. The group also shared Ganges River water and a Green Tara statue, highlighting India’s ongoing commitment to global Buddhist heritage.
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