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HISTORY
Foundation
The
monastery was established by order of
Manju emperor Enkh- Amgalan Khan, to cherish and give respect to the Undur Geghen
Zanabazar, his skills, wisdom, intellect and accomplishments.
One
hundred thousands langs (=3730 kg) of silver from the state fund
were used to build a
magnificently styled place for Buddha teaching and practice in honor of Zanabazar. After searching for a suitable place , the construction works
of the monastery called “ Amarbayasgalant ‘’, a palace for God `s
meditation , began in the year of red horse,1726, and was completed in
the year of red dragon, 1736. Out of deep respect the monastery was then
offered to the Undur Geghen.
Repression years
In 1937-38
a fearsome repression covered Amarbayasgalant Monastery and all
the highly trained knowledgeable monks were executed. Also huge
numbers of rare religious relics, books, sutras, thangkas and
Buddhas which had been collected for 200 years, were destroyed
completely. This is how the holy temple of Amarbayasgalant became
mere ruins and it was abandoned for 50 shady years.
Resurrection
1990
was the time when the circumstances came for Amarbayasgalant to be
restored. Communism had fallen and the people were eager to revive
their religious tradition. Under Geghen's monastery
Amarbayasgalant was reestablished and nowadays stands strong on
it's remarkable construction, as on it's 300 year history.
CURRENT
ACTIVITIES
Today
about sixty novices and ordained monks, who followed
precisely the rule of Vinaya, are in residence and practicing
Dharma to create great benefit for all sentient beings.
One of the Buddhist traditions, that is revived since
the reopening, is the Tsam Dancing ceremony which was
held in September 13-15, 2002, after being interrupted
for 65 years.
The
religious mask dancing “Tsam” was highly developed in
the Buddhist monasteries of Mongolia in the middle of
the 19th century , reflecting the ritual of Secret Tantra,
but Tsam was last performed in 1937. In 2002, for the
first time in 65 years the Tsam dance was performed
again at Amarbayasgalant.
See an impression
with photo's of Zev Rozen.
On
invitation of Amarbayasgalant Monastery H.H. Tijang
Choktrul Renpoche paid a visit to Mongolia. From October
12 to 23 the reincarnation of Trijang Dorjchan (one
of the senior teachers of the 14th Dalai Lama) visited
Amarbayasgalant Monastery, Erdene Zuu and all the major
temples in Ulaanbaatar.
During his stay also met with the Mongolian President
N. Bagabandi.
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