Any nation experiences a time of active wars and expansion. But there are tribes where militancy and cruelty are an integral part of their culture. These are ideal warriors without fear and morality, “Russian Seven” comments on its top 5.

The above “tribes”, along with the Kalmyks, are not compared with each other according to any rating indicators. But the Kalmyks are number 4 on this list (after the Maoris, Gurkhas and Dayaks).

“Among the peoples of Russia, one of the most warlike are the Kalmyks, descendants of the Western Mongols. Their self-name translates as “breakaways,” which means Oirats who did not convert to Islam. Today, most of them live in the Republic of Kalmykia. Nomads are always more aggressive than farmers. The ancestors of the Kalmyks, the Oirats, who lived in Dzungaria, were freedom-loving and warlike. Even Genghis Khan did not immediately manage to subjugate them, for which he demanded the complete destruction of one of the tribes. Later, the Oirat warriors became part of the army of the great commander, and many of them became related to the Genghisids. Therefore, it is not without reason that some of the modern Kalmyks consider themselves descendants of Genghis Khan. In the 17th century, the Oirats left Dzungaria and, having made a huge transition, reached the Volga steppes. In 1641, Russia recognized the Kalmyk Khanate, and from now on, from the 17th century, Kalmyks became permanent participants in the Russian army. They say that the battle cry “hurray” once came from the Kalmyk “uralan”, which means “forward”. They especially distinguished themselves in the Patriotic War of 1812. 3 Kalmyk regiments, numbering more than three and a half thousand people, took part in it. For the Battle of Borodino alone, more than 260 Kalmyks were awarded the highest orders of Russia,” the site writes.

The publication also provides similar small information about other “tribes,” whose vivid and bloody details should create a fairly stereotypical image of the “most warlike.”

Meanwhile, one of the commentators notes: “Kalmyks are the same Western Mongols - Torguts, Durbuts and Oirats. This is Khan Ayush, after the defeat from Queen Manduhai of Mongolia, they migrated to the west, 15th century (Queen Manduhai was going to unite the Mongols back, and the Torguts and Oirats resisted and killed the queen’s son, and paid cruelly) and to this day the Mongols and Kalmyks can perfectly speaking to each other the language is almost the same - like Russian and Ukrainian.”

It is interesting that the representatives of the Kalmyk people themselves - indeed one of the Mongolian people - are in no hurry to deny the correlation with “tribes in which belligerence and cruelty are an integral part of their culture.”

Moreover, in the comments of a recent ARD publication about a Buryat colonel, to whom veterans of the Chechen war are asking to be promoted to a high military rank, some readers from Kalmykia considered the ethnic Kalmyk heroes to be ignored.

“In Kalmykia, everyone knows the feat of Sanal Khantyev in the first Chechen war. He was a simple conscript soldier. His platoon of four armored personnel carriers was ambushed. The last two were damaged and could not continue moving. The officers abandoned the soldiers and fled in the two remaining vehicles. The militants surrounded the soldiers, offering to surrender.

In such conditions, a young 19-year-old guy took command. He inspired confidence in his colleagues and led the defense until our troops arrived. Two days later, help arrived. In their native part they thought that they had died. The command nominated him for the title of Hero of Russia, but awarded it to a soldier wounded in that battle, a Russian by nationality. Sanal Khantyev was awarded the Order of Courage. He could become the first Hero of Russia for the Chechen company.

Two Kalmyks for the Chechen campaign were awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation! This is Nikolai Bairov (posthumously) and Baatr Gindeev!”, writes an ARD reader from Kalmykia. It is quite right to note that our site is a pan-Mongolian one.

Since the 17th century, Kalmyks have taken an active part in the history of Russia. Experienced warriors, they reliably protected the southern borders of the state. The Kalmyks, however, continued to wander. Sometimes not of your own free will.

"Call me Arslan"

Lev Gumilev said: “Kalmyks are my favorite people. Don’t call me Lev, call me Arslan.” "Arsalan" in Kalmyk - Lev.

Kalmyks (Oirats) - immigrants from the Dzungar Khanate, began to populate the territories between the Don and Volga at the end of the 16th - beginning of the 17th centuries. Subsequently, they founded the Kalmyk Khanate on these lands.

The Kalmyks themselves call themselves “Khalmg”. This word goes back to the Turkic “remnant”, or “breakaways”, since the Kalmyks were that part of the Oirats that did not convert to Islam.

The migration of Kalmyks to the current territory of Russia was associated with internecine conflicts in Dzungaria, as well as with a shortage of pastures.

Their advance to the lower Volga was fraught with a number of difficulties. They had to confront the Kazakhs, Nogais and Bashkirs.

In 1608-1609, Kalmyks took the oath of allegiance to the Russian Tsar for the first time.

"Zakha Ulus"

The tsarist government officially allowed Kalmyks to roam the Volga in the second half of the 40s of the 17th century, nicknamed “rebellious” in Russian history. Tense foreign policy relations with the Crimean Khanate, the Turks and Poland posed a real threat to Russia. The southern underbelly of the state needed irregular border troops. The Kalmyks took on this role.

The Russian word “outback” is derived from the Kalmyk “zakha ulus”, which means “border” or “distant” people.

The then ruler of the Kalmyks, Taisha Daichin, stated that he was always “ready to beat the sovereign’s disobedient people.” The Kalmyk Khanate at that time was a powerful force of 70-75 thousand mounted soldiers, while the Russian army in those years consisted of 100-130 thousand people.

Some historians even elevate the Russian battle cry “Hurray!” to the Kalmyk “uralan”, which translates as “forward!”

Thus, the Kalmyks could not only reliably protect the southern borders of Russia, but also send some of their soldiers to the West. The writer Murad Adji noted that “Moscow fought in the Steppe with the hands of the Kalmyks.”

Warriors of the "White Tsar"

The role of Kalmyks in Russian foreign military policy in the 17th century is difficult to overestimate. Kalmyks, together with the Cossacks, participated in the Crimean and Azov campaigns of the Russian army; in 1663, the Kalmyk ruler Monchak sent his troops to Ukraine to fight the army of the hetman of right-bank Ukraine Petro Doroshenko. Two years later, the 17,000-strong Kalmyk army again marched into Ukraine, took part in the battles near Bila Tserkva, and defended the interests of the Russian Tsar in Ukraine in 1666.

In 1697, before the “Great Embassy”, Peter I entrusted the Kalmyk Khan Ayuk with responsibility for protecting the southern borders of Russia; later the Kalmyks took part in the suppression of the Astrakhan rebellion (1705-1706), the Bulavin uprising (1708) and the Bashkir uprising of 1705-1711 years.

Civil strife, exodus and end of the Kalmyk Khanate

In the first third of the 18th century, internecine strife began in the Kalmyk Khanate, in which the Russian government directly intervened. The situation was aggravated by the colonization of Kalmyk lands by Russian landowners and peasants. The cold winter of 1767-1768, the reduction of pasture lands and the ban on the free sale of bread by Kalmyks led to mass starvation and loss of livestock.

Among the Kalymks, the idea of ​​returning to Dzungaria, which was at that time under the rule of the Manchu Qing Empire, became popular.

On January 5, 1771, Kalmyk feudal lords raised the uluses, which were roaming along the left bank of the Volga. The exodus began, which turned into a real tragedy for the Kalmyks. They lost about 100,000 people and lost almost all their livestock.

In October 1771, Catherine II liquidated the Kalmyk Khanate. The titles of “khan” and “viceroy of the khanate” were abolished. Small groups of Kalmyks became part of the Ural, Orenburg and Terek Cossack troops. At the end of the 18th century, Kalmyks living on the Don were enrolled in the Cossack class of the Don Army Region.

Heroism and disgrace

Despite the difficulties of relations with the Russian authorities, the Kalmyks continued to provide significant support to the Russian army in wars, both with weapons and personal courage, and with horses and cattle.

Kalmyks distinguished themselves in the Patriotic War of 1812. 3 Kalmyk regiments, numbering more than three and a half thousand people, took part in the fight against Napoleonic army. For the Battle of Borodino alone, more than 260 Kalmyks were awarded the highest orders of Russia.

During the First World War, the tsarist government carried out repeated requisitions of livestock, mobilization of horses and the involvement of “foreigners” in “work on constructing defensive structures.”

The topic of cooperation between the Kalmyks and the Wehrmacht is still problematic in historiography. We are talking about the Kalmyk Cavalry Corps. Its existence is difficult to deny, but if you look at the numbers, you can’t say that the transition of Kalmyks to the side of the Third Reich was massive.

The Kalmyk Cavalry Corps consisted of 3,500 Kalmyks, while the Soviet Union mobilized about 30,000 Kalmyks during the war years and sent them into the ranks of the active army. Every third of those called to the front died.

Thirty thousand Kalmyk soldiers and officers is 21.4% of the number of Kalmyks before the war. Almost the entire male population of capable age fought on the fronts of the Great Patriotic War as part of the Red Army.

Because of their collaboration with the Reich, Kalmyks were deported in 1943-1944. The following fact can indicate how serious the ostracism was in their regard.

In 1949, during the celebration of Pushkin’s 150th anniversary, Konstantin Simonov gave a radio report on his life and work. While reading “The Monument,” Simonov stopped reading at the point where he was supposed to say: “And a friend of the steppes, the Kalmyk.” The Kalmyks were rehabilitated only in 1957.

Kalmykia is the only country in Europe where Buddhism is the state religion.

The Republic of Kalmykia is located in southeast Russia. Kalmykia is boundless steppes, herds of saigas. The capital of the republic is Elista. Kalmyks, descendants of the nomadic Oirats, tribes related to the Mongols in their way of life, language, culture and religion, who at the beginning of the 17th century. became part of Russia.

There is a tragic period in the history of the Kalmyks when an entire people suffered genocide. In December 1943, by order of Stalin, old people, women and children, declared politically unreliable, were taken to cold regions in freight cars. Kalmyk men who fought in the ranks of the Soviet army against the Nazis were collected from all fronts and taken to the construction of a hydroelectric power station in Shiroklag. In 1956, Kalmyks were allowed to return to their homeland. During the 13 years of exile, the number of Kalmyks decreased by half. In the north, entire cemeteries have been preserved, which are still called Kalmyk. This sad story is an unhealed wound in the hearts of Kalmyks. Now more than 173 thousand Kalmyks live in Russia.

Today, Kalmyk speech can mainly be heard only in rural areas. As a native language, it has remained, one might say, for older Kalmyks. The media often publish articles about the crisis of the Kalmyk language. The government of the republic is undertaking programs for its restoration and development. A national gymnasium with teaching in the Kalmyk language was created. The national language is included in the educational process in preschool institutions.

True Christianity among Kalmyks began in 1991. It was then that the American missionary E.V., who spoke colloquial Kalmyk, formed a Bible study group. He attracted people with his knowledge of the Kalmyk language, although the study and communication itself took place in Russian. Subsequently, this group grew into an independent church. One of today's churches, functioning in the village of Tsagan Aman, was founded by Kalmyk brothers who converted through this church. Currently, there are 14 Christian communities (of different denominations) in Kalmykia. Most of these churches are located in Elista. The number of Christian Kalmyks is approximately 200 people.

In villages where the majority of the indigenous population live, the Gospel is shared through the distribution of Christian literature and private conversations. There, it is advisable to speak Kalmyk. The fact is that Kalmyks consider Jesus Christ to be the “Russian” God, and the Russian language puts a certain barrier on the way to their hearts (although almost the entire population communicates well with each other in Russian).

Kalmykia is the only country in Europe where the state religion is Buddhism (of the Tibetan variety, as in Tyva). But the majority of the people do not know this teaching in its pure form. Everything rests on trust in the clergy. Buddhism, in its present form, appeared in Kalmykia recently. Before this, the Kalmyks also called themselves Buddhists, but their god was the so-called “Tsagan Ava,” which translates as the White Old Man. He is the Master of the Universe and the Creator. Therefore, in Kalmykia, people seem to mean God the Creator, but at the same time they worship everything else that modern Buddhism brought them. But as for the question of life after death, almost everything is the same: after death, a person can be reborn into any animal creature. Some people believe that the cat or dog that appears in their yard after the funeral of a relative is that reborn person. But in reality, no one wants this and hopes that the souls of the dead are in a good place. Dreams are given great importance. Dreaming of a deceased relative means that he wants something from them. They go to “Khurul” - a Buddhist temple - and order a certain ritual.

In general, Buddhist paraphernalia is found in almost every home. These are decorated calendars, images of gods, ritual inscriptions on rags that hang above the doors or on the wall.
Kalmyk culture is intertwined with religion. National holidays begin with a visit to Khurul and temple worship. The wedding ceremony also comes with rituals. The bride, having crossed the threshold of the groom, must bow to the spirits of his ancestors.
In many schools you can see a Buddhist prayer mounted on the wall. Acquaintance with the religion of the people is included in the educational process of schoolchildren.

The Kalmyks who truly believe in Christ and do not follow the traditions and rituals of their ancestors are mostly young people. It's more difficult to deal with old people. One old man who believed in Christ kept the attributes of the Buddhist religion on a shelf for a long time. Only two years later, he freely got rid of them. Others may still participate in some kind of religious practice, afraid to openly confess Jesus as their Lord.
Meanwhile, as Lev Gumilyov writes, in the 11th century the most powerful Christian Khanate of Central Asia ended (which included the Kerait people, from which a people later became isolated called the Oirats or now Kalmyks). Gumilev refers to an Iranian scientist who, only in a preliminary description of Asian Christianity, notes: “The call of Jesus has reached the Asians - peace be upon Him! And they entered into His faith.” Thus, historical data show that the Kalmyks were related to Christianity in the pre-Buddhist past.

Many Kalmyks do not understand how a Kalmyk can become a Christian. For them, the word Kalmyk is identical to the word Buddhist. They recognize Christianity as one of the religions of the world. In Kalmykia, Christianity is considered the religion of Russian people. There is an Orthodox church, there are crosses on it, and Russian people go there. This is for them. And everything is fine here. That's the whole concept of Christianity. If a Kalmyk believes, this is already incomprehensible to most. Although one cannot say about aggressiveness towards them. On the contrary, people are surprised by the positive changes in their lives. Many young Kalmyks who accepted Christ were forever freed from drug addiction or alcoholism. According to them, this is the action of Christ in their souls.

Only the New Testament and the Psalter have been translated into Kalmyk. During the translation process, difficulties were encountered in conveying the concept of love, the Son of God. For Kalmyks, God is somewhere far above, unattainable and in general “He is not a person to love.” Or how God can have a son like humans. But that God is the Creator, this concept is close. In the Kalmyk religion there is the concept of God the Creator. In fact, most Kalmyks do not delve into the essence of Buddhist teachings, which deny the Creator.
The Kalmyks' prayer is “read”. This is a kind of ritual that is performed only by temple servants. These are, so to speak, custom prayers for personal well-being and healing or for the needs of your relatives. In places of public worship there are rotating prayer wheels that anyone can come up to and spin. Everyone approaches this ritual for their own reason, but everyone relies on the magical effect of this drum.

Kalmykia is located in the steppe zone. The main means of transportation is a car. Previously, Kalmyks were engaged in cattle breeding. Beef farming was the main industry in the republic's economy during the previous regime. Now it has reduced its scale. Few can do this in today's economic climate.
Due to unemployment, many went to work in Moscow and abroad. At the same time, their children remain at home without parental attention. Here people do not have to choose, otherwise the family will remain in constant financial need. Often, a woman whose presence in the house creates warmth and comfort is forced today to earn money in distant Moscow. Not every man can cope with this task due to his addiction to alcohol. Therefore, the woman today is not that quiet Kalmyk woman who obeys her husband in everything.

Kalmyk cuisine uses meat and dairy products. “Makhan” - meat boiled in large pieces - and broth are always served at the festive table. Not a single holiday is complete without this dish and Kalmyk tea. You need to know how to brew Kalmyk tea, although at first glance there is nothing complicated here. Place a handful of tea in boiling water, add salt, milk and butter. But real taste can only be made by experts in this matter. Otherwise it's not tea. “Wrestlers” are served with tea. These are dough products fried in oil. They can take the form of an intricate knot or figurines of pets. The taste of “bortsok”, also made according to a special recipe, is amazing, especially with Kalmyk tea. Another popular dish of Kalmyk cuisine is “beregi”. They resemble Russian dumplings in the cooking process. But they have a different shape and are very juicy. This is not just minced meat in the dough, but also a delicious broth that flows out when you bite it.

Today, the life of Kalmyks is not much different from the life of the Russian people. They attach great importance to clothing. Preference is given to expensive fashionable clothes. Young people especially love to be fashionable.
Kalmyks are very hospitable people. To greet a guest with dignity means to lay out all the best treats in front of him. If a guest comes from afar, a special gift is given to him.

Previously, as older Kalmyks recall, the attitude of young people towards elders was very respectful. Disrespectful behavior on public transport was very rare. No one dared to use strong words in front of the old people. The parent's word had great power. Unfortunately, the worldview of today's youth causes great concern among the elderly. Breaking marriages, abortions, and early ones, are also relevant for Kalmykia.
Kalmyks have a steppe mentality. Accustomed to nomadism, the Kalmyks did not really care about the improvement of their camp. Today in Kalmykia, of course, there are entire areas where everything is surrounded by greenery. But by and large, the Kalmyk never learned to leave at least one tree behind him.

The national trait of the Kalmyks is secrecy and pride. The Kalmyk will not open his soul to everyone. But if he finds something offensive on the part of another person, he may flare up. In general, the people are friendly. He easily gets along with Russians, Chechens, Kazakhs and any other people.

It’s not so common in Europe to meet people who speak English, and almost all of them live in the Republic of Kalmykia. The Kalmyk people came to the lands that were once called. After their arrival in the 17th century, this territory began to be called the Kalmyk steppe. Today it is the Republic of Kalmykia. The map shows its exact location.

Story

Unusual people - Kalmyks. The history of the people is rooted in the past. It starts from Asia. Kalmyks come from Western Mongolian tribes called Oirats. They, in turn, entered the vast Mongol empire created by Genghis Khan. He managed to unite almost all the nationalities living at that time in Central Asia.

The Oirats supported Genghis Khan in his campaigns of conquest in Rus', the Caucasus, China, Asia and Korea. At the same time, groups of military units were created, in which responsibilities were inherited. Over time, these divisions developed into ethnic groups that still exist today. Today they may not have the same significance as before, since they are more associated with conquest. For example, there is a group called Torgouts. This was the name given to the people who formed the guards of the Mongol khans. The Khosheut group consisted of those who were part of the front part of the army, the Derbets are a cavalry army.

The Mongol Empire was huge. Internal turmoil was the norm here. Over time, they became the reason for her split. The Oirat khans refused to submit to the Great Mongol Khagan.

Foundations of the Kalmyk religion

Until the 17th century, Kalmyks practiced shamanism. But the active work of missionaries from Tibet contributed to the fact that the majority of Kalmyks adopted Buddhism. But this did not help preserve the integrity of the Mongolian people. Internecine wars continued. However, Buddhism and Lamaism spread widely in the territory of modern Kalmykia.

The Kalmyk Khanate was part of Russia until 1771. In the early stages of its existence, Russian rulers did not attach much importance to the internal structure. The religion of the Kalmyks was their freedom of choice, and the state did not interfere in their culture. But over time, the rulers of Russia began to take measures and encourage those who accepted Orthodoxy. Kalmyks who had undergone baptism were allowed to go to other cities and villages in Russia.

At the end of the 18th century, the Russian state increased its interference in the internal life of the Kalmyk Khanate, gradually limiting the rights of the Kalmyks, and in 1771 it was completely liquidated. At the same time, the Russian government reorganized the administration of the Kalmyks. The traditions and rights of the Kalmyk people were fully preserved. An Expedition of Kalmyk Affairs was created, which was responsible for managing the uluses. Later, in 1847, the fate of the Kalmyk people depended on the Ministry of State Property.

Kalmyks. Religion

The Russian government tried not to put pressure on the Kalmyk people in matters of converting them to Christians. Before the revolution, the Kalmyks retained the rights of the Buddhist clergy, which were established back in 1640. Over time, Kalmyks began to convert to the Orthodox faith. The religion began to spread rapidly after the opening of a theological seminary in Astrakhan, since Kalmykia was territorially part of the Astrakhan diocese. Then the Russian government took measures to create a mission to convert Kalmyks to Christians. In the mid-19th century, the missionary movement reached its apogee. The Kalmyk language began to be taught in theological seminaries. In 1871, the Orthodox Missionary Committee began to exist, through whose efforts a school was organized and an orphanage was opened where Kalmyks could live. Religion profoundly changed the fate of the Kalmyk people. People could receive a decent education. Over time, the school turned into a huge missionary school, where they trained teachers and preachers who were supposed to convey spiritual knowledge in Kalmyk settlements.

The Kalmyks were not particularly active in accepting such revolutionary innovations. Buddha remained the main God for the majority of the Kalmyk people. Orthodoxy was represented mainly by immigrants from Russia. The Kalmyks did not want to change their deep traditions. It was also difficult to change religion. What religion do Kalmyks profess? There is no clear answer to this question. Among the Kalmyks there are Orthodox Christians, Buddhists, and even shamans.

Difficulties of the Kalmyk people

The coming of the communists to power had a favorable effect on the history of the Kalmyk region. It was they who restored unity and returned statehood to the Kalmyks. 1926 marked the beginning of the Kalmyk Autonomous Region, which later became known as the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. But the religious life of the Kalmyks suffered greatly at that time. Any religious activity was strictly suppressed. Spiritually, the Kalmyks experienced unprecedented difficulties. Religion was completely eliminated by the mid-30s. In 1943, the Kalmyk people were deported to various parts of Russia. And the Russians came to their territory. And only 10 years later the Kalmyks were able to return to their land again. The Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic regained life. But there was no legal religion on the territory of the settlement until the 80s. The Kalmyks still felt spiritual oppression. The religion of Christianity began to revive only in 1984. This began with the opening of an Orthodox parish in the village of Priyutnoye. This marked the transition of Kalmykia to New communities, such as Baptists and Pentecostals, began to appear among the Kalmyk population. There is also a Buddhist community in Kalmykia, which was formed back in 1988.

Features of Kalmyk culture

Despite numerous difficulties, the Kalmyks did not forget their traditions for a moment. The religion and culture of this people have always been connected by an invisible thread. It was difficult to convert Kalmyks to the Christian faith. Centuries-old traditions made themselves felt. After all, for many years shamanism was practiced on this land. This cannot be taken out of the heart of a real Kalmyk. The cultural peculiarities of this population are still reflected in Mongolian settlements today. Modern Kalmyk society is gradually losing its traditional identity, but there are still customs that have survived to this day.

Traditional features

Fire is considered a sacred element for Kalmyks. It is mentioned more than once in the ritual works of the people of Kalmykia. The deep traditions, rituals and culture of the Kalmyks allow us to speak of them as an independent ethnic group.

Fire for the Kalmyk people was considered the personification of the Sun God. Therefore, there are certain prohibitions here, for example, stepping over fire or spitting on it is considered a sinful act. Do not extinguish fire with water. You need to wait until it goes out on its own. It is allowed to cover the fire with sand or earth.

The worship of fire was considered a special ritual. Kalmyks even performed certain rituals to appease the fire. These were a kind of sacrifice. The cult of fire is a national feature of the Kalmyks. It is described in many historical works. Not a single wedding or funeral was complete without a fire sacrifice. And today you can see rituals in which the priest offers an animal to the fire and reads special prayers. For this, he asks for the blessing of the Gods to grant happiness in the family life of his daughter.

The funeral rite also does not take place without a fire sacrifice. On the seventh and forty-ninth days after burial, the relatives of the deceased must sacrifice a ram to the fire, thus feeding the deceased relative. Kalmyks sincerely believe that fire is a kind of conductor between the living world and subtle matters.

Fire Worship

Kalmyks firmly believe that fire has divine power. That is why not a single cleansing ritual is complete without the participation of fire. Such rituals are described even in classical works. For example, the work of A. Amur-Sanan describes a fire ritual that protects travelers on the road. A handful of salt is poured into the burning fires. Then the cattle are passed between the two fires, followed by a cart. Today Kalmyks also cleanse their homes with fire, spreading it around the house from east to west. After the funeral, you should also perform a cleansing ritual with fire, holding your hands over it.

Paganism and Buddhism are firmly intertwined in Kalmyk culture. Paganism speaks of fire as a representative of the Sun God, or rather, in paganism it is the Sun God himself. Therefore, all foods of a warm nature should be sacrificed to him. This could be oil, fat, intoxicating liquids. The Buddhist tradition presents fire as a symbol of wisdom. It is believed that with its help you can burn away all ignorance.

Character of the Kalmyk people

Kalmyks, like other ethnic peoples, have their own unique character. First of all, they are very open. Such people are called extroverts. Secondly, they are practical and rational. Kalmyks also have a certain maximalism. Kalmyk always strives for great things. He will not waste his attention and time on implementing small projects. Globality, grandeur and magnitude - all this is reflected in the heart of a real Kalmyk.

Kalmyks are quite an original people. At every opportunity, they strive to show their individualism and draw as much attention to themselves as possible. At the same time, the Kalmyk people have great respect for the pride of other people.

Kalmyks are active, energetic and artistic. This can be judged not only by their movements and national dances, but also by their speech. Kalmyks speak vividly, flexibly, fluently and concisely. Some sources compare Kalmyk speech to machine-gun rhythms.

Almost all Kalmyks are optimists. They always concentrate on the positive moments in life; they tend to notice only positive qualities in any person. All works of classical folk epic had an exclusively positive outcome.

Nomadic peoples have always strived for glorification. The desire to be leaders in any business is also inherent in Kalmyks. These people are very proud, but not arrogant. Buddhism somewhat cleared the consciousness of the Kalmyks, since pride for a Buddhist is a mortal sin.

Since Buddhism is considered one of the main religious orientations for Kalmykia, quite a lot of Buddhist temples have been built in the republic.

Temple of the Great Victory (Kalmykia). Description

One of the largest Buddhist communities lives in the Oktyabrsky district of Kalmykia (the village of Bolshoi Tsaryn). Here is also the most majestic Buddhist temple in Kalmykia - the Temple of the Great Victory. Buddhist religious buildings are called khuruls. This khurul was erected in 2002. In just 2 years, the builders managed to bring to life the project of Yu. I. Sangadzhiev, who is considered the best architect of Kalmykia. On October 11, 2002, the doors of the Temple of the Great Victory solemnly opened. Khurul was built thanks to donations from the Buddhist community itself, residents of the Oktyabrsky district and sponsors. Ilyumzhinov K.N. also invested his own funds in the construction.

The temple is an 18-meter building. The central part is occupied by a prayer hall in which the altar is located. Monks live in the front part of the khurul. There is also a room for the lama to receive visitors. The Buddha statue appeared thanks to the efforts of sculptors V. Vaskin and S. Korobeinikov. The central entrance is decorated with the Wheel of Teaching and figures of deer made by Nikolai Galushkin.

Also in the khurul is a statue of the Medicine Buddha and a huge collection of scriptures and thangkas.

There are several more Buddhist temples in Kalmykia that are of interest to tourists.

Elista - center of Buddhist culture

Elista is the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia. The map shows its location.

This is an unusual city, completely different from most Russian cities. It is decorated with Buddhist temples and colorful buildings of oriental architecture. People living in Elista also have an eastern worldview. Connoisseurs of oriental culture should definitely visit Elista. Here is the most majestic Buddha temple, famous throughout Europe. There is also a Buddhist monastery here, a favorite place of the Dalai Lama during his visits to Kalmykia. Elista has another amazing attraction - the Golden Gate, which fulfills all wishes. Elista is an incredibly colorful city. Kalmyks are a bright people. Here you can feel it to the fullest. Beautiful national costumes, dances - all this distinguishes Kalmyks from other Asian and Mongolian nationalities. Elista is famous not only for its Buddhist buildings. There are also chess-themed attractions here.

The fact is that chess is considered the main hobby for Kalmyks. World chess championships are regularly held here.

Temple "Golden Abode of Buddha"

This khurul is considered one of the largest not only in the Republic of Kalmykia, but also in Europe. The temple occupies a place of honor in the very center of Elista (Yuri Klykov Street).

The height of the khurul is 56 meters. Inside it stands a huge Buddha statue (12 meters).

The temple is considered the main attraction of Elista. This is not only a beautiful and majestic building. It is a place for performing rituals and worshiping the Deity. The temple is surrounded by a symbolic fence, along the perimeter of which there are 108 stupas. You can enter the temple through the South Gate. There are three more entrances. Each of them is located in a certain part of the world. The architecture of the temple resembles a huge mandala. As you approach the building, you can see seventeen pagodas with statues of great Buddhist monks and teachers.

Khurul has 7 levels. On the first level there is a museum, a conference room and a library. On the second level there is a statue and a prayer hall. The statue itself serves as a repository for jewelry, incense, earth, plants and grains. Buddhists consider all these sacred objects. The statue is covered with gold leaf and diamonds. The third level is intended for individual reception of visitors. Here are the rooms of monks, doctors of Tibetan medicine, astrologers and temple administration. On the fourth level there is a small conference room. Here you can also find the head of the Buddhists of the Republic, Telo Tuluka Rinpoche. The fifth level is occupied by the residence of Tenzin Gyatso (His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV). The sixth level is occupied by premises for household needs. Only clergy can ascend to the seventh level to immerse themselves in meditation.

The history of the Kalmyks as a people begins at the end of the 16th century, when the Oirat tribes were divided into three parts, one of which moved from Central Asia to the territory of the modern Republic of Kalmykia, where it consolidated within Russia in 1609.

The first time was accompanied by frequent wars, including internecine wars, changes in borders and nomadic movements. Periodically, Kalmyks swear allegiance to Russia, but often violate agreements by attacking Russians. But around the end of the 18th century, a quiet life began as part of Russia.

In 1917, the so-called Steppe Region of the Kalmyk people was formed, and in 1920 - the Kalmyk Autonomous Region, which 15 years later was transformed into the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.

1943 was one of the darkest years in the history of the Kalmyks - the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was abolished, its territory was transferred to the Astrakhan region, and almost all Kalmyks were deported (mainly to Siberia).

Only 14 years later did the Kalmyks return to their homeland, and in 1958 the Kalmyk Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was restored, which in 1992 was renamed the Republic of Kalmykia.

Geography and climate of Kalmykia

Republic of Kalmykia has many neighbors, in the south - the Stavropol Territory and the Republic of Dagestan, in the east - the Astrakhan region, in the west - Rostov, and in the north - the Volgograd region. Part of the southeastern territory is washed by the Caspian Sea.

The flat territory of the region is mainly covered with endless steppes, semi-deserts and deserts.

The Caspian Sea is not the only water resource of the republic. In one of the places, Kalmykia, with a narrow ledge, opens up to the Volga - there is the city of Tsagan Aman, in addition to this, the Kuma and Manych rivers flow on the territory of the republic. There are also lakes on the territory of Kalmykia: Sarpinsky Lakes, Yashalta Salt Lake and Sostinsky Lakes.

The climate of the Republic of Kalmykia is sharply continental. Its features are hot and dry summers, as well as little snow and not the coldest winters (although sometimes the temperature in winter drops significantly). In addition to low precipitation and aridity, a feature of the climate is constant winds.

Nature of Kalmykia

IN Republic of Kalmykia There are practically no forests and most of the fauna and flora are steppe representatives.

First of all, among them it is worth noting various rodents (gophers, marmots) and saigas, for the protection of which the Black Lands Nature Reserve was created. In addition to them, you can find brown hares, hedgehogs, jerboas and corsacs here. The flora here is represented by truly steppe and desert plants: feather grass, wormwood, camel thorn, cornflowers and Schrenk's tulips.

The second section of this reserve also protects numerous populations of various birds: pelicans, swans, greylag geese, bustards, cranes, gulls, swallows and others.

Population and economy of Kalmykia

There are three cities in the republic: Elista, Lagan and Gorodovikovsk and 13 administrative districts. The total population is less than 300 thousand people. As you would expect, the majority of the population is Kalmyks, and there are also many Russians. Other nationalities are also represented, mainly residents of other southern republics.

The economy of the Republic of Kalmykia is poorly developed, industry is mainly concentrated in the extraction of minerals (oil and natural gas), there is mechanical engineering, metalworking and the production of building materials.

The rural population is engaged in the cultivation of grain crops, vegetables and melons, as well as animal husbandry and wool production.

Culture and religion of Kalmykia

Kalmyks have a very interesting and distinctive culture associated with their Asian roots. Religion is also unusual for Russia; the Republic of Kalmykia is one of three regions where Buddhism is preached. Moreover, what is interesting is that the pagan beliefs of the Kalmyks are closely intertwined with Buddhism, not contradicting the teachings of Buddha, but, on the contrary, complementing it.

The Kalmyks also have their own folklore and epic - “Dzhangar”, where the poems tell about the land of the immortals and its inhabitants, powerful heroes. Dzhangarchi (as those who performed folk songs were called) have always enjoyed enormous popularity among the people. But even now Kalmyks do not forget their culture: in Elista there are many monuments dedicated to the heroes of “Dzhangar”: the Golden Horseman, the monument to Dzhangar, Khongor (heroes of the epic) and other sculptural images.