Gandan monastery, temple of Mongolia

In XIII century, during the dynasty of Khubilai Khan the Wise, Buddhism was declared the state religion, and from the XVI century it became popular all over Mongolia and became known as the yellow religion. Small mobile monasteries functioned in Mongolia, and in 1838 the Gandantegchinlen monastery was founded as the religious center of Sutra-Tantra Buddhism at the site of Dalkha hill. It grew into a complex of colleges including a college of basic Buddhist teachings, departments of Astrology and Medicine, and as such was the largest center of the Mongolian Buddhism. The first temple of the Monastery was built at the initiative of the Mongolian living Buddha, the Fifth Incarnation Bogdo, Chultem-Jigmid-Dambijantsan. It was constructed by Mongolian masters and made mostly of wood and earth following Mongolian national architectural designs, with gold plated roofes and topmost Buddhist symbolic - decorations. Many of the Boddhisattyas statues and images established in Gandan temple are of significance. In the temple there are a bronze statue of the Lofty Noble Rimpoche Dzanabazar - the Mongolian living Buddha of the First Incarnation sculpted by himself at the behest of his mother; the collection of the Buddha's fundamental teachings, the Tripitaka (Gangiur) in 108 volumes; the silver statue of the famous Tsong (Khapa) of Amdo made in XVI century in Western Oirat Mongolia. Vajra-Tara temple was built in 1840-1841, of stone and brick with ceramic rooves and goldplated decorations. The main altar in this temple is the Vajra Tara's statue crafted by the lofty Noble Rimpoche Dzanabazar in 1683. The main altar of Dzu temple is a statue of the standing Buddha with his two disciples, made in Dolon Nuur, Inner Mongolia, in the early XIX century.. The two storey building "Didinpovran" was built as a library for the Fifth Incarnation of the Mongolian living Buddha, Chultem-Jigmid-Dambijantsan, with ceramic rooves and goldplated topmost decorations. The fifth building now serves as the library of the Gandantegchinlen monastery, containing over 50,000 books. Additionally the temples house the "Eight Noble Decorations", "Damdin Choijil", images of Mahayana, Hinayana Lord and Bodhisattyas and sixteen arhats crafted by Mongolian, Tibetan and Indian artists, embroidery, masterpiece images of Bodhisattvas made by Mongolian women artists as well as a number of satirical and humorous feature drawings. The monastery was severely damaged during the repression of 30s and only few buildings remained among them. There is a chapel for 25 meters high statue of Megjid Janraisag god erected in 1911 as a symbol commemorating the Mongolia's independence. During the WW II the statue of Megjid Janraisag god was taken to Russia to be used as scrap metal for shells. In 1990 the statue was rebuilt with nation wide donations. The Gandan monastery is the central place for major religious ceremonies and festivities, including tsam dance, a kind of theater performance. Roughly meaning 'the great place of complete joy', Gandantegchinlen Khiid is commonly referred to as Gandan Khiid. Still the largest and most important monastery in Mongolia, this is one of Ulaanbaators most impressive sights. Today there are over 150 monks in residence. As you enter the main entrance from the South, a path leads towards the right to a courtyard containing two temples. On the left is the Ochirdary Sum and to the right is the smaller Golden Dedenpovaran Sum. At the end of the main path as you enter is the magnificent white Megjid Janraisig Sum, the monastery's main attraction. Lining the walls of the temple are hundreds of images of Ayush, the Buddha of longevity. There is a voluntary US$1 entry charge to the temple. To the East of the temple is a small temple dedicated to Kalachakra, a wrathful Buddhist deity. To the West of the temple is the Ondor Geegen Zanabazar Buddhist Monastery, established in 1970. If you have a genuine interest in Buddhism, you can visit the university and it's library. The souvenir shop, to the left as you enter the main southern gate of the monastery, sells non-touristy religious artefacts, including miniature copper bowls, incense and scroll paintings, as well as items like Mongolian felt hats. You can take photographs around the monastery, but not inside the temples. The monastery, at the end of Ondor Geegen Zanabazaryn Gudamj, is open from about 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, and there is no entrance fee. Try to be there for the captivating ceremonies - they usually start at around 10 a.m., though you may be lucky and see one at another time. Most chapels are closed in the afternoon.