Yangazhinsky Datsan - operated from 1830 to 1938. Restoration of the Yangazhinsky Datsan began only in 2017. On September 19, 2020, the first prayer service was held in the datsan - the consecration of the only Palace of Buddha Vajradhara in the world. And the next day, the grand opening of the datsan for all parishioners and guests took place. Yangazhinsky Datsan is famous for the fact that from 1903 to 1911, Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov, the future XII Pandito Khambo Lama (the head of all Buddhists in Russia), served here as the abbot. With the beginning of the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), the parishioners of the datsan, the Cossacks of the Yangazhinskaya village, went to the front. Itigelov performed rituals here to protect his fellow countrymen leaving for the war. He carried out extensive educational work among believers and laymen. After the advent of Soviet power, Itigelov did not accept it, but did not actively oppose it either.
On June 15, 1927, Itigelov sat in the lotus position, gathered his students and gave them instructions: "You will visit and see my body in 75 years." Then he asked them to read a special prayer of good wishes for the deceased for him. The students did not dare to say it in the presence of a living teacher. Then he began to read this prayer himself and gradually the students picked it up. Thus, being in a state of meditation, Dashi-Dorzho Itigelov, according to Buddhist teaching, went to nirvana. He was buried in a cedar cube in the same position (in the lotus position) in which he was at the time of his death.
In 1938, during Stalin's persecution of religion, the Yangazhinsky datsan was closed and destroyed by the Soviet authorities. Many lamas were repressed.
The figure of Itigelov is revered by Buryat Buddhists, since his body, according to his will, was exhumed and after the exhumation it was discovered that Itigelov's body remained virtually unchanged since his burial. At the same time, many Buryat Buddhists are confident that Itigelov is still alive. Moreover, it has been recorded that his body even gains weight during religious holidays. The body was allowed to be studied by scientists, who confirmed this fact, but scientists believe that from a medical point of view it can be said that Itigelov is still dead. Since 2005, his body has been prohibited from being studied by scientists, now Itigelov's body has been transferred to a special palace on the territory of the Ivolginsky datsan. It is almost impossible for an ordinary person to see his body; for this, personal permission from the chief Buddhist priest of the XXIV Pandito Khambo Lama Damba Ayusheev is required.
In addition to the palace of Buddha Vajradhara, there are also nine stupas (suburgans) on the territory. Each of the stupas traditionally symbolizes the great deeds of Buddha Shakyamuni. Starting with birth, gaining wisdom, achieving enlightenment.
According to Buddhist teachings, suburgans mean the awakened mind of Buddha. Suburgans are erected dedicated to the eight deeds of Buddha Shakyamuni:
1 - birth, 2 - renunciation, choosing the path of Bodhisattva, 3 - turning the Wheel of Teaching, 4 - pacification and suppression of angry spirits, 5 - condescension from the world of 33 deities, 6 - reconciliation, 7 - prolongation of life, 8 - leaving for Paranirvana. And the 9th is dedicated to Yidam Kalachakra.
