Itigilov
The chambo LAMA Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov (Russian: Даши-ДоржоИтигэлов) (1852 - 1927) was a Buriat monk Buddhist. It was an important personality of the religious world in Russia before the Révolution of October, and the superior of the monastery of Ivolginsk in the Buriat steppe where its mummy is exposed seven days per annum since 2002.
Biography
Itigilov is born in 1852 in Bouriatie and begins its religious education at the 16 years age. He studies in Anninsky Datsan (a Buddhist university into Buriat, today in ruin), where he obtains diplomas of medicine and philosophy. It is at this period that he writes an encyclopedia of pharmacology.In 1911, it is named 12th Chambo LAMA (spiritual leader of the Russian Buddhists); its nomination inaugurates one period of Buddhist rebirth among the Buriat .
Between 1913 and 1917, Itigilov is an important character of the spiritual life in Russia. It takes part in the celebrations of Tercentenary of the House of the Romanov and inaugurates Gunzechoyney Datsan of Saint-Pétersbourg, first Buddhist temple in Europe. The March 19th 1917, the Tsar decorates it with the Ordre of Saint-Stanislas.
During the First World War, Itigilov chairs the company of the " Brothers bouriates" , an organization helping the Russian army with money, provisions, clothing, and drugs. It also helps with the installation of hospital where doctor-spangled carry assistance to the wounded soldiers. It is decorated with the Ordre of Holy-Anne for her caritative activities.
In 1926, “the red doctrines has just unloaded”, Itigilov advises with the monks to leave Russia, choosing nevertheless for its part to remain on the spot.
One year after, 75 years, feeling its death to come, he asks spangled to undertake meetings of meditation and funerary Rites, but they refuse since he is still in life, also, is only put he to meditate. Others spangled unite with him progressively and soon it ceases breathing.
Will
Itigilov leaves a will requiring to be buried per hour of its death in Position of the lotus. According to its wishes, its body is put in a box of pine and buried in a bumkhan (cemetery reserved for spangled) locality of Khukhe-Zurkhen (“blue-dark heart” in Buriat language). One of the clauses of the will stipulates that it must be exhumed several years after its death by other monks; she is interpreted by believers like an insurance of the incorruptibility of the corpse of Itigilov.In 1955 and 1973, its skin is examined by monks who are astonished not to observe any sign of physical deterioration. They prefer anything to reveal with the atheistic authorities of communist Russia, and the body remains In situ until 2002.
The September 11th 2002, its skin is exhumed once again, in the presence of the chiefs of the Sangha Buddhist Russian. It is transferred to Ivolginsky Datsan (today a residence of Hambo LAMA) where it is examined in a way thorough by monks, scientists and pathologists. The official report mentions that the body is “in the state of somebody who died 36 hours ago”, preserved very well, without any sign of deterioration; the muscles did not melt, the members are not stiff and the skin is still flexible.
The body of forever embaumé Itigilov or momifié. It is claimed that its corpse always bleeds if it is wounded. The monks approach it like an alive person and tighten the hand to him. Some enthusiastic believers even claim that Itigilov still alive, but is immersed in a kind of Hibernation or Nirvāna. According to certain Buddhist beliefs, only the most advanced Masters can fall into a particular state before death and purify so that the dead-man is not degraded. Some scientists explain the state of the body of Itigilov by abnormal quantities of Brome discovered in fabrics and the muscles.
April 23rd, 2003, the conference of the Russian Buddhists declared the body of Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov Relique of Russian Buddhism; on this occasion, the first stone of a new temple devoted to the famous LAMA was posed, Itigel Khambyn Ordon.
In 2005, the body of Itigilov was kept outside, in contact with others, without preserving it temperature variations or of moisture.
See too
Related articles
External bonds
- Presentation report ARTE
- Article buddhistchannel (In English)
- Article of Pravda (In English)