View of Amarbuyant
Another view of Amarbuyant
The main temple at Amarbuyant, looking south.
|
Amarbuyant Khiid
Amarbuyant Monastery, or Yum Beise Monastery as it is sometimes called, is located in central Bayankhongor Aimag 543 miles west of Ulaan Baatar and 29 miles west of the sum center of Shinjinst. During its peak it was home to about 1000 monks, but it was largely destroyed in 1937 and the monks were either shot or drafted into the army. In 1904 the 13th Dalai Lama, after fleeing Lhasa and Tibet because of the invasion of the British (the so-called Younghusband Expedition), visited here for ten days before proceeding to what is now Ulaan Baatar. The monastery is now home to about a dozen monks. Page 1 | Page 2 |
|
View of Amarbuyant |
Another view of Amarbuyant |
The main temple at Amarbuyant, looking south. |
|
The main temple |
Ruins of temples destroyed in 1937 |
|
Ovoo near the monastery which locals claim was built by the 13th Dalai Lama. In the distance can be seen Bor Khairkhan Mountain. The Dalai Lama instructed the monks to built a new temple (the current main temple) and have the door facing directly at this mountain. Since the mountain could not be seen from the proposed site of the new temple because of an intervening ridge, the Dalai Lama placed on ovoo on the ridge so the monks could properly position the temple. Admittedly this advice may have been superfluous, since Bor Khairkhan mountain is due south of Amarbuyant, and all Mongolian temples face due south anyhow. Unlike most ovoos to which people are continously adding rocks, prayer flags, and other objects, this one was never altered out of deference to the13th Dalai Lama. |
|
When the 13th Dalai Lama and his entourage approached Amarbuyant the monks cleared a pathway for him, starting 2.4 miles from the monastery. Rocks in the path were stacked along either side. The pathway is smooth to this day and the rocks can still be seen. |
Another view of the pathway |
About a miles from the start of the pathway and 1.4 miles from the monastery can be seen the assembly point where the Dalai Lama first met the monks of Amarbuyant. The assemby area, which was smoothed off and remains smooth to this day, measures about 150 by 200 feet and is outlined with stones. The monks assembled to the right and left and the Dalai Lama walked through them and took his place on a low throne at the northern end of the assembly area. The area where his throne was is now outlined with rocks. Here he addressed the monks before proceeding on the monastery. |
