Khamar Monastery is located in the center of Dornogovi province, which is 45 km south of Sainshand city. It was founded by D. Danzanravjaa, a famous enlightener and poet of 19th-century Mongolia, in 1820 when he was 17 years old. According to the legend, his teacher instructed him to build a monastery in a place with a lot of trees and hills on the northeast side. After exploring the land, he found a good man lying in the place where Khamar Monastery is now. Unfortunately, the man was arrested and sentenced to prison for collecting taxes and distributing goods to the poor people of the region.
Before 1938, Khamar Monastery had four parts: Eastern range, Western range, Tsokhon, and Duynkhor. It consisted of more than 80 temples with monks, abbots, teachers, and readers, and had over 500 monks. It was a red stream monastery. However, it was destroyed and Reverend G. Tudev hid 64 chests from the mortuary temple of noble Danzanravjaa and kept them for 52 years by burying them in the ground and hiding them in caves until 1990.
The remaining things were returned to the monastery and its activities were restored. Now, Khamar Monastery is not only a monastery with regular readings, but also receives up to 40,000 domestic and foreign pilgrims. Every year on September 10, the monks of Khamar Monastery write a book for the charity of the north in memory of the oppressed.
Danzanravjaa believed that the Red sect was the most suitable religion for the body and mind of the Mongolian people and aimed to reform the society of that time. He established Mongolia’s first theater in Khamar Monastery, the Biography Singing Temple, and the Children’s Temple for children and women to learn.
It is believed that there is a strong flow of energy around the monastery, there is a vital vein under the ground, and the place where Shambhala is located is determined. Researchers have found the bones of a giant herbivorous dinosaur called Yogundanth, fossils of other types of dinosaurs, and the remains of marine animals and plants such as shells in a place called Luut Tsav, which is located 1.5 km from Khamar monastery. The area covers 2 hectares from north to south and has mounds of red, yellow, and blue clay.
Energy Center or Land of Shambala
The area known as Shambala is a spiritual land where one can achieve spiritual enlightenment by letting go of ignorance, darkness, and selfishness. In 2007, Shambala was restored and 108 stupas were built around it, along with 77 volumes of Gaadamba scriptures. It is suggested to visit the energy center at sunrise. The navel point of the energy center is located in the circle to the west of the pagoda. Here, pilgrims can meditate, lie down, and receive energy.
166 years ago, Danzanravjaa and his disciples held a Duynkhor meeting at the Duynhor Temple of the Khamar Monastery in 1851. They danced the Tsam dance and created a path to the land of Shambala, blessing many devotees to take them there. The Red Knight, or Suchandra, is the ruler of Shambala and is said to have received the Wheel of Time initiation from Shakyamuni Buddha in the 10th century AD. Today, Khamar Monastery holds a yearly ritual and reading for the Lord of Shambala and the 35 kings of Duinkhor.
Rituals in the energy center
In order to partake in the rituals at the energy center, one should first go in front of the wall depicting the god’s eye, also known as the “Gateway to the Land of Shambala”. By looking at this eye, it is believed that one can purify the sins committed by the body, tongue, and mind. It is also believed that one can discover their inner world here. Concentrating on the eyes may cause the ring between the two eyebrows to spin, the eyes to wink, and the black border of the nose to be replaced by different lights. If this happens, it means that one has good energy. If not, it is recommended to collect positive energy from the Shambala Land.
The monster’s stomach is a pile of stones near the Eye, where one should write down their sins on a piece of paper and place them in an open pit facing north to burn them. Afterward, one should offer alcohol, milk, and rice at three stone circles that are lined up towards the Khusliin Khar Mountain. After praying three times in the pile on the northern terrace of the energy center, offering food to the piles on the previous altar, coming to the southern stupa with the lyrics of “Ulemjiin Chanar”, chanting the entire five verses, and exiting through the silver gate of Shambala, the pilgrimage will end.
Sakura Valley
In Sakura Valley, it is believed that Danzanravjaa, a renowned scholar and traveler, imparted his knowledge to people in various places such as Manchuria, Tibet, and Mongolia. In addition to his academic prowess, he was also highly skilled in using star-shaped weapons, similar to those used by ninjas. It is said that one day, a samurai witnessed Danzanravjaa effortlessly cut off a branch of a tree using a star-shaped weapon and was so impressed that he became his disciple. Before leaving, the samurai presented his teacher with a gift of sakura, a beautiful flowering tree. The samurai’s sword, which he used to learn from Danzanravjaa, is now preserved in a noble museum.
Uterus Rock
Located about 2 kilometers northeast of Khamar Monastery, Uterus is a site that is steeped in spiritual beliefs. The area is home to numerous caves where monks used to meditate, and many rocks that are worshipped for their healing properties. One such rock is the mother’s womb rock, which is believed to offer a rebirth-like experience to those who enter and leave it. It is said that this experience revitalizes the person and purifies them like a newborn child. Another rock, not far from the cave, is believed to have the ability to heal illnesses. People who visit this rock rub their sick parts against it and entrust it with the task of curing their ailments.
Khusliin Khar Mountain
There is a mountain called Khusliin Khar, located near a monastery in Mongolia. The Gobi people have been worshipping this mountain since ancient times. To reach the top of the mountain, a 300-meter-long and 2.6-meter-wide road has been built, along with two resting points. At the foot of the mountain, there is a 4-meter-high Buddha statue made of natural granite that is 300,000 years old. Women, children, and the elderly climb about 100 meters from the foot of the mountain to reach a small temple in the middle of the wall where they perform their rituals for love.
Traditionally, men climb to the sacred peak of the mountain, go around the mound, hold up half of the alcohol they have taken, whisper their wishes, and take the remaining half back with a spell. Everyone who goes should write their wish on paper and burn it in the designated place, and while burning it, they should whisper their wish and pray.
The Khusliin Khar Mountain is also known as Sharil Mountain, and it has been decorated with dozens of ghosts, ganjir, hadag, and ghost flags since ancient times. There used to be a bejeweled crown on top of the mound similar to the cap worn by a king before 1930. Khan is a title given to a mountain, and there are about 120 mountains in Mongolia with titles such as Khan, Bogd, Gun, Beel, Beys, and Zaisan.
Legend of the Khusliin Khar Mountain
According to legend, a poor man lived at the foot of this mountain with only one horse. One day the only horse was eaten by wild beasts. The poor man bowed to the mountain and prayed for the return of one of his horses. The next morning, his wish came true when a horse came to him. It is said that seven goats with necks are constantly grazing in the Khusliin Khar Mountain.
There is also a legend that a previous character of Saints had been summoned to Hell for the sins of his father and had his body embalmed when he returned. The disembodied soul made a vow to fulfill the wishes of all creatures and sank into this mountain. Additionally, a nobleman was buried at the foot of the mountain, which is considered to be the highest place in the Gobi region and has a crackling black stone, so it is called “Sharil Uul”.
