From the Tibetan burial ground to the Mongolian steppe. A new life for Buddhist ritual practice in post-socialist Mongolia

Abstract

This article deals with a Buddhist ritual that originated in Tibet almost a thousand years ago and became popular in Mongolia with the introduction of Tibetan-style Buddhism. During its long existence in Mongolian lands, it has undergone many changes. During the socialist period, it became invisible in the religious landscape, in the 1990s it reappeared and in the 21st century it thrives on a wave of renewed popularity. This paper discusses the Tibetan history of the ritual, its philosophical background and its textual, ritual and social forms in contemporary Mongolia, with a particular focus on its distinctive features, meanings and functions, which have been influenced and enriched by numerous traditions. Furthermore, the strategies used by different stakeholders in the struggle for the interpretative sovereignty of this ritual are examined, as well as the role that narrative culture, ritual and discursive practices play in this process. In order to investigate these complex issues, we explore the different perspectives of ritual actors (both the various ritual specialists and lay devotees) involved in contemporary ritual traditions.