“Gunzechoinei,” a name whispered on the wind. This name signifies ‘The source of the Buddha’s Religious Teaching that has Deep Compassion for All Beings.’ We are standing before the Datsan Gunzechoinei, a Buddhist temple. It stands as a testament to faith and perseverance in St. Petersburg.
This is not just any temple. Datsan Gunzechoinei holds the distinction of being the first Buddhist temple in Europe. Until recently, it was the northernmost Buddhist temple in the world.
In the early 20th century, a community of Buddhists grew in St. Petersburg. They hailed from Buryatia and Kalmykia. They sought a place of worship in the imperial capital.
Agvan Dorzhiev, an emissary of the Dalai Lama, played a crucial role. In 1909, he secured permission from the Tsar Nicholas II to construct Datsan Gunzechoinei. Dorzhiev envisioned it as a residence for a future Buddhist ruler of Russia. The Dalai Lama XIII also supported the construction. Funds were raised among believers in Buryatia and Kalmykia.
The Russian Orthodox Church opposed the construction. They saw it as a “pagan” temple. This delayed the project. Still, the first service was held on February 21, 1913. Construction concluded by 1915. Tsar Nicholas II confirmed a staff of nine lamas. They came from different provinces of Russia.
King Rama VI of Siam, now Thailand, gifted a gilded copper statue. It depicted Buddha Shakyamuni. G.A. Planson from the Russian Council in Bangkok gifted a standing Buddha Maitreya. The temple’s consecration occurred on August 10, 1915. It was then officially named Gunzechoinei.
The temple’s architecture reflects Tibetan traditions. N. Berezovskiy and G. Baranovskiy designed it. They used the Tibetan Tsogchen Dugan temple as a model. A committee of oriental scientists oversaw the construction. Buddhist monk O.B. Budayev helped decorate the interior. He painted the central church using sketches by Nicholas Roerich. The walls are clad in red and purple granite. A three-story building connects to a four-story tower. A gilded copper top adorns the tower. It is called “ganchir.” An eight-degree circle symbolizes Buddhism. Copper figures of gazelles decorate it. Gilded cones stand at the main facade’s corners. These “chzhaltsans” held printed prayer texts. Colored stained-glass windows adorn the interior. Buddhist symbols and multicolored floor tiles decorate it.
After 1917, the temple faced hardship. It was ransacked and used for various purposes. The Red Army briefly damaged it in 1919. Repairs were made in 1922. Major restoration occurred around 1926. Then came a period of persecution against Buddhism. Monasteries closed. Sacred books were seized. Lamas faced repression.
Datsan Gunzechoinei remained relatively untouched for some time. This was due to its foreign connections. The last Buddhist service occurred in late 1933. It honored the deceased Thubten Gyatso. He was the 13th Dalai Lama of Tibet.
In 1935, many lamas were arrested. They were sentenced to hard labor. In 1937, the remaining Buddhists in the city were arrested and shot. During the Siege of Leningrad, the temple was spared from bombing. Buddhist sympathizers within Ahnenerbe lobbied for its protection.
The Buddhist community was officially recognized in 1989. Lama Kushok Bakula Rinpoche held a service that year. It was the first service in 50 years.
Today, Datsan Gunzechoinei thrives. It is a place of practice for scholars and students. They follow the Tibetan Gelugpa school. The Datsan continues to be an important cultural center. It serves as a significant place for Russian Buddhists.