Ivolginsky Datsan

Ivolginsky Dazan (Russian Иволгинский Дацан, Buryat Түгэс Баясгалантай Үлзы Номой Хүрдын Хиид, " monastery happiness and fullness of joy -bringing wheel of learning " ) is a Buddhist monastery of the Gelug tradition of Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism in Buryatia, Russia. The Dazan is located just 30 kilometers away from the Buryat capital of Ulan -Ude near the village Verkhnaya Iwolga ( Верхняя Иволга ), a municipality part of Iwolginsk. It is the center of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia ( see Sangha ) and the seat of the XXIV Pandito Hambo Lama Damba - Ajuschejew.

After the destruction in a Stalinist time it was rebuilt. The abbots of the monastery is one of Chambo Lama Itigilow. The monastery is one of the largest and most important Buddhist temples in Russia. As Dazan it is also a university. In the four faculties of philosophy, theology, medicine, and Buddhist painting are taught.

The Buryats, linguistically and culturally a subgroup of the Mongols, committed to traditional Vajrayana Buddhism.