Hambo Lama Itigelov, was born in 1852, and ever since he was a child, he wanted to become a Buddhist Monk. At the age of sixteen, he started his religious education in Aninski Datsa, a Buddhist university in Buryat, which is now in ruins. He became the head of the Russian Buddhist in 1911.
Itigelov started an organization called the “Buryat Brothers”. The organization supported the soldiers, providing them with meals and clothing. Hospitals were also built for taking care of the wounded soldiers.
In 1926, Itigelov suggested that the other monks should leave Russia because the “ red teaching was coming”, though Itigelov never left Russia. When he was 75, a year later he told his fellow monks that he was going to die and to start meditation as well as funeral rites, but they did not agree for the fact he was still alive. Not discouraged, Itigelov started his own meditation, and died during the process in the same position.
Itigelov left a testament in which he said that he should be buried in the same position in that he was when he died, that is in the Lotus Position. He also wished to be put in a pine box. His testament claimed that the monks should exhume his body after several years.
In 1977, when the body was exhumed, the monks were surprised to see that there were no signs of physical decay. The monks were afraid to reveal this astonishing fact, because the communist regime had left no space for religion in the society.
It was in September 11, 2002, that the body was finally exhumed in front of the members of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha. The body was later transferred to IvolginskyDatsan, a residence of today’s Hambo Lama. Scientists and researchers examined the body.
The statement was issued that: “the body looked like it died only 36 hours ago.” The body was well preserved, with no signs of decay whatsoever, whole muscles and inner tissue intact and with soft joints and skin all in place. For two years after the exhumation of Itigilov’s body it does not perish nor decay, no fungus, no negative things happen to it.”
The Buddhist monks still approach him and shake hands with him. Some claim that Hambo Lama Itigelov is still alive and is in Nirvana like state.
By: Lilian Rebekah Kotha
