Exploring the Mongolian Kanjur

The Mongolian Kanjur is a collection of Buddhist canonical texts, compiled into 108 volumes, and holds a place of paramount importance in Mongolia's religious landscape.

• The term 'Kanjur' translates to 'concise orders' in Mongolian and primarily encapsulates the teachings of Buddha.
• The Kanjur, which is a translation from the Tibetan, can be found in almost every monastery in Mongolia.
• The Kanjur forms a crucial part of daily prayers in Mongolia, where it is recited as a sacred ritual, and is also kept and worshipped in temples.
• This revered text is written in classical Mongolian.
• The Kanjur is not only a religious text but also a significant part of the cultural identity of the Mongolian people.
• The text is extensive, with approximately 20 million words.

The Importance of the National Mission for Manuscripts’ Current Project

• During Mongolia's socialist era, from 1924 to the early 1990s, many copies of the Kanjur were destroyed, leaving many monasteries without their sacred scriptures.
• Between 1956-58, Professor Raghu Vira from India managed to acquire a microfilm copy of the rare Kanjur manuscripts, thereby preserving them for future generations.
• In 1970, Prof. Lokesh Chandra, a then member of the Rajya Sabha, undertook the task of publishing the 108 volumes of the Kanjur.
• The current edition, being published by the National Mission for Manuscripts, will include a list of contents for each volume, providing the original title of the sutra in Mongolian.

India – Mongolia Relations

India was the first country outside of the Soviet Bloc to establish diplomatic relations with Mongolia in 1955. The Indian Mission in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, was opened in 1971.

Since then, several treaties fostering mutual cooperation and friendship have been inked between the two nations.

• India championed Mongolia's inclusion into the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), and in return, Mongolia supports India’s candidacy for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.
• With India's aid, Mongolia is currently constructing its first oil refinery, the Mongol Refinery Project, which is expected to fulfill about three-fourths of the country's oil requirement by 2022.
• In 2013, Mongolia became the sixth country to sign a civil nuclear agreement with India. Mongolia is believed to possess substantial uranium resources.
• The historical relationship between India and Mongolia, dating back to ancient times, is rooted in Buddhism, a faith followed by more than half of Mongolia's population.

For more details on India – Mongolia relations, click here.

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