Buddhism in Russia and its Linkage with Nepal

Abstract

Although Buddhism in Russia represents only 1% of the population, it has a rich history intertwined with the country’s cultural landscape. Introduced in the 17th century through Kalmyk tribes and Mongolian influence in Buryatia, Buddhism uniquely developed in Russia. Buddhism has also connected Russia’s cultural relations with Nepal. Officially recognized in 1741, Buddhism became integral to the Russian heritage. Tsarist policies varied across regions such as Kalmykia, pre-Baikal, and Transbaikalia, and the government cautiously supported Buddhism in border areas to prevent unrest. Spearheaded by Agvan Dorzhiev, the construction of a Buddhist temple in St. Petersburg in 1915 marked a significant step in Buddhism’s spread. However, the anti-religious campaigns of the 1930s led to the closure of temples and the arrest of many lamas, effectively halting the religion’s growth. Only after the Second World War, few of the Datsans in Buryatia had reopened. Despite setbacks, Buddhism persevered through figures such as Bidiya Dandaron, who attempted to revive the tantric tradition and developed the concept of Neo-Buddhism. The late 1980s witnessed the restoration of Buddhist institutions, including temple construction, literature translation, and the establishment of connections with international Buddhist centers. Today, Buddhism is recognized as one of Russia’s traditional religions, and diverse communities each have their own vision for the future of Buddhism in the country. From the 19th century onwards, the Russian scholars, such as Ivan Minaev started to take great interest in the knowledge and practice of Buddhism in Nepal even when it faced great setbacks in India. This led to further development of Buddhist linkage between two countries. Recently, Russian Buddhists have realized even more importance of linking with Nepal, as evident in their decision to build a replica of St. Petersburg Buddhist temple in Lumbini.