Noyon Khutagt

Tradition

According to oral traditions, there have been nine reincarnations of Gobi Noyon Khutagts in Mongolia and previous 33 reincarnations in Tibet.

Ch. Altangerel, a well-known researcher of Tibetan studies, mentioned in his work that there was a Tibetan lama called Bodon Chogloi Namgyal, who reincarnated as three different lamas at the same time in Mongolia. According to some biographies, the Gobi Noyon Khutagts were reincarnations of Sanjye-palsen. There is debate as to exactly who were Bodon Choklai Namgyal and Sangya Palsang, how they were connected to the Gobi Noyon Khutugts, etc.

When the first Jetsundampa Undur Gegeen (the Highest Rinpoche) Zanabazar was in his twenties and Ikh Khuree was being established, Sonom Daichin Khoshuuch (1640-1670), who was a descendent of Abtai Sain Khan, traveled to Baruun-zuu (Lhasa) and requested a lama (spiritual teacher) for people to regard as root guru and a specific deity for practice from the Panchen Lama. Thus, the Panchen Lama sent Sanjye-palsen lama as a spiritual teacher and a statue of Odsergocha for worship and practice and sent them all together to Mongolia. This is recorded as follows: “Sonom Daichin Khoshuuch invited Sanjaibalsan [Sanjye-palsen] lama as the main guru for our khoshuu (‘Mergen Van’ County) from Baruun-zuu in the eleventh year of the Shunzhi (1644-1661) Emperor of the Qing Dynasty or the wooden horse year (1654). A Palace was built for him and daily ‘pujas’ called, “Khenderabjailing” started in the fifth year of the Kangxi (1662-1722) Emporer of the Qing Dynasty (1666)…”

Here ‘our khoshuu’ refers to the former ‘Mergen van’ County of ‘Tusheet khan’ province of Mongolia. It was a big county that covered the territories of present Khövsgöl, Khatanbulag, Sulin kheer, Ulaan badrakh, Altan shiree, Saikhan dulaan, Khar-Airag, Ikh Khet, Bayan jargalan counties of Dornogovi Province and Khanbogd County of Ömnögovi Province.

“The next reincarnation of Sanjye-palsen lama was Agvaangonchig (Navaan dendev), who is renowned as the first Noyon Khutugt of Mongolia. After the statue of Odsergocha was brought, the Mobile Temple on wheels (it was a ‘ger’ temple mounted on a wheeled stage, like in Chinggis khagan’s times) was built as Agvaangonchig’s residence. This temple was renowned as the Noyon Khutugt’s ‘Khuree Urguu’ which means ‘Residential temple’ or ‘Palace’... Later, the First Noyon Khutugt Agvaangonchig visited Lhasa and requested the permission for establishing a new monastery from the Fifth Dalai Lama in a wooden snake year of the eleventh cycle of the lunar calendar (1665). After his return from Lhasa, the First Noyon Khutugt established a temple and named it ‘Khindurabjaaling’ in a fire horse year (1666). It became renowned as ‘Khuree khural’ in the beginning and as ‘khuree aimag’ later on. Much later, the Fourth Noyon Khutugt Jamyan-Oidovjamts established the Yidam Temple right after he had brought Yansan Yidam from Lhasa.”

We have found a text entitled “The origin of the Khalkha Noyon Khutagts”, written in classic Mongolian scripts, among various items preserved in our era. This text corroborates the above-mentioned oral information to some extent. There is a list of names of the seven reincarnations of Noyon Khutagts in Mongolia and thirty-one previous reincarnations in India and Tibet in chronological order. We have also found paintings of each of these reincarnations as Buddhas. So, these paintings can also be regarded as valuable source material on the origins of the Mongolian Gobi Noyon Khutugts and their previous reincarnations in India and Tibet.

Previous incarnations of Noyon Khutagts in India and Tibet

1. Bodon Chogloinamgyal (Po-ston phyogs-las rnam-rgyal)
2. Zanadhara (dza-na dha-ra)
3. Genen Lhamo Lanaamo
4. Zanyon Heruka (btsan-smyon he-ru-ka)
5. Lodoidonsonrabdan (blo-gros don-zang rab-brtan)
6. Janchubsemba Jila dorjelanaamo
7. Zanadharalamo
8. Lopen Dagpa dorje
9. Shivaaryi
10. Dubchen Guguryi (grub-chen ku-ku-ri)
11. Lopen Sakyashyinen (slobs-dpon shakya-bshes)
12. Agiivanchug (ngag-gi dbang-phyugs)
13. Sesherivaa
14. Tudevbudhashri (grub-thob budha-shr’i)
15. Lochen Vairochana (blo-chen be-ro-tsa-na)
16. Danaglam (rta-nag bla-ma)
17. Serjebzunba (Ser rje-btsun-pa)
18. Dubchen Namkhaidorj (grub-chen nam-mkh’ rdorje)
19. Tudev-Dajir (grub-thob md’-‘byar)
20. Tudevdarchentsanachir
21. Lamashan (bla-ma zhang)
22. Danagdorje
23. Karmarolpaidorje (karma rol-pa-yi rdorje)
24. Ronsomchoi (rong-zom chos)
25. Nyamral (nyang-ral)
26. Lodoisengii (blo-gros sengge)
27. Tsarchen (tshar-chen)
28. Zanindraa (dza-nyin dha-ra)
29. Sereravsi (sre-rab-si)
30. Gungaadorje (kun-dg’ rdorje)
31. Sangyapalsan (sangs-rgyas dpal-bzang)

These are listed as Noyon Khutagt's previous incarnations in India and Tibet. Some of these names are apparently names of mahasiddhas renowned in India and Tibet.

Gobi Noyon Khutagts

The first Noyon Khutagt to be identified among Gobi Buddhists was Agvaan-gonchig, in 1622.

Generally speaking, Gobi Noyon Khutagts were one of the most influential Mongolian Rinpoches among not only in Mongolia, but also in China as well as other countries. Besides their outstanding dharma education and deeds for the sake of sentient beings they were also holders of Governor's stamp for their own Banner, which of their disciples made up the entire administration unit, during both Manchu Qing Dynasty and the Eighth Jetsundampa King's regime of Mongolia.

Agvaan-gonchig (ngag-dbang dkon-mchog)

The first Gobi Noyon Khutagt Agvaan-gonchig was born in a water dog year (1622) of the 10th cycle (sixty years) of the lunar calendar as the first son of the Khalkha prince Sonom daichin. His Holiness the First Noyon Khutagt studied in Tashi Lhunpo Monastery for 30 years from the age of 15. When he was 45 years old, he came back to Mongolia and established Amgalan (which means peace or bliss) Monastery (also known as “Olon Khuree”) in a fire horse year (1666) of the 11th cycle of the lunar calendar. His Holiness lived and spread the Dharma in the Mongolian Gobi region and died at the age of 82 in a wooden monkey year or 1704. He was buried in a tomb at a place called Gua teeg (on top of ‘Burkhan’ heap in present Khuvsgul county of Dornogobi Province).

Jamyan-dambee-jantsan (’jam-dbyangs bstan-pa’i rgyal-mtshan)

Noyon Khutagt Jamyan-dambee-jantsan was born as a son of an ordinary nomad by the name of Sunder in a wooden monkey year of the 12th cycle of the lunar calendar (1704). This lama was a great practitioner of tantric meditation and died in a water pig year of the 12th cycle (1743) at the age of 40. His body was placed in a special temple at Choi-ling Monastery (at the site of Khan Bayanzurkh Mountain).

Jamyan-danzan (’jam-dbyangs bstan-‘dzin)

Noyon Khutagt Jamyandanzan was born as a son of Tseden mergen zasag (a county governor) in a wooden mouse year of the 12th cycle (1744). This Noyon Khutugt was well educated in all Buddhist fields of knowledge. When he was 23 years old (in a fire dog year or 1766) he offered presents to the Manchu Emperor with the request to build a monastery in the Gobi region. Then he was died aged 25 in an earth mouse year of 13th cycle (1768). His body was enshrined in the Temple of Khan Bayanzurkh Mountain (Tulgat Mountain).

Jamyan-Oidov-jamts (’jam-dbyangs dngos-grub rgya-mtsho)

Noyon Khutagt Jamayn-Oidov-jamts was born as a son of Rinchendorj, the governor of Selenge region, in an earth ox year of the 13th cycle (1769). At the age of 13, he was enthroned on the lion throne of Khashaat monastery, which had been bestowed by a Manchu Emperor. This Noyon Khutugt was accused for his “murder case” (people believed that he had crushed an evil spirit, but he had manifestly killed the Manchu Emperor’s son-in-law) while traveling to Erdene Zuu Monastery. Thus, he was taken to Beijing by order of the Emperor and kept there in prison for some time. Finally, when he was traveling back to the Gobi he was murdered at a place called “Tsuurai”.

Luvsan-danzan-ravjaa (blo-bzang bstan-‘dzin rab-rgyas)

Noyon Khutagt Luvsan-danzan-ravjaa was born as the only son of Dulduit, a poor nomad, who was an immigrant from East Sunud County, in Gobi Mergen Van County, in a water pig year (1803). When Rabjaa was 8 years old, he was recognized as the reincarnation of Navaan agrampa tsorje of Avga College of Khamar Monastery in a half hidden way.

Apart from being a Rinpoche, Ravjaa was an Asian poet, equal to well-known world writers. He died on the 6th day of the first winter month of a fire dragon year of the 14th cycle (1856) at the age of 54. His body was mummified and enshrined in a special temple of West Khuree, Khamar Monastery. Since then, there has been an annual puja called “Gonzog” on the same date.

Luvsan-dondov (blo-bzang don-grub)

Noyon Khutagt Luvsan-dondov was born as a son of Myagmar, a Tibetan national and younger brother of Seventh Jetsundampa in a fire dragon year of the 14th of cycle of the lunar calendar. He was recognized as Noyon Khutagt when he was only 1 year old and enthroned aged 14 in an earth dragon year (1868). During his enthronement ceremony, the Seventh Jetsundampa offered 64 families from his own disciple’s county. The Sixth Noyon Khutugt Luvsan-dondov died in a wooden pig year of the 15th cycle of the lunar calendar (1875) at the age of 20.

Agvaan-luvsan-dambee-jantsan (ngag-dbang blo-zang bstan-pa’i rgyal-mtshan)

Noyon Khutagt Agvaan-luvsan-dambee-jantsan was born as a son of Sharkhuu and Jinjee with clear signs of a higher being in a wooden pig year of the 15th cycle (1875). The Seventh Noyon Khutugt had established four aimags (major divisions) i.e. worship or devotion, preachers (nomch), abbots and monks. He had also established Great Jagar Choir (Buddhist philosophy) College of Tashi Goman of Tibet in a wooden horse year (1882) at Khamar Monastery. The Seventh Noyon Khutugt revised the ‘The Life Story Moon Cuckoo” and staged it again in a water tiger year (1890). Noyon Khutugt Agvaan-luvsan-dambee-jantsan died on the 16th day of the last winter month, an iron sheep year of the 16th cycle of the lunar calendar (1931) at the age of 57. Generally, it is not clear how his condition was after being arrested by Mongolian National Security and Intelligence Organization. There is no clear indications and records on his case document at the Intelligence Archive.

Samdanjamts (bsam gtan rgya mtsho)

So far we do not have any a clear account about this incarnation of Noyon Khutagt, because he was not officially recognized and enthroned in Mongolia. In 1945, Soviet and Mongolian armies marched into the territory of China and freed it from Japanese armed force. After this historical event some Mongolian refugees, who were living in Inner Mongolia, moved back to Mongolian People's Republic. There were some monks, who came up with very vague news about the Eight Noyon Khutagt together with hand written small list of names of Noyon Khutagts where his name was added. Since it was communist regime, Gobi people could not take any steps towards clarifying on this. What elders heard during their hidden meetings and conversations are: Genden, who was an attendant to the Seventh Noyon Khutagt, fled to Inner Mongolia and found the Eight Noyon Khutagt there. It seems, this was linked with Japanese policy to establish united Mongolia and Manchu state under her rule. Idea is to use the so called Noyon Khutagt to be as a head of Buddhism of planned state. When Mongolians were moving back to their home country Samdanjamts was around 15 or 16 year old boy. He decided to stay there. Thereafter, Mongolians lost any communications with him, even any news about him.