Khurul
[2] Among Kalmyks and Tuvans, the term khurul (хурул) is the common name for Buddhist monasteries and temples in Kalmykia, Tuva, Mongolia, and Buryatia, though, they have been renamed to datsan in the latter.
In her study "Decor in the architecture of Buryat Buddhist temples", Bardanova states that the differentiation of Mongolian monastery types was based on the number of lamas and the status of the institution.
[5] Asalkhanova, on the other hand, distinguishes them based on layout and location in her work on "Architectural-spatial and figurative-compositional features of temples of Northern Buddhism".
[7] In pre-revolutionary Mongolia, monasteries were most often assigned, as part of their names, the type that characterized them at the time of construction, regardless of current social realities.
[16] Historically, khuruls played an important role in the spiritual and cultural lives of Kalmyks.
The monasteries were not only meant as a place of worship, but also as an institution of learning where people would study the Dharma and Indo-Tibetan medicine.
[17][18] With the raise of communism and Stalin's rule, many khuruls were closed, repurposed (e.g., as kindergartens), or even destroyed, due to the ideological struggle against religion.
One year later, more than two thirds of all Buryatian datsans were closed, and the lamas expelled based on accusations of treason and espionage.
Tuva, as an "independent" state since 1921, was spared until 1929, but then the Communist Party started to systematically arrest lamas and monks.
Some Buddhist centers can also be found in big cities like Moscow and Saint-Petersburg,[18] and some eastern regions of Russia, for example, in Altai Republic and Zabaykalsky Krai.
In this position, the hands first touch the top of the head, then the forehead, next the throat (or mouth), and the chest, and finally one bows.
Prayer wheels (Kalmyk: кюрдэ, romanized: kyurde) along the walk are to be spinned clockwise, as well.
[24] Kalmyks also have a tradition of never turning their backs towards the images of the deities and Buddha inside a khurul, that's why a lot of people leave the altair section somewhat walking backwards.
But, accoroding to Lodoi, the monks of the khurul recommend to not be too strict about this rule and to walk normally for safety reasons, because in their opinion the mind and attitude of the worshipper is more important than such symbolism.
As long as worshippers have the right motivation and show respect towards Buddha in their mind, they have nothing to fear from turning their back towards the deities.
[24] In Buryatia, the drink is called serzhem (Buryat: сэржэм / сержем) and can be either freshly-brewed tea, milk, vodka,[28] or another liquid, depending on regional traditions.
