Sagaan Ubgen

Tsagaan Ubgen[fn 1] ("The elder White", "White Old Man"; Mongolian: (Дэлхийн) цагаан өвгөн Buryat: Сагаан үбгэн[1] Russian: Белый Старец[1]) is the Mongolian guardian of life and longevity, one of the symbols of fertility and prosperity in the Buddhist pantheon.

[2] In some versions of the mythology, Sagaan Ubgen the White Elder is the partner of Itügen, Mother Earth, also known as Etügen Eke.

[1] He carries a dragon-headed staff and the book of destiny and is traditionally accompanied by a deer and a peach tree.

[1][4] Tsagaan Ubgen has the same kindly bald old man with a white beard appearance in the Mongolian version of the Cham dance.

[6][4] In some variations of the dance, he then proceeds to pass among the audience seeking donations of money, sometimes offering a peck of snuff from his bottle in return.

In the Kalmyk language the name is Цаган Авга / Цаган Аав . [ 1 ] This statue of Tsagan Aav stands in front of the Golden Temple of Śākyamuni Buddha in Elista , Kalmykia.
In this 1880 picture of a tsam dance troupe, Sagaan Ubgen is seated at front right.