An Oirat Manuscript of ‘The Hymn to the Green Tara’ from the Collection of Midjid Lama (Uvs Province, Mongolia)

Abstract

The publication examines texts devoted to the cult of the goddess Tara, the latter being revered by all Mongolic peoples which is evidenced by field materials collected between 2013 and 2016 in Uvs and Khovd Provinces of Mongolia. One such religious text from the personal collection of Midjid Lama (Midjidorzh), the abbot of Namirin Khiid (Ömnӧgovi Sum, Uvs Province, Mongolia), serves as a vivid confirmation. The work publishes an Oirat-language manuscript entitled ‘The Hymn to the Green Tara’ (Oir. Noγōn Dāre ekeyin maqtāl orošiboi) with transliteration, commented translation, and facsimile of the original source. This is one of the prayer texts once used in ceremonial honoring of the goddess Tara. The article also discusses similar texts in Mongolian and Tibetan languages.

Keywords

• buddhism
• 20th century
• oirats
• mongolia
• namirin khiid
• written sources
• todo bičiq (clear script)
• the hymn to the green tara