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MONGOLIAN FEMALE PRACTICIONERS; QUEENS AND KHANDROMAS — PAST AND PRESENT The translation of this text is still highly valued for Mongolian Studies and the study of Mongolian Buddhism. Although there is no specific record written about Queen Cin BiSrelt Taixal, she was obviously a renowned illuminator, poet, and translator. She was, in the history, praised highly like her patriotic son. Queen Dondogdulam (1874-1923) Dondogdulam was born in the family of Cogdon Xia in the khoshuu (Khal. xosiz) of Xuwé Jonon Beis Canligdorj of Setsen Khan aimag (Khal. Secen Xän aimag). She was the junior queen of Beis Canligdorj but in 1886, she was offered to His Holiness the 8" Jebtsundamba (Khal. jawjandamba) during his visit to Amarbayasgalant Monastery for paying homage to the sacred body of his previous incarnation. She was not enthroned immediately but she was trained in the rules and regulations of the palace, and other rituals. At the meantime, she diligently studied the literacy. Afterwards, she was enthroned as the queen in the summer of 1902. She then received the titles “Ex Dagina” and “Aclalt, Yalgun Dagina, Erx Cagan Dar ’Ex”. Queen Dondogdulam studied extensively the Tibetan and Mongolian languages and, particularly, the Chod Practice under the spiritual guidance of Tantanjalbü, and Gowin Noyon Xutagt and Xüxen Xutagt. It is said that her teacher, Darxan Corj Luwsandondow Lama always praised her amazing skills and voice when she chanted prayers. Due to her excellent qualifications and knowledge, the Chod Practice became very popular and the women in Mongolia started to build monasteries and extensively study the Noble Dharma. She established Sangai Aimag, one of the Khiiree’s (Khal. xtiré) thirty aimags and actively engaged in activities such as the translation of sütras and the printing of Kangyur, Tengyur (Khal. Danjür) and various Buddhist arts. She was assigned officially in charge of making traditional clothes, statues and gifts. 120 artists from Sangai Aimag worked under her leadership. Some of her creations have been well preserved until today. For example, many applique thangkas she made are still on display in the museums of Bogd Khan (Khal. Bogd xan) Palace and Dsanabadsar (Khal. Janabajar) Fine Art Museum. Xandroma and Tara (Khal. Dar’ ex) (20"-21* Centuries) During the communist regime that lasted over 70 years in Mongolia, monks who survived this brutal suppression practiced Buddhism secretly. During this regime, it was impossible to train their next generation. Therefore, they inherited their knowledge to their own children secretly. If they had girls, they made the girls understand that they were spiritual daughters of Tara. Therefore, the parents gave rare transmissions to them for the sake of the suffering ones. Generally, in Mongolian Buddhism, there is no 451
