Social structure of shaman communities of contemporary Buryatia

The paper presents a study of the specific religious professional communities of the shamans of modern Buryatia. Currently, there are several types of such communities, which are differed by the authenticity of the tradition and peculiarities of reproduction. Shamanists believe that shamans receive a sacral gift - profession - through the genealogical election of the “udha” by the deceased ancestor shamans and due to random mystical incidents. At present, new practices of teaching and indoctrination of neophyte shamans are being formed, including in the framework of religious conversion.