“The mirror of mind” – an original sample of old Kalmyk literature in Oirat script. Part 1

The paper examines one original Old Kalmyk text in Oirat “Clear Script” named as “The Mirror of Mind” (Oir. Uxāni toli) composed in 1839-1840 by Jinzang lama, the chief bakhshi (i.e., abbot of the main temple) of the Baga Tsokhor ulus. The text contains exposition of various topics of Buddhist doctrine, such as ten virtues and ten non virtues, Four Noble Truths, etc., narratives about the life of Buddha Shakyamuni and his twelve great deeds, explanation of the origin of the universe - the so called “vessel” and living beings inhabiting it. These topics are combined with author’s notes on Kalmyk ethnic history which complicates its genre classification. The manuscript has been preserved in the collection of the Library of the Faculty of Oriental Studies at St. Petersburg State University in two copies: Calm C 12, which we date to 1838, and Calm C 19, dated to 1839-1840. We give an archaeographic description of the Calm C 12 manuscript and discusses its structure (177 chapters, preface, and colophon). Besides, the paper provides a comparative analysis with the earlier Calm C 19 version. Some information about persons who encouraged the author of the work, Jinzang bakhshi, to compose the text and historical circumstances of the compilation of the text is given, according to preface and colophon. As it is said in the text, it was composed by the author in 1839-1840 at the request of the Professor of Kazan University A.V. Popov and interpreter of the Baga Tsokhor ulus administration M.S. Gorshkov. Furthermore, the colophon “The Mirror of Mind” contained in the second book has a traditional for Buddhist texts final part of dedication of the merits achieved through composing this text. The author, Jinzang lama, dedicates merits to the Grand Duke Mikhail Pavlovich, who passed away in 1849, for him and his subjects to be free of various obstacles. Thus, it can be concluded that the final version of the text was completed only by this period. The first book contains also notes by G.S. Lytkin (1835-1907), a student of St. Petersburg University and author of the well known in Kalmyk studies “Materials on Oirats’ History”, who supposedly studied the text for various research purposes. “The Mirror of Mind” represents a unique sample of Old Kalmyk Buddhist literature, reflecting Kalmyk religious tradition of the first half of the 19th century. Further analysis seems to provide deeper insight into the specifics of Kalmyk Buddhist tradition and its interaction with Tibetan culture.