Mongolians have long revered Otgontenger, the lord peak of the Khangai mountain range, as Bogd Ochirvaan Khairkhan. When the world was first created, the first mountain that came out of the water while the sea was covered with water is said to be the mainland. Otgontenger is a majestic, beautiful and noble mountain that shines with its eternal snow on its top in the four seasons, as if a part of the sky has fallen to the ground.
Located 45 km east of Uliastai, the capital of Zavkhan province, and 1000 km away from the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, Otgontenger Khairkhan is truly a place of perfect natural beauty. Mongolians are an intelligent people who do not pray and pray for unnecessary things.
It is also reasonable to have a state priest. According to historians and academicians N. Ishzhamts and H. Namsrai in the Chinggis Khan volume of the “Kings’ Fund” series, “Mongolians have been worshiping the snow-white Ochirvaan Khairkhan since ancient times and entrusted their fate to him.” The most meaningful relationship between man and nature can be seen in the tradition of worshiping the snowy mountain.
According to Mongolian historical sources, more than 230 years ago, in 1779, Bogd Ochirvaan began worshiping Khairkhan. In 1818, Otgontenger was made a protected mountain. Since 1911, by the order of Bogd Khan, he has been worshiped every year and he has been honored with the title of “Khalkh’s Awe-inspiring Duke”. In 1992, it was placed under the special protection of the state as a protected mountain, and in 1995, a decree was issued to make it a sacred mountain, and since then, it has been worshiped once every four years.
In 2015, it was registered in the preliminary list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Local people call it “Ochirwaan Khairkhan” and “White Mountain”. It is said that when the sun goes around Mount Otgontenger from an airplane, you can see the image of God Ochirwaan sitting in his robe. There are 8 freshwater lakes around Ochirvaani. These lakes contain eight symbols.
During the state sacrifice to worship the sky of Otgontenger mountain, an offering is made with a silver cup wrapped in reeds to the famous Badar Hundaga Lake, which is located at an altitude of about 1000 m in the front lap of Khairkhan. This also makes sense. The Mongolians have long offered silver ingots and silver cups containing the most expensive tea to the lake. In the past few years, devotees have offered gold and silver jewelry and rings in addition to silver bowls, as a symbol of prosperity.
The great reincarnated master Bakula Renbuchi once looked at Otgontenger Khairhan in a helicopter and said, “This is not my landing place. It is said that he was praying, “There is a place where the gods sit, go back.”
Otgontenger Khairkhan has been worshiped for a long time, and sages and monks of the Dharma have generously dedicated their praises to each other. The old monk recalled that in the old days, when the great beloved was worshiped, Jalkhanz sat down on the mound, and when he started reading, the monks sitting at the foot of the mountain used to read their books over him.
It is said that not everyone jumps on the big mound, Ochirwaan used to worship his beloved with great order. It has been forbidden since long ago that women do not go on Sartuul mound. Otgontenger, the majestic Otgontenger, which bears the canopy, is the backdrop of the sky. Dear Ochirvaan, please forgive us Mongolians and have mercy on us.
