CHOIGI NGAWANG PUNTSOG, HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE FORMATION OF THE INSTITUTION OF KHAMBO-LAMA OF EASTERN SIBERIA

The article describes the formation stage of the Khambo-lama institution in Buryatiya at the beginning of the 18 th century. The important role of Choigi Ngawang Puntsog in the estab-lishment of Buddhism as a religious institution in Russia was presented and argued. The article also shows correlation of the Russian authorities’ political interests and their support provided to the Tibetan and Mongolian lamas who arrived in Russia in the early 18 th century and became mentors to the forming Buryat clergy. Historical analysis was carried out on the basis of archi-val documents and scientific papers.