From the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century in Mongolia, eight Bogd Jebtsundamba Khutuktus were officially recognized as the spiritual leader of Buddhism in Mongolia.
Öndör Gegeen Zanabazar, the 1stBogd Jebtsundamba Khutuktu (Tib: blo bzang bstan pa’i rgyal mtshan) (1635-1723), and the 2ndBogd Jebtsundamba Khutuktu Luvsandambiidonmi (Tib: blo bzang bstan pa’i srgon me) (1724-1757) were recognized from Mongolia, while the subsequent incarnations of the 3rd-8thBogd Jebtsundamba Khutuktu were recognized from Tibet by the edict of the Manchu emperor. The 8thBogd Jebtsundamba Khutuktu was born in the family of a Tibetan official, father Gonchigtseren, an accountant at the 12th Dalai Lama’s court, and mother Oidovdulam near Lhasa on the 8thof the last month of autumn 1869.
On the auspicious day of December 20, 1871, the 10thyear of Tongzhi emperor, the monks led by the Dalai Lama recognized, by the means of drawing a lot, the son of Gonchigtseren as the incarnation of the 7th Bogd Jebtsundamba and the spiritual leader of Gelugpa (Yellow- Hat) Buddhism of Khalkha Mongolia. The Dalai Lama conferred on him a Dharmic name, a khatag – sacred scarf, a worship deity, and a guardian talisman. The Dalai Lama granted him the Dharmic name that reads in Tibetan “Agwaanluvsanchoijinyam-danzanwanchigbalsambuu” (Tib: ngagdbangblobzangchosrjenyi ma bstan ‘dzindbangphyugrjebtsun dam pa bla ma), literally meaning in English “Lord of speech, Noble-minded, Sun Lord of Dharma, Holder of the teachings and Master of wealth and glory”.
On September 30, 1874, more than 400 people led by Qing Wang Sanga-shri of Sain Noyon Khan Aimag, Qing Wang Luvsanbazar –JasaghGovernor of Tusheet Khan Aimag, Khan po Nomun Khan Baldanchoimbol – Abbot and Dharmic King of Da Khüree, and Da Lama Dashdorj, welcomed the 8thBogd Jebtsundamba Khutuktu in Ikh Khüree, proclaimed him as BogdJebtsundamba Khutuktu on the auspicious day of the 5th of the first month of winter, in 1874, where all the four Aimags of Khalkha and 5 ecclesiastical states presented the offerings of firmness of the Bogd Jebtsundampa.
In 1875, the Tongzhi emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty 8th conferred on Bogd Khaan a golden seal and a Golden leaf honorific. Among the eight Bogd Jebtsundamba Khutuktus of Khalkha Mongolia, the 8thBogd Jebtsundamba was a prominent personality with a distinct lifestory that he took a queen and defended the degree of Gavj (Tib: dka’ bcu– Ten ascetic hardships) in 1908.
Since the 8th BogdJebtsundambaKhutuktu had a great reputation and reverence among all the Mongols in Outer and Inner Mongolia as well as other Mongol ethnicities abroad, the founders of the Mongolian revolution united under the reign of BogdJebtsundamba, and fought resolutely to abolish the oppression of the Manchu Qing Dynasty that lasted for 220 years and restore the independence and sovereignty of Mongolia. As a result, on December 29, 1911, the 8thBogdJebtsundambaKhutuktu was proclaimed as the theocratic monarch, Sun-Radiant, Myriad-Aged Bogd Khaan of Mongolia Elevated by Many, and his queen Dondovdulam as the Mother Goddess of the State. IkhKhüree was renamed asNiislelKhüree (Capital Khüree), and the Central Yellow Palace of BogdJebtsundamba was turned into the Yellow Palace of Statehood, where Bogd Khaan governed the religious and state affairs of Mongolia.
In 1911-1919, the 8th BogdJebtsundambaKhutuktu reigned BogdKhaanate as the theocratic monarch, Sun-Radiant, Myriad-Aged Bogd Khaan of Mongolia Elevated by Many, and in 1921-1924, he served as the Khaan with a limited monarchy in charge of religious affairs, until his death due to illness at the age of 55 in the spring of 1924.
