About Danzan Ravjaa

Danzan Ravjaa (1803-1856) was a reincarnated buddhist master (the „Fifth Noyon Khutugt“) who lived in the Gobi desert near the town Sainshand.

To this day he is venerated throughout Mongolia as an accomplished yogi, as a healer, poet, social reformer and eccentric.

He loved women and vodka. He founded several monasteries and the first public school in this area as well as a museum and an opera house. He painted, wrote poetry, songs and the famous opera „Live Story of the Moon Cuckoo“, which is still being performed in today’s Mongolia. A defender of the nomads of the Gobi against the Manchu dynasty he eventually died after drinking poisoned vodka.