Abstract: This article is dedicated to the analysis of Buddhist motifs in one of the Buryat versions of the Epic of King Gesar. The object of this research is the text of the Ehirit-Bulagat Uliger “Abai Geser Hubun” by M. Imegenov, which is considered most archaic, and thus, least susceptible to Buddhist influence. The subject of this research is the Buddhist motifs reflected in the epic narrative. The article also employs the texts of other Buryat Uligers as a comparative material. Special attention is given to the semantic analysis of the motifs under review. The author provides the historical data and refers the comparative-typological method. It is determined that the Buddhist motifs ingrained into the texts of Western Buryat Geseriada function on a surface semantic level and do not affect the narrative framework of the epic. The conclusion is made that the Ehirit-Bulagat version of Geseriada, unlike Unging versions, is less susceptiple to Buddhist influence; therefore, the research in such context allows understanding the peculiarities of the Buryat Geseriada as a whole, and furthermore, the disclosure of the key mechanisms of plot transformation of the Central Asian epic tradition.

Abstract: The object of this research is the epic texts of Buaryat Geseriada presented in the Ehirit-Bulagat and Ungin storytelling traditions. The subject of this research is the image of Buddhist deity in the version of Buryat Geseriada. Special attention is paid to the peculiarities of the function of Buddhist character, as well as analysis of the symbols that comprise his name, detecting in each of them the modified forms of the most popular Buddhist character. In the course of the study, the author determines the substitutability with other epic characters related to Shamanic mythological images. The main research method became the comparative-typological method, which allows to compare the versions of the epic writings varying in place of existence, as well as identify their common images and ideas. The author is first to systemically examine the question of the function of Buddhist character in the Buryat epos, which has not been previously subjected to special research. The article also traces the peculiarities of his function on the epic text of Buryat Geseriada. The research represents a part of the comprehensive study of Buddhist elements and characters in the Buryat epic traditions, particularly in Geseriada.