The esteemed Gelug teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche explained the importance of the Maitreya statue: “In the near future, wars will rage in the world and many will suffer. Everywhere on Earth hunger will break out, killing many human lives. The whole world will be covered by diseases, from which many will not be healed. In these conditions, the more Maitreya statues are built, the more successfully we will be able to reduce suffering and completely overcome them. The construction of the statue of the Loving Buddha will fill with love and kindness the hearts of all the inhabitants of this world and especially in Lagan, Kalmykia, and Russia.” (Asia Russia Daily)

In 1992, during the second visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Kalmykia, the Tibetan Buddhist leader consecrated a site in Lagansky District where Lagan Dardeling Monastery would be built. Three years later, in May 1995, the khurul opened and was given its name by Telo Tulku Rinpoche. It was the first Buddhist temple built in accordance with all the canons of Buddhism. On 30 September 2017, a new monastery opened next to the old building. The resident teacher of Lagan Dardeling Monastery is Lobsang Zundu (Vitaly Mankirov), a Kalmyk monk, who has helped with the completion of the statue and with the development of the Buddhadharma in the republic.