Andrei’s father was a monk who cured both sick children and adults, although Andrei himself cures only children and women who recently gave birth. He also purifies cattle barns. Andrei’s father started curing people when the family returned from Siberia. Andrei’s grandfather also cured people. According to Andrei, healing abilities are inherited through the paternal line and women should not practice healing.When Andrei was younger, his father wanted him to cure people. But Andrei wanted none of this. When he was 35, Andrei fell ill and was on the verge of death. He spent time in the hospital and decided to renounce drinking and smoking and to accept his curing abilities. Andrei distanced himself from his friends and paid a visit to a monk who gave him a Buddhist icon. After this Andrei recovered.As a folk healer Andrei cannot go out to parties, visit other people’s houses, drink tea from other people’s cups. He stays at home, close to his gods and domestic altar, and keeps ritual purity. The gods on his altar are as follows: Tsagan Aav, the gods of the Ikh Bagud clan as well as those given to him as a present when he accepted his healing abilities during a special ritual. Andrei also uses his father’s rosary during healing rituals.As a practitioner of ‘Kalmyk belief’, Andrei says that he cannot go to Buddhist temples. He reads his prayers in Kalmyk.