3rd Sāriputta World Peace Walk

On the occasion of the anniversary of Arhat Sāriputta’s Parinirvāṇa on Kārtika Pūrṇimā, the 3^rd Sāriputta World Peace Walk was held at Giriyak Hill, Ghoḍā Kaṭorā, Rajgir on 28th November, 2012 at 1.00 pm.

Sariputta World Peace Walk- 2011 and 2012

Nālandā Memento- Celebrating 150 Years of Discovery of Sri Nālandā

Nālandāwas a suburb of Rājgriha and in the 6th century BCE, it was frequented by the Buddha and the Mahavira. The Buddha spent his 11th rainy season retreat here while Mahavira spent as many 14 rainy season retreats at Nālandā. Buddha’s link to this place can be gauged from the fact that the name Nālandā is derived from Buddha’s association with the place in one of his previous lives. As per the legend mentioned by Venerable Xuanzang, when the Buddha was king in one of his previous lives, he practiced as a Bodhisattva and out of compassion for the hardships of the people, he felt that the people and the place needed to be relieved continually. Hence the place name Nālandā means “Insatiable in offering”. At the request of an eminent monk Rājā Bhâja, the 5th century King Sakraditya chose this blessed land of Nālandā to establish the Nālandā Saṅghārāma.



Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri Nitish kumar Ji presenting the Nalanda Memento to President of India Shri Pranab Mukherjee

For more than 800 years in all of Buddhist land, the Nālandā Saṅghārāma was the most coveted destination to collect the true teachings of the Buddha. As late as the 13th century when the vast Buddha-Vihārawas falling apart under the attacks of Turks, Venerable Dharmaswāmin a Tibetan monk-scholar risked his life to come to Nālandā to collect the true teachings of the Buddha.

Among monks and scholars across the Buddhist lands, a degree from the Nālandā Saṅghārāma held a prestige above all other universities at the time. Venerable Xuanzang, a 7th century monk-scholar, was one of the many celebrated students of the NālandāSaṅghārāma. He was given a grand reception by the monk community led by the chief monk, Venerable Śilabhadra, and therefore it is no wonder that Venerable Xuanzang’s description of the Nālandā Saṅghārāma occupies maximum pages in his biography. His description of beautifully decorated, four-story Viharas, 80 ft tall bronze Buddha images in many chaityas, and above all the Mūlgandhakuṭī,captured the fancy of many early explorers when they received the English translation of the Chinese original text in the 1850’s. The quest to discover Nālandā is filled with compelling stories of luck and misadventure by many explorers. With fate on his side, it was Sir Alexander Cunningham who had the privilege of announcing to the world the discovery of the Nālandā Saṅghārāma. Now began a new journey of the legacy of Nālandā and the Nālandā Saṅghārāma.

Nalanda Memento

Excavation of Nālandā was equally challenging as the curious world wanted to see the Nālandā Saṅghārāma exposed. The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland generously contributed to initiate the work. Another major challenge was acquisition of the Nālandā Mound itself. This Mound of Nālandā extends for more than 300 acres and includes more than 10 large and small villages living over it.  But with a great challenge, an equally humbling solution was found among the community of Nālandā, who generously participated in the land acquisition which made this seemingly impossible task possible. Another chapter in the legacy of Nālandā involves the conception of Nālandā International University in the 3rd millennia. Yet another milestone, this marks the beginning of a new phase of revelation to the contributions of ancient Nālandā University to the world culture.

In the years 1861-62, Sir Alexander Cunningham, on the basis of a Nālandā seal which read Śrī-Nālandā-mahāvihāriy-ārya-bhikshu-Saṅghasya, announced the discovery of Nālandā. Later in the course of excavations numerous such seals from Gupta and Pala period were discovered a few pieces are currently put on display at Nalanda Museum. In 2012, on this occasion of 150 years since the discovery of Nālandā, RABPB has conceived a commemorative Nālandā Plaque depicting a replica of the Nālandā seal, identity and symbol of the Nālandā Saṅghārāma as a tribute to this historic discovery and the legacy of Nālandā.

Dr. Ravindra Panth, Director of RABPB Project, The person behind the concept.



Dr Lama Holding the "Journey through Bihar to Vihara" Book part of the Memento box and Dr panth holding the detachable Nalanda Seal Coin.

 Dr D Lama, Dr R Panth and Dr Dhammajyoti The RABPB Project Team

Buddhānussati Cārikā at Buddhavana

Buddhānussati Cārikā being led by Ven. Bhikkhu Sangha

In continuation with our awareness generation efforts at Buddhavana (village Ayer-Pathri) we organized a Buddhānussati Cārikā on 14th Oct, 2012. The objective of the event was to revive the sanctity of the place and generate awareness among the stakeholder. Venerable Bhikkhu Saṇgha made prayers and offerings at the “Buddha-Cave”. Dr Ravindra Panth, Director, RABPB Project and Ven. Phra Vithoon Putamee planted Bo-tree, at the sacred place.

 

Read More- Discovery of Buddhavana

 

Last month, Dr. Umesh Dwivedi, Director, Museum, and Dr. Atul Verma, Director, Archaeology, Department of Art, Culture and Youth, Government of Bihar too visited Ayer and Jethian village. Both of them have appreciated the antiquities of both the places and have pressed the need to generate awareness towards the place.

Sanctification of the sacred cave - Chanting and Puja (offerings) by Bhikkhu Saṇgha

Dr. R Panth, Ven. Vithoon Putamee and Ven. Dhammajyoti planting the Bo-Tree

Read More- Securing the antiquties of the Buddhavana

 

Dr R. Panth, Director, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda and Ven Vithoon Putamee in Centre



Ven. Putamee blessing the place

Dr. R Panth motivating the Community

The Buddha Cave decorated with the Dhamma flags

The Next generation......of the Buddhavana

Sunset at Buddhavana

News paper clippings of the Event

Heritage Leaders of Bihar

Tangible and intangible remains of the Buddhist past have attracted lots of attention since the late 18th century. Before India achieved independence, the best pieces of sculpture scattered in and among  villages were removed from their original sites and placed in museums all over the world. It is no wonder that most of these artifacts are not properly documented with their exact place of origin. The beauty of these sculptures has attracted the attention of spurious traders and in the last 50 years the Live-museum of Bihar has literally been pilfered for its precious antiquity. One can see sculptures from Bihar at auctions on Internet. Many sculptures are still found worshiped in the temples and at Goraiyansthan of most villages. But these pieces of beauty lying in open areas are under constant threat. Still Bihar is rich with many antiquities and we keep hearing of a discovery/unearthing of sculptures now and then. This vast heritage in the Live-Museum can’t be protected by enactment alone. It needs awareness about the importance and significance of the heritage we are bequeathed with to be generated among the people.  We have many examples before us where community members have taken up this cause and have contributed much towards the protection and preservation of the tangible and intangible heritage of Bihar.

Heritage Leaders at Engaged Buddhism Workshop-2012

 

Dr Atul Verma, Director, Archaeology, Government of Bihar addressing the Heritage Leaders

Dr Umesh Dwivedi, Director, Museum, Government of Bihar, addressing the heritage leaders

Shri Awadhesh Kumar, Heritage leader from Telhada...

 

Heritage leaders interacting with Shri Umesh Dwivedi, Director, Museum, Government of Bihar and Shri Atul Verma, Director, Archaeology, Government of Bihar

Heritage leader Shri Lal Baba from Noawan shareing his views

Shri Sadhu Saran Singh Ji from Jethian sharing his views

                             Young enthusiastic Heritage Leader Shri Sunil Kumar from Gurpa



A senior Heritage Leader from Jiyar sharing his views

Group photograph of Heritage Leaders with Dr Umesh Dwivedi and Dr Atul Verma

Heritage Leaders engrossed with the Exhibition- Journey through Bihar to Vihara

 

 Shri Narendra Ji honoured with the Mahākassapa Plaque

 

We have fine examples of community members who have made contributions towards the protection and preservation of heritage. Most of the time their efforts go unacknowledged. But, Bihar needs these dedicated individuals from its communities who are helping Bihar preserve its glorious past for the posterity of all who follow. Today, to honour and acknowledge their contributions, the RABPB Project has conceived Saṇghassa Patiṭṭhāpako Mahākassapa Yāvajīvam Sammānopādhi. Created in honour of  Mahākassapa, who as magadhaputra became patron of the Saṇgha after the Mahāparinirvāṇa of the Buddha and organised the first Buddhist council to facilitate the compilation of the teachings of the Buddha. He gave much needed leadership and direction to the Sangha after the Mahāparinirvāṇa of the Buddha.

This Second Annual Saṇghassa Patiṭṭhāpako Mahākassapa Yāvajīvam Sammānopādhi is being awarded to Shri Narendra Prasad for his immense contribution towards the protection and preservation of the heritage of Parwati.

Shri Narendra Ji recieving the Mahakassapa plaque from the dignitaries

Shri Narendra Ji making his speech

Shri NArendra Ji with the Mahakassapa Honour Plaque

 Parwati Hill is a place where the Buddha visited many times and gave important discourses. In the early 19th century, British explorers reported more than 13 large and small stūpas dotting Parwati Hill. In the mid-19th century,  many of these stūpas were robbed of their bricks in order to be used to construct an adjacent road. In the 1960’s, the eastern peak of the hill described by Venerable Xuanzang was brought down by miners. Yet, what was left by this destruction was still very important because the cave where the Buddha meditated and the Haṃsa stūpa described by Venerable Xuanzang had survived.  In 1988, Shri Nagendra Prasad joined Parwati High School as the Head-Master. Even before the world learned that Parwati Hill was the same Vediya Parwat mentioned in Pali literature and described by the Venerable Xuanzang, Shri Narendra Prasad realised the ancient antiquities of the hill and made all effort to preserve this site by involving the village community. It was in 2000-2001, when new research suggested that Parwati Hill was in fact the Indasalaguha and the Vediya Parwat. This was a very important find due to the now direct association to the Buddha. Shri Prasad, in realizing his new responsibility, knew sooner or later that the devout followers of the teachings of the Buddha would come to look for their heritage. He embraced to the situation and devoted more time to protecting of the heritage by generating awareness among the stakeholders. In 2004-05 some illegal mining of the hill and a crusher machine was put into the place. But, strong protest by the villagers, facilitated by Shri Narendra Prasad, helped save this sacred hill in its present form. We, the people of Bihar, and the devout followers of the teachings of the Buddha all over the world are grateful to Shri Narendra Prasad  for his sincere efforts. We are sure his efforts will motivate others to follow similar path of courage and understanding.

We also have with us Shri Rampukar Singh ji, whose contribution to the heritage of Chechar is well known. Since 1970’s, he had been advocating for the preservation of the heritage of Chechar. Now Chechar and Rampukar Singh are synonyms. Chechar is situated on the north coast of the Ganges and with the changing course of the Ganges, the mound of Chechar has been eroded to expose many antiquities along the riverbank. Walking along the riverbank for days, weeks, months and years, he has collected some the finest pieces of antiquities that deserve to be placed in the best museums of the world. With his efforts, he has started a museum and it is here that one can see his contribution to the Chechar Museum.

Now inhis nineties, Shri Ram Pukar Singh Ji’s spirit and commitment for thepreservation of Chechar heritage is unchanged. For his immense contribution tothe heritage of Chechar, the RABPB awarded the first Saṇghassa Patiṭṭhāpako Mahākassapa YāvajīvamSammānopādhi.

Engaged Buddhism-2012, Workshop

Since centuries, for millions of followers of the teachings of the Buddha, Bihar and Buddhacārikā are synonymous, for it was here that the Buddha started his spiritual journey and it was here that his Journey of Enlightenment took its fruition and he became the Buddha. Rājā Ashoka in 2nd century BC inspired by the teachings of the Buddha made Dhamma the basis of rule and governance. Ashoka defined the main principles of Dhamma (dharma) as non-violence, tolerance of all sects and opinions, obedience to parents, respect for the virtuous, religious teachers and priests, liberality towards friends, humane treatment of servants, and generosity towards all.

Gradually over the century with some interruption here and there this land of the Buddha was governed by Ashoka-Dhamma, this became a sort of unwritten guidelines. The land of the Buddha, after the Mahāparinirvāṇa of the Buddha became Land of Vihāra. The word ‘Vihāra’ refers to the Buddhist monastery, a place to gain knowledge by purifying the mind. In general, it also signifies a place for quietitude of mind and resting space for Buddhist monks. Magadha in the first millennia CE was a conglomerate of monasteries from different traditions offering the true teachings of the Buddha. This Vihāra became a refuge for the seekers of the true teachings of the Buddha for monks and scholars all over the Buddhist world. We get glimpse of this Vihāra from the momentous journey to Bihar taken by 7th Century monk scholar Venerable Xuanzang. He took this arduous journey to pay pilgrimage to the Land of the Buddha and seek true teachings of the Buddha so that Dhamma rule also flourishes in his native country.

Literary sources and excavation suggests that for more than 1700 years Bihar had many flourishing monasteries. The local community and monasteries co-existed for mutual compliment. The community supported the monks practising in various monasteries with day to day requirements and the community were benefited by the Dhamma-guidance and Dhamma-Ambience and this was broadly the same Dhamma-rajya conceived by Rājā Ashoka who ruled vast Indian subcontinent from Patliputra.
 

Chief Guests on the podium

In 14th Century this Vihāra apparently seems to be coming to its ebb. The process of rediscovering the roots of this long buried culture within the layers of mounds started in the early 19^th century by a group of explorers. Thanks to these explorations and excavations over the last two centuries, we are now aware of our glorious legacy.

Read more: Engaged Buddhism-2011 Workshop

Bihar is now waking up to its past and is retracing its footsteps in this journey through Bihar to Vihāra. In today’s perspective to contribute to the Renaissance taking place in Bihar, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara Sanskritik Gram (NNMSG) an arm of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (deemed university), Nalanda has conceived “Engaged Buddhism”, a platform for stakeholders of this glorious legacy to come together and collectively conceive, design and build this journey through Bihar to Vihāra.

The primary element for this revival process is the vast tangible and intangible remains of the ancient Vihāra that needs to be protected and preserved. These ancient remains spread across the villages of Bihar are part of Buddhacārikā and are very sacred to devouts of the teachings of the Buddha. Present day Bihar is a Live-Museum; these sacred traces of ancient cultural movement may serve as a livelihood opportunity if properly presented to the world. The basic building block of this for us is to recreate this ancient tradition of Vihāra-Community interface through generating sustainable livelihood from this vast heritage bestowed upon us.

 

Dr. R Panth, Director, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda making welcome address

   Shri Narendra Prasad, recieving the Heritage Plaque for his contributions to the heritage of Parwati

 

Chief Guest Shri Nanjzey Dorjee (IAS), Member Secretary, BTMC making his speech

Dr. Lama, making the Vote of Thanks

This Engaged Buddhism platform at NNMSG is an effort to make a sustainable way to facilitate the Community-Heritage Interface.