Wednesday, December 12, 2012

3rd Mahā Moggallāna Patha Padakkhiṇā Padayātrā

A walk was organized to mark the occasion of Parinirvāṇa Anniversary of Magadhaputra, Iddhi Sammatho Mahā Moggallāna on Mahā Moggallāna Divas (Agahana Amāvasyā), 10th December, 2012.
     At this Momentous-Historical event the Venerable Bhikkhu Saṇgha along with the staff-students of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara and the community of Nalanda together paid tributes to the son of the soil for his contributions to the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Saṇgha.
     The Mindful-Walk began from Nava Nalanda Mahavihara campus to Mahā Moggallāna Stūpa, Juafardih.
Venerable Bhikkhu Sangha leading the Padayātrā (Walk)

Venerable Bhikkhu Sangha entering the  Juafardih, the Village of venerable Mahā Moggallāna


Venerable Bhikkhu Sangha reciting S


Dr Panth making the welcome address


Village-Head Smt Munni Devi

Shri Vijay kumar from Silao
Dr Panth, Director, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Venerable Dhammajyoti
and Bhikkhu Sangha making Padakhina of the Maha Moggallana Stupa



Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Silao, the place of "Exchange of Robes" between the Buddha and Mahakassapa ready to recieve pilgrims

An inscription at the base of a partial sculpture rediscovered in Silao in Januray, 2011 provides an image of the exchange of robes between Mahakassapa and the Buddha as based on the reference to this very same sculpture in the Epigraphica Indica (Vol XXV).

The village collective were the broken sculpture was rediscovered

Mahakassapa Image rediscovered
 On 18th March, 2011 a small function was organised to celebrate the find and generate awareness towards the importance of the place. In the same function the concept of Mahakassapa Arama was discussed. Venerable Withoon Putami, from Thailand promised to develop the place and facilitate revitalisation of this sacred place.

Read More- Mahakassapa arama (park) announced

Function held on 18th March, 2011
The place getting a facelift with new construction at the place
 

Venerable monks led by Venerable Vithoon Putaami did worshiping at the place on 30th November, 2012 to revive the sanctity of the place. The place is now ready to recieve the pilgrims. The devouts of the teachings of the Buddha and Mahakassapa may again visit the place and offer their prayers. The local community participated at this event and is very pleased that this site is associated with an eminent disciple of the Buddha. 
 


Worshiping in process..
Team of Venerable Monks, Local community members and some lay disciples from Thailand

 A Mindful-Walk is being organized for 14 February,2013 to pay tribute to Venerable Mahakassapa and his contributions to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha.

Friday, November 30, 2012

3rd Sāriputta World Peace Walk



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



















Thursday, November 1, 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




Saturday, October 20, 2012

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.
 
 
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