tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78993011917077630782026-11-02T14:59:14.946+05:30Deepak Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702525494865105362noreply@blogger.comBlogger174125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899301191707763078.post-56840620162190220142025-12-29T15:13:00.001+05:302025-12-29T15:13:26.031+05:30

The Great Renunciation Trail of Mahatheri Mahapajapati                          BACKGROUNDOne of the lesser-known yet inspiring stories in the history of the Buddha is the story of Mahaprajapati Gautami (MPG) and her journey with 500 Sakyan women to Vaishali to persuade the

Deepak Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702525494865105362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899301191707763078.post-76849945911217747732025-08-07T16:39:00.002+05:302025-08-07T16:40:09.608+05:30

Professor Siddhartha Singh, Vice Chancellor of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Deemed University, leads the commemorative Walk to the site.Our sincere thanks to Professor Siddhartha Singh, Vice Chancellor, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Deemed University, Nalanda, for celebrating and commemorating the Parinibbāna of Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī (MPG) in the very locality where MPG attained Parinibbāna. This was the

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Sunrise, Ganges, Vārānasī.The Venerable Mahāsaṅgha of the International Tipitaka Chanting Council (ITCC), during its Dhammayātrā 2025, retraced the Buddha's maiden journey after his enlightenment from Rājaghāt (Vārānasī) to Sārnātha. Sārnātha, in the time of the Buddha, was known as Isipatana (Ṝiṣipattana). It was also referred to as Migadāya (deer park) because deer roam freely in this

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Mahākassapa (Mahākāśyapa) is one of the most revered disciples of the Buddha. He survived the Mahāparinibbāna (Mahāparinirvāṇa) of the Buddha and was notable for not only exchanging robes with him but also convening the first Buddhist council following the Buddha's great demise. According to Buddhist literature, Mahākassapa did not die but entered samādhi at Gurupāda (Gurpā Hill). Buddhist

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Vaiśākha Pujā Prayers at the Pipphaligūhā. Venerable Saṅgha led by Ven. Tenzin AnandaIt is so heartwarming to witness Pipphaligūhā (Pipphali Cave), an important Buddhacārikā site on the path to revitalisation. Asian Buddhist Cultural Centre (Bodhgayā) and Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed University, Nālandā) on 24th May 2024 organised the Vaiśākha Pujā offering ceremony at Pipphaligūhā (Pipphali

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Our sincere thanks to Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Deemed University, Nalanda for conceiving the commemoration of  Parinibbāna of Mahāprajāpatī Gotamī (MPG) in the very locality where MPG attained Parinibbāna. As per the Buddhist texts, Mahātherī Mahāpajāpatī Gotamī along with courageous 500 Shākyan Therīs entered Parinibbāna in Vaishalī. According to 7th CE monk scholar Xuanzang the vicinity of

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As per Xuanzang, the present-day Sugh in Haryana was intimately associated with the sublime wandering of the Buddha (i.e. the Buddhacarika). Xuanzang saw an Ashokan stupa to mark the visit of the Buddha in Sugh. Sugh and its surroundings consisting of sacred Buddhist sites of the Ashokan Pillar site of Topra Kalan, Ashokan Stupa of Chaneti and the monastic site of Adi Badri represent the ancient

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I had an opportunity to give a talk on the Buddhacārikā (Sublime Wandering of the Buddha) to the Venerable Saṇgha of Shechen Tennyi Dargyeling Monastery (more commonly called Shechen Institute/Monastery), Kathmandu. The idea behind the PowerPoint presentation was to share the present understanding of the Sublime wanderings of the Buddha with the Venerable Saṇgha of Shechen Temple. The

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Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed to be University) organized a One-Day conference titled, ‘Buddhacārikā a Living Heritage: A Stakeholders Meet’ in Nalanda on the 15th July 2023. The focus of this first-of-its-kind conference was to discuss revitalisation of the very significant ‘sublime wanderings of the Buddha’. The conference saw more than 70 stakeholders coming together for the first time to

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In February 2020, on my foot journey following Xuanzang, I visited Ms Valveri Hara who lives near the remains of the ancient city of Shrugna (now Sugh). The house of Ms Hara is built over an ancient mound, most likely the Ashokan Stupa to mark the place where the Buddha gave sermons as mentioned by Xuanzang. One can visit the story on my blog here.  Lost Ashokan Stūpa of Śhrugna (now Sugh)On

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The Brahmayoni Stupa is Calling!  Pic: Vikash Kumar.According to all the ancient Buddhist literature the Buddha delivered the Adittapariyaya Sutta (the Fire Sermon) to the Jatila brothers, Uruvela, Nadi and Gaya Kassapa here at the Gayasisha Hill. Gayasisha Hill is also known as the Brahmayoni Hill and is situated in Gaya, 12 kms north of Bodhgaya. According to 7th CE Buddhist monk-scholar

Deepak Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702525494865105362noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899301191707763078.post-16505161440640909742021-09-14T10:10:00.002+05:302024-05-27T20:22:39.427+05:30

Venerable Sangha chanting sacred suttas and offering prayers at Ratnāgiri Rock Garden site.Venerable Bhikkhu Sangha led by Ven. Pragyadeep Bhante, President, All India Bhikkhu Sangha, Ven. Tenzin Ananda, President, Asian Buddhist Cultural Centre), Ven. Kashyapa Bhante, President, Mahabodhi Society of India, Bangalore performed special prayers at Ratnāgiri Rock Garden site on 11th September 2021.&

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We are aware that Veshākha Pūrṇimā has a special significance in the life of the Buddha. Buddhists celebrate the three most important life stages of Buddha on Vesak Pūrṇimā: Birth at Lumbini, Enlightenment at Uruvelā (Bodhgaya) and Mahāparinirvāṇa (great demise) at Kushinara. This year’s celebration of Buddha Pūrṇimā is very special to me. Because I was part of a team which facilitated

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Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed University), Nalanda in Collaboration with  the Light of the Buddha Dhamma Foundation International (LBDFI) organized 5th  Dhamma Walk from Jeṭhian to Rājgir on 13th December, 2018. Objective of the Dhamma Walk was to facilitate awareness generation towards the 15km Jeṭhian - Rājgir Buddha trail.  More than 2000 Venerable monks, nuns

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I had privilege to be a part of the third annual Dhammayātrā of the International Saṅgha of the LBDFI (Light of the Buddha Dhamma Foundation International). As all of us know, Buddhism was lost from the Indian subcontinent in the beginning of 1st millennia. Translation of ancient Buddhist texts - kept in monasteries of Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Nepal and

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Surya Sculpture, 2007 Dr Arun Kumar, Assistant Professor at Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda on his visit to Tapovana in February, 2018 noticed a vandalised shelf inside Tapovan Temple complex which had housed ancient sculptures. According to the priest of the temple, an ancient image of Surya (Sun God) was plastered into the shelf, which has got stolen in the last few years. The

Deepak Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702525494865105362noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899301191707763078.post-28579013915426646392018-04-16T16:41:00.000+05:302018-04-16T16:41:57.364+05:30

Boundary wall around the ancient mound, Beswak There is some good news from village Beswak in Nalanda district. With the efforts of Shri Dinanand Pandey, an ancient mound in Beswak has now been protected by constructing a boundary wall around the mound. In the Magadha region of Bihar, there are hundreds of villages that are settled over ancient remains. Beswak is one such village.

Deepak Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702525494865105362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899301191707763078.post-41663066321269175222018-01-11T10:57:00.001+05:302018-01-11T12:04:54.453+05:30

Buddhist literatures indicate that in ancient times, the sites associated with the life of Buddha were linked through well developed routes which were used by devotees to reach these sacred sites and offer prayers, perform specific rituals and recite sūtras. In other words, devotees undertook pilgrimages to sacred sites to walk in the footsteps of the Buddha and have a spiritual experience.

Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899301191707763078.post-61289671329545499002018-01-05T18:08:00.000+05:302018-01-08T14:23:05.881+05:30

Chinese Master of the Boshan Zhengjue Monastery leading the prayers at Griddhakūṭa  In ancient times, chanting of sūtras delivered by the Buddha constituted the core activity of the daily life of Buddhist monks and nuns. Chanting was not only a means of recording and remembering the sacred words of the Buddha, it was also a way of fostering unity and brotherhood

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International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), the Light of the Buddha Dhamma Foundation International (LBDFI) and School of Buddhist Studies and Civilisation, Gautama Buddha University together organised a one-day chanting event on 5th November, 2017 at Gautama Buddha University titled “Chanting of Mahāsatipaṭṭhāna Sutta (The Discourse on the Foundations of Mindfulness)”. The event constituted of

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  Dev Nī Morī Relic Casket On 19 August 2017, I had the opportunity of accompanying Ven. Lama Lobzang (Lama Ji), Secretary General of International Buddhist Confederation (IBC), on a visit to the ancient Buddhist site of Dev Nī Morī near Shamlaji in Gujarat. Archaeological excavation in this scenic valley in 1962 had led to the discovery of body relics of Buddha. Those relics are

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I got a wonderful opportunity to participate in an early morning chanting of the Buddhist sūtras and offering of prayers at the Aśokan Rock Edicts site of Dhauli. Dhauli Hills are located on the banks of the river Dayā, 8 km south of Bhubaneswar (capital of Odhisa). The event was organized by Department of Tourism, Government of Odhisa on 12th April, 2017.  More

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Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara in the temple shelf before the theft An ancient sculpture of Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara in the form of Jaṭāmukuṭa Lokeśwara was stolen from a community temple in Tetrāwan (Nalanda District) on 26th January, 2013. The sculpture is 24 inches (2ft) long and 13 inches wide. Generally, such theft of ancient sculptures from villages in Bihar goes

Deepak Anandhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14702525494865105362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7899301191707763078.post-52500372974335133122017-02-02T11:45:00.001+05:302017-02-02T11:45:30.065+05:30

Shri Rajesh Pande (Right) with the Buddha Statue. The Buddha statue (9th-10th CE) that was stolen from Lohajarā village (Wazirganj block in Gaya district) in 2014 was brought back to its findspot finally on 30th January 2017. The statue was recovered from a house in Sithaurā village in Nalanda district in August 2016 by the Nalanda police.  People of Lohajarā had very little

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International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) with support of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed University), Nalanda and Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee (BTMC) successfully organized 7th Sāriputta World Peace Walk at the base of Giriyak Hill, Rajgir on 14th November, 2016. Venerable Bhikkhu Saṅgha, important dignitaries, community of Nalanda

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