Saturday, November 26, 2011

2nd Maha Moggallana Patha Padakhina Pada Yatra

Backdrop for the Event
Today a Mindful-Walk on the occasion of Parinirvana Anniversary of Iddhi Samattho Maha Moggallana, organized by Nava Nalanda Mahavihara (Deemed to be University), was held at 1.30 p.m.. The walk was jointly led by the Bhikkhu Sangha, students of Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, and the children of  the Nalanda Heritage School. The major attraction of the event was the participation of local villagers who gathered in huge number to pay tribute to this great “Son of the Soil.”
Invitation Card

This walk was organized to facilitate awareness generation of the local community about the contributions of the Maha-Moggallana to Tri-ratna (the Buddha, the Dhamma & the Sangha).
Maha Moggallana was considered to be the left hand of the Buddha and is highly revered among the followers of the teachings of the Buddha particularly in Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Sri-Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, and China. This effort is to revive the ancient Buddhist legacy based on the travelogues of 7th CE, Chinese monk scholar Xuanzang.

  


A welcome note was given by Ms. Seema Tripathi, IAS, SDM, Rajgir, and in her address, she promised to facilitate revival of the ancient glory of the place. She further added that the story and significance of the place will be published in a Nalanda Souvenir to be released next month.
The gathering was also addressed by Colonel Nehra, Director, Nalanda Heritage School. In his address he promised all help to facilitate the awareness generation. Venerable Phra Vithun Putāni, in his address promised all help to restore the place.
 
 
1- The two kilometer walk from  Nava Nalanda Mahavihara started at 1.30 p.m.
 
The Walk Started from Nava Nalanda Mahavihara

A venerable monk drumming the Peace Drum

Children of the Nalanda Heritage School



2- The Community of the Village Juafardih (ancient  Kolitgram/Kulika) ready to welcome the venerable Bhikkhu Sangha.

3-  Patha Padikhana (Circumambulatory Walk) around the ancient Maha Mogallana Stupa by the Bhikkhu Sangha and community participants.






4- Distinguished guests addressing the local community on the significance of this place.
Welcoming guests by offering the Dhamma Scarf

Chanting the Sutta to pay tribute to Maha Moggallana
Ms. Seema Tripathi, IAS, SDM Rajgir...Welcome Address

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Col. Nehra, Director, Nalanda Heritage School....we are with you!!

Ven. Panyalinkara, Chinese Buddhist Temple, Nalanda
Ven. Phra Vithun Putāni, also favorably known as "Big Baba"
Dr. Srikant Singh....giving the note of  thanks
Dr. Lalan Jha...captivated the audience by wonderful comparison...
The Ven. Bhikkhu Sangha led by Ven. Dhammajyoti
The lucky community of the village, Juafardih.....
the place where Maha Moggallana belonged to

Monday, November 14, 2011

2nd Sariputta World Peace Walk- 2011, Giriyak Hill, Rajgir

The Bhikku Sangha, students of  Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, students of the Nalanda Heritage School, dignitaries from the Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, the District Administration Nalanda and the local community of Giriyak made the 2nd "Sariputta World Peace Walk" a memorable event. The Walk started at 1.30 p.m. at the base of Giriyak Hill where the Bhikkhu Sangha and dignitaries were recieved by the local community for the commencement of the walk. 
The walk was led by the students of the Nalanda Heritage School carrying placards, followed by the Bhikkhu Sangha with Dhamma flags.

Important Guests
1- Ven. Okonogi, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, Rajgir
2- Ven. Phramaha Phan Thaekrathoke, Wat Thai Nalanda
3- Ven. Phra Vithun Putāni, Thailand
4- Shri Nanzej Dorjee, IAS, Member Secretary, BTMC
5- Ms. Seema Tripathi, IAS, SDM, Rajgir
6- Richard Dixey
7- Dr. Radhakrishna Mishra, Member, BTMC
8- Dr. Arvind Kumar Singh, Member BTMC

Shri Sanjay Agarwal, the District Magistrate of  Nalanda presented the welcome note and addressed the audience thanking them for their presence.
Dr. R. Panth, V. C, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara, Nalanda ended the event with a thankful note for all those present and for those who made this event a success. He wished for continued collaboration in preserving the heritage.

Click link below for more information about the start of this organized event last year
 1st Sariputta World Peace Walk- 2010

The event this year was well received by the community and the participating organizations and has already become a tradition of sorts that the locals wish to continue. Here are some glimpses of the event through the lens...

1- Participants collecting at the base of Giriyak Hill for beginning of the Peace Walk

School children with placards




2- The one kilometre Peace Walk was led by Students and the Bhikkhu Sangha.


Ven Okonogi Ji ....Drumming the Peace Drum....Disseminating the Peace Vibration into the Cosmos..

The Bhikkhu Sangha with the Dhamma flags
3- The Peace Walk procession reached the main venue for the dignitaries and the community to pay tribute to Ven. Sariputta.


Important dignitaries on the dais
Monks chanting the Suttas ...paying rich tribute to the Magadhaputra Ven.Sariputta
District Magistrate, Shri Sanjay Aggarwal, making the Welcome Note
Richard Dixey
Shri Raj Kumar Singh Ji from the Village Chandi Mau
Ven. Phramaha Phan Thaekrathoke, Wat Thai Nalanda

Nanzey Dorgee, Member Secretary, Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee
Dr. Ravindra Panth, Director, Nava Nalanda Mahavihara

Ven. Okonogi, Vishwa Shanti Stupa