Lord Buddha temple in Buddhajayantipur of Odisha’s Athagarh linked to Sri Lanka: Watch
The Athagarh area of Cuttack district in Odisha houses many temples and mosques. Out of them there is a little known Buddha temple in Buddhajayantipur under Jemadeipur panchayat in Tigiria area. Importantly, this temple is linked to Srilanka.
About 50 Buddist families live in Buddhajayantipur. A huge Bodhi tree can be witnessed at the entrance of the village. It is said, this sacred tree had been planted here on January 8 in 1956.
As per the Buddhists of the village this Bodhi tree had been brought from Anuradhapur of Sri Lanka where Sanghamitra, daughter of Samrat Ashok had planted it from the twig of the Maha Bodhi tree in India’s Bodh Gaya. That seedling has now grown as a huge tree.
As per reports, with the help of former prime minister of erstwhile Burma (present day Myanmar) U Nu, this sacred seedling had been planted in the Buddha Vihar premises here. Padma Bhushan Dr. Radhanath Rath, the then MLA of Athagarh constituency as well as the erstwhile Education Minister along with Governor of Bombay Utkala Keshari Harekrushna Mahtab had planted this seedling here. Among others Pandit Nilakantha Das, one of ‘Panchasakha’ and Arjun Subuddhi, who is regarded as the pioneer of handicraft industry in Nuapatna, were present on this occasion.
After plantation of this seedling in 1956, a bronze statue of Lord Buddha was established in Buddhajayantipur in the year 1957. Later in 1973, Dalai Lama also visited here.
Many Buddhists from the country and abroad visit this place. Buddhists from Japan, France, Myanmar, Germany and Sri Lanka visit this play to pay their homage to the Lord.
Although it is an old shrine, there is no arrangement here for night stay. The locals have demanded to recognize the place as a tourist destination. The villagers have also demanded for construction of a prayer hall near the temple.
On the Purnima, Sankranti and Amabasya days, special prayers are arranged in this temple. Baisakha Purnima is celebrated here as a festival.
In this matter Athagarh Sub collector said that not only in Athagarh, this temple along with the sacred Bodhi tree is a national treasure and soon the place will get a facelift. Of course, first the place should be recognized as a tourist destination by the Tourism department.
The locals have urged the Culture department for preservation, maintenance and development of the temple and sacred tree.
Ms Kalinga