There are over 30 Buddhist heritage sites which had flourished between 3 century BC and 3 century AD in Visakhapatnam region.
Take a rewind… the region must have reverberated with the chants of ‘Buddham Saranam gacchami… Sangam saranam gacchami and Dharmam saranam gacchami…’ with so many large congregations of Buddhist monks all along the coastal areas of the three districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam.
“Buddhism in Visakhapatnam, like in the rest of India, suffered a setback due to poor patronage over the years. Burma Arjuna Rao had contributed immensely towards the popularisation of Buddhism in Visakhapatnam for over three decades till the 1990s. “I had taken over as Boudhachari (priest) of the Buddhist temple at Ashok Nagar, Kancharapalem, 10 years ago,” said Kona Venkata Rao of Arya Mitra Buddhist Society, who came to the city from Burma in 1974. “There are three sects in Buddhism today -- Teravada, Mahayana, and Navayana. Of these Teravada is the original as taught by Lord Buddha. Mahayana is the one followed by Dalai Lama and Navayana was promoted by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar,” he says and adds that there are around 30 Buddhist sanghams in the city.
Celebration time
Buddha jayanthi celebrations will be held at the YMCA parking place on May 4.
District Collector N. Yuvaraj, who is also Chairman of the District Tourism Promotion Board, said that Visakhapatnam district which has a number of Buddhist heritage sites like Bojannakonda, Thotlakonda, Bhavikonda, which are of immense tourist importance. The Buddha jayanthi celebrations would showcase the historical importance of these sites.
Buddha Bikshus would deliver discourses on the Dharma concept of Lord Buddha and the important events in his life. A book exhibition on Buddhist culture would also be held on the occasion.
Buddha jayanthi celebrations to be held at YMCA parking place tomorrow
