India Reaches Out to Indonesian Buddhist Community

Jakarta (Antara Bali) -  India reached out to the large Indonesian Buddhist Community today when the exhibition “Buddha Carika – In the footsteps of Shakyamuni Buddha” was inaugurated in the Gedung Prasadha Jinarakkhita, Sunday morning (May 24).

The famous Prasadha Jinarakkhita has been built by the efforts of Mahabhiksu Ashin Jinarakkhita Mahasthavira who was instrumental in spreading Buddhism in Indonesia and uniting all the sects of Buddhism under one organization.

Mahasthavira Nyanamaitri who represents all the three sects of Buddhism in Indonesia – Mahayana, Theravada and Budayan; H.E. Mr Gurjit Singh, Ambassador of India to Indonesian and Timor Leste; Mr. Piandi, Chairman, Indonesia Buddhist Council; Mr. Bhante Kheminda, Chairman Panditikan Jinarakkhita Buddhist Institute; Dr. Ravindra Panth, Director, Nav Nalanda Mahavihara; and Mr. Simon, who represented Directorate General of Buddhist Affairs were among those present at the inaugural of the exhibtion.

The exhibition, which is based on the teachings and life of Lord Buddha, was blessed by holy monks by the chanting of religious hymns.

Mahasthavira Nyanamaitri thanked Government and Embassy of India for bringing the exhibition to Indonesia.

He expressed hope that through this exhibition people of Indonesian will learn more about the Lord Buddha. Mahasthavira also said that the cooperation between Embassy of India and Keluarga Besar Budayana Indonesia will continue and the two organizations will organize more functions together.

Dr. Ravindra Panth, Director, Nav Nalanda Mahavihara said that the exhibition shows the places which are connected with the  important events of the life of Lord Buddha; some of them being the place where Lord Buddha was born; where Lord Buddha received enlightenment; where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon and the place where he passed away.

He informed that all the six major school of Buddhist arts are represented in the exhibition.

Speaking on the occasion H.E. Mr. Gurjit Singh, Ambassador of India to Indonesia and Timor Leste said that the Buddhist philosophy of Eightfold path has solution for the modern problems being faced by the mankind.

The “Buddha Carika – In the Footsteps of Shakyamuni Buddha” exhibition has been brought to Indonesia as part of ‘Sahabat India – The Festival of India in Indonesia’.

Sahabat India started this year on 26th  January and has in past few months brought to Indonesia several folk dances, musical performances, puppet shows, dance dramas and exhibitions.

“Buddha Carika” which is a premier exhibition under ‘Sahabat India’ has been earlier displayed in Sakyamuni Vihara Cemara Asri in Medan which is the centre of all Buddhist activities across Sumatra and houses the highest monk ‘Bhante Khamanindo; at prestigious Agung Rai Museum of Arts (ARMA) in Ubud, an eminent centre of preservation and promotion of culture in Bali; and in National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta which is an archeological, historical, ethonological and geographical museum of Indonesia.    

The “Buddha Carika – In the Footsteps of Shakyamuni Buddha” exhibition has been designed and composed by Nav Nalanda Vihara University under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Dr. R P K Singh and Dr. A K Yadav from Nav Nalanda Mahavihara, the curators of the exhibition are helping the visitors in understanding the importance of various artefacts in the exhibition.

The exhibition will continue till 31 May 2015 after which it will return to India.