buddha idols at birla mandir,delhi

Buddha,Birla Mandir

 Lakshmi Narayan mandir or the Birla mandir was built by a industrialist family in Delhi.The temple is basically devoted to Lord Vishnu who is entrusted to maintain the flow of life.A sub temple is devoted to Lord Buddha in this very complex and houses numerous monks who are taking care of the daily activites at the vihara.

buddha at buddha garden (delhi)

   Buddha Garden becomes a centre of activity on Buddha purnima.Buddhist believers visit this place on that day and become a part of cultural program every year.Buddha Garden or buddha Jayanti park is one of the newly constructed park in Delhi.It marked the attainment of Nirvana by Buddha 2500 years back.The park is lush green with loads of big tree standing in salute to Buddha.This garden is located in the forest area of ridge of south Delhi.The original sapling of Bodhi Tree was transported from Sri Lanka to mark the occasion.The Bodhi tree gave shelter to Lord Buddha when he was meditating for attainment of enlightenment.Kunal,the son of Ashoka took a sapling from Bodhi tree and placed it in Sri Lanka .

Buddha Jayanti Park is also famous among couples who hang around the garden from morning till evening spending time with each other.

buddha

Buddha pictures

Munirka Buddha vihara is located in front of Jawaharlal nehru university.It was a hub of buddhist activities some years ago but now a reminder of past.Buddha idols can be seen all over the place.

buddha pictures at munirka vihara

Buddhist caves in India

       The Buddhists were the pioneers in excavation of rock cut temples in India.They excavated largest number of caves in this place.Even today there are 1200 Buddhist caves in India.Most of these  are present in maharastra.All these caves were excavated with with primitive tools like hammer and chisel.Buddha statues are allover the place here.

Artistic representation of caves, digital art

Ajanta caves-Buddhist architecture
      The Ajanta caves are located in the Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.The images are cut from the stones at the site.The images of Buddha and his previous birth is depicted in these caves.The monks of these region crafted these statues with hammer and chisel.The stories from jataka are seen on the walls of the caves.Buddha is shown subduing the elephant Nalagiri sent by people jealous of The enlightened one.Various postures of Buddha can be seen.

                                                                        

                                                                    

Aim of buddhism

                         Buddhism aims at the discovery and study of man's innerworld,ethical,spiritual,psychological and intellectual world.Buddhism is a spiritual and psychological discipline,that deals with man as a whole.It is a way of life a path to follow and practice.It teaches man to moral and ethical character,discipline his mind and how to obtain wisdom to realize the Ultimate Truth,Nirvana.It teaches man to abstain from doing evil and practice good with purified mind.Buddhism consists not only of study and knowledge but also practice and realization of Truth.These are the three pillars on which Buddhist philosophy stands.Knowledge without practice is fruitless and condemned.

                                                                        

Sangha

It means a group,a community or society.It has now become a traditional word for buddhist monks.Triple gem are inter related.Every buddhist has to take refuge in triple gem.Buddha - Dhamma - Sangha.Sangha practices Dhamma which follows the footsteps of Buddha.Sangha is a community of those who have realised the truth.Dhamma can only be explained by those who have realised it.Sangha makes us understand the words of Buddha and therefore Sangha is worthy of respect.

buddhist prayer

 VANDANA

namo tasya bagvato arhato sama sambuddhasya,

namo tasya bagvato arhato samma sambuddhasa

namo tasya bagvato arhato samma sambuddhasya

(Honour to Him,the Blesses One,the Exalted one,the Fully Enlightened one)3 times

Buddhist Prayer

  TISARANA

 Buddham sarnang gacchami,                          (I go to Buddha for refuge)            

 Dhamman sarnam gacchami,                          (I go to Dhamma for refuge )

 Sangham sarnam gacchami,                            ( I go to Sangha for refuge)

       

     

dutyampi bhuddham sarnang gachami,  (For the 2nd time,i go to Buddha for
                                                                  refuge)

dutyampi dhamang sarnang gachami,    (For the 2nd time,i go to Dhamma for
                                                                  refuge)

dutyampi sangham sarnang gachami,      (For the 2nd time ,i go to Sangha for
                                                                   refuge)

tatyampi buddham sarnang gachami,      (For the 3rd time,i go to Buddha for
                                                                    refuge)

tatyampi dhamaang sarnang gachami,    (For the 3rd time,i go to Dhamma for
                                                                    refuge)

tatyampi sangam sarnang gachami,        (For the 3rd time,i go to Sangha for
                                                                    refuge)

                                                            PANCHASILA                                                                                 
                           1.Panatipata veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
                           2.Adinnadana veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
                           3.Kamesu micchacara veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
                           4.Musavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami
                           5.Sura-meraya-majja-pamadatthana veramani sikkhapadam
                              samadiyami.
                                                         ( The Five Precepts)
                           1.I take the precept to abstain from harming any living being
                           2.I take the precept to abstain from stealing.
                           3.I take the precept to abstain from unchaste conduct.
                           4.I take the precept to abstain from false speech.
                           5.I take the precept to abstain from drugs or drinks that cause
                              intoxication or heedlessness.

Buddha

    It is generally accepted that Buddha was born in 563 or 566 B.C. Thus He seems to have lived between the last quarters of sixth and fifth centuries B.C. It was a time of intellectual revolution in the world. During this time significant personalities lightened up the mind in various part of globe. Confucius and Lao-tse in China, Zoroaster in Iran and Buddha and Mahavira in India.

Buddha

     In India there were many well organised states, some democratic some ruled by kings. In terms of religion Hinduism was prevalent in India. It was claimed that Brahmins were god on earth and population were divided into rigid caste system. It was this phase where Buddha made his debut and his teachings gave moral strength to people .

    Buddha though born in a royal family left all the worldly pleasures so that truth could be told to everybody. He went through hard meditative practices for six long years and tortured his body so that truth be told. At the age of thirty five he attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. He then never stopped at one place constantly teaching people the doctrine of life.