Search Buddhist Channel

Maharashtra: Nallasopara Buddhist stupa proves it was once hotbed of Buddhism

by Karan Hiranandani, The India Express, June 26, 2016

Mumbai, India -- Inside an obscure protected site in Nallasopara that has been forgotten by the government as well lies a Buddhist stupa, which is evidence to the fact that Sopara or Shurparka, as it is known as historically, was the hotbed of Buddhism back in the day.

<< Legend has it that the stupa, supposedly constructed 2,500 years ago by a trader named Poorna, was inaugurated by Gautam Buddha himself. Express

The nomenclature of this place probably was after the name of Boddhisat Suparaka, said to be the former birth of Gautama Buddha. But unfortunately, no signs lead you to the historical sight.

Legend has it that the stupa, supposedly constructed 2,500 years ago by a trader named Poorna, was inaugurated by Gautam Buddha himself.

In April 1882, Pandit Bhagwandas Indraji began excavations at this site. Along with the Stupa, he discovered a stone coffer, caskets, gold figures, seals and eight metal sculptures of Buddhist deities that are now preserved in the museum of Asiatic Society of Mumbai.

According to the local caretaker of the stupa, the mound is locally know as ‘Burud Rajacha Kot’ or the ‘Fort of the Basket-making King’.

The stupa, adorned with sandalwood carvings, is strikingly similar to the stupa in Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. The mound, which is about 65 yards round the base, rises about 17 feet with steps from the eastern side.

Round the mound the foundation of a brick and stone wall can be clearly traced about 56 feet to the north and south and about 96 feet to the east-west of the mound.

In the middle of the southern wall, there seem to be the remains of a gate, and in the middle of the east wall there was the main entrance, reveals the dilapidated board right outside the stupa.

The main entrance has an altar of sorts, with an ancient idol of Buddha placed in a stone compartment.

A relatively new statue of Buddha is also placed on the altar. Out of Ashoka’s 14 edicts, the 8th and 9th edict were found close to the stupa site, confirming speculations that Sopara was indeed a significant Buddhist site in the ancient times.

According to the board, when King Ashoka’s son Dharmendra and daughter Sanghamitra were travelling to Sri Lanka from Bodh Gaya carrying branches of the Bodhi tree, they had passed through Sopara.

A gateway adorned with Buddhist inscriptions and carvings stands tall at a road junction, close to the stupa site.

”Every evening, few locals come and sit on the benches bordering the stupa to enjoy a whiff of the evening air. In the past few years, the number of pilgrims have steadily been increasing but infrastructure remains the same,” one of the locals living in a hut close to the stupa said.

We Need Your Help to Train the
Buddhist AI Chat Bot NORBU!
(Neural Operator for Responsible Buddhist Understanding)

Dear Friends in the Dharma,

We seek your generous support to help us train NORBU, the word's first Buddhist AI Chat Bot.

Here are some ways you can contribute to this noble cause:

One-time Donation or Loan: A single contribution, regardless of its size, will go a long way in helping us reach our goal and make the Buddhist LLM a beacon of wisdom for all.

How will your donation / loan be used? Download the NORBU White Paper for details.

For Malaysians and Singaporeans, please make your donation to the following account:

Account Name: Bodhi Vision
Account No:. 2122 00000 44661
Bank: RHB

The SWIFT/BIC code for RHB Bank Berhad is: RHBBMYKLXXX
Address: 11-15, Jalan SS 24/11, Taman Megah, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Phone: 603-9206 8118

Note: Please indicate your purpose of payment (loan or donation) in the payment slip. Thank you.

Once payment is banked in, please send the payment slip via email to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv. Your donation/loan will be published and publicly acknowledged on the Buddhist Channel.

Spread the Word: Share this initiative with your friends, family and fellow Dharma enthusiasts. Join "Friends of Norbu" at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/norbuchatbot. Together, we can build a stronger community and create a positive impact on a global scale.

Volunteer: If you possess expertise in AI, natural language processing, Dharma knowledge in terms of Buddhist sutras in various languages or related fields, and wish to lend your skills, please contact us. Your knowledge and passion could be invaluable to our project's success.

Your support is part of a collective effort to preserve and disseminate the profound teachings of Buddhism. By contributing to the NORBU, you become a "virtual Bodhisattva" to make Buddhist wisdom more accessible to seekers worldwide.

Thank you for helping to make NORBU a wise and compassionate Buddhist Chatbot!

May you be blessed with inner peace and wisdom,

With deepest gratitude,

Kooi F. Lim
On behalf of The Buddhist Channel Team

Note: To date, we have received the following contributions for NORBU:
US$ 75 from Gary Gach (Loan)
US$ 50 from Chong Sim Keong
MYR 300 from Wilson Tee
MYR 500 from Lim Yan Pok
MYR 50 from Oon Yeoh
MYR 200 from Ooi Poh Tin
MYR 300 from Lai Swee Pin
MYR 100 from Ong Hooi Sian
MYR 1,000 from Fam Sin Nin
MYR 500 from Oh teik Bin
MYR 300 from Yeoh Ai Guat
MYR 300 from Yong Lily
MYR 50 from Bandar Utama Buddhist Society
MYR 1,000 from Chiam Swee Ann
MYR 1,000 from Lye Veei Chiew
MYR 1,000 from Por Yong Tong
MYR 80 from Lee Wai Yee
MYR 500 from Pek Chee Hen
MYR 300 from Hor Tuck Loon
MYR 1,000 from Wise Payments Malaysia Sdn Bhd
MYR 200 from Teo Yen Hua
MYR 500 from Ng Wee Keat
MYR 10,000 from Chang Quai Hung, Jackie (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from K. C. Lim & Agnes (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from Juin & Jooky Tan (Loan)
MYR 100 from Poh Boon Fong (on behalf of SXI Buddhist Students Society)
MYR 10,000 from Fam Shan-Shan (Loan)
MYR 10,000 from John Fam (Loan)
MYR 500 from Phang Cheng Kar
MYR 100 from Lee Suat Yee
MYR 500 from Teo Chwee Hoon (on behalf of Lai Siow Kee)
MYR 200 from Mak Yuen Chau

We express our deep gratitude for the support and generosity.

If you have any enquiries, please write to: editor@buddhistchannel.tv

TOP