Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara: Can Mahendra Hills monastery become another Bodh Gaya

Hyderabad: Nestled in Mahendra Hills, Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara embodies peace and serenity

The hills offer a bird’s eye view of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. Not many denizens of the twin cities are aware of the direct connection of this two-decade-old monastery with the Mahabodhi tree in Bodh Gaya under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. The monastery is also built on the geologically oldest Deccan Rocks, dating back millions of years.

Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara is a division of the Maha Bodhi Society, Bengaluru. The monastery was the brainchild of former DGP of undivided Andhra Pradesh, IPS officer Anjaneya Reddy and it was consecrated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama when it was inaugurated in 2003.

Narrating the interesting history of the monastery, claimed to be the largest in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, Chetan Boudh, manager of Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara said, “The idea of setting up the monastery was conceived in the late 1980s by retired IPS officer Anjaneya Reddy, who was inspired by Buddha’s teachings. Fundraising for the monastery took around 12 years. Mahabodhi Buddha Vihara follows the most ancient and orthodox school of Buddhism – the Theravada sect, which is also followed in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, etc."

Apart from providing spiritual guidance to the local Buddhists, the Vihara is engaged in humanitarian services for all irrespective of religious affiliations.

In the evenings, the monks can be found studying and meditating under a peepal tree, also called the Mahabodhi tree in the monastery premises. “This tree is in a way a sapling of the original Mahabodhi Tree, under which Lord Buddha got enlightenment.

The sapling was brought by Sri Lankan monks during the inauguration of the monastery. It is said that while propagating Buddhism, Emperor Asoka’s son and daughter Mahendra, and Sanghamitra visited Sri Lanka and carried the sapling from the original tree at Bodh Gaya. The sapling was planted in Anuradhapura, a world heritage site in Sri Lanka, from where the monks brought it to this monastery again,” explained Chetan.

The monastery’s main vihara is built on the hill slope at three levels. It houses a golden color Buddha idol, which was gifted by the Chittagong Buddhist Association of Myanmar. All cultural and dhamma activities take place inside the vaulted hall of the Chaitya. The monastery also has a sandstone stupa that replicates the Amravati Mahastupa and enshrines the relic of Buddha.

"The Buddhist Monastery complex sees around 150 to 200 visitors every week including visitors from other countries like Thailand and Sri Lanka. At present, it houses 35 monks, including novice monks from various parts of India. Apart from Buddha’s teachings, they are also taught computer, Mathematics and follow a curriculum as per the Mahabodhi Monastic Institute. During special occasions like Buddha Poornima, meditation programs are held and around 2,000 people turn up,” informs Chetan and adds that talks are on with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up a similar monastery in Amravati, which had been an important Buddhist center for centuries ago.

Meanwhile, on Friday, the union minister for culture, tourism, and development of the northeastern region G Kishan Reddy, released a special postal cover on “Nine years of Telangana statehood” and picture postcards on “Buddhist Heritage in Telangana – Bavapur Karru” at Dak Sadan, Hyderabad.