This Hidden Japanese Temple In Mumbai Is The Reason Why The City Will Never Cease To Amaze Us
It's surprising, how your think you know your Mumbai,then you just do not. This happened to us when we saw the Nipponzan Myohoji, a Japanese Buddhist temple that in the middle of the city. The temple is directly opposite to the Podar Hospital and is located at a place where Buddhist community resides. And perhaps, it did not gather much of the city’s attention because of the constant moving traffic at its location in Worli.
The temple, built in 1956, does not really seem as old when you enter it. The vibe there is serene, and one of the caretakers immediately offers you a seat in front of the shrine of Buddha. It is mainly taken care of by its resident monk Bhikshu T Morita. While entering the temple, the carving on marble greets the visitors. They inform that this temple is run by Seth Raja Baldeo Das Birla’s family.
A prophecy is spoken about when one asks about this temple. It is said that about 700 years ago, a monk in Japan called Maha Bodhisattva Nichiren prophesized that the salvation for humans would lie in India, where the religion of Buddhism was found and spread from.
Later, during the time of Independence, a Japanese monk visited in India between 1931-1938 along with his disciples. He became an active part of the freedom struggle. During this time, the monk, Nichidatsu Fuji Guruji met Mahatma Gandhi who was also greatly influenced by Fuji Guruji’s thoughts. And that is how this temple originated - Fuji Guruji founded it in Mumbai in order to spread peace in the city and country. As a form of gratitude to Guruji, a philanthropist built this temple that was funded by Raja Baldeo Das Birla. The temple officially opened for people in 1956.
BCCL
When you enter the temple, a pleasant fragrance of incense and portraits of Buddha and his life acknowledge you at first. Then as you go towards the shrine, the temple gets more and more peaceful and somewhat surreal, as the sounds of traffic behind begin to fade. The six-and-a-half feet statue of Buddha in marble in sitting posture is the idol that holds the temple together on the bustling Worli Naka.
BHIKSHU MORITA
Prayers are held twice during the day with the sound of drums beating along with chants of ‘Na mu myo ho ren ge kyo’. Even if one is not a spiritual being, the sound of the chants and the drums give a feeling of becoming tranquil on the inside.
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Blog Credit:
JUNE 10, 2017
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