SRI NAGARJUNA BAUDDHA VIHAR

AN APPEAL FOR CO-OPERATION

This place of Nagarjunakonda is situated on the right bank of the holy river Krishna, surrounded on three sides by beautiful mountain chains of Sri Parvata mentioned in the Puranas (Buddhist Epics). It is wide in extent, covering several square miles, which contain ruins of many gigantic Stupas, Viharas, Sangharamas, Chaityagrihas, a University and a city called Vijayapuri of the Ikshvaku dynasty.

Historians say that at this place, in the second century A.D., Sri Bhagavan Nagarjunacharya, originator of the Doctrine of Nihilism (Madhyamika Sunyavada) presented to the world for the deliverance of mankind the great, holy scripture called Sri Mahapragna Paramitra–the book revered by all Mahayana Buddhists. It was at this place that in the fifth century A.D. the great Siddha Sri Arya Nagarjuna Pad, exponent of Buddhist Tantric Scripture, attained perfection before proceeding to the Himalayas. It is supposed that great Buddhist scholars like Sri Jai Prabhacharya and Sri Maitreyanath were connected with the University at this place.

This holy place of Buddhist pilgrimage would be submerged for ever under a large sheet of water, 110 square miles in area and 300 feet in depth, on the completion of the Nagarjunasagar Project which is going to be constructed at a cost of 122 Crores of rupees by the Government of India.

Though the importance of this place has been fully known to the Buddhist world for about thirty years, no proper and timely attempt was ever made by any Buddhist organisation either to establish a religious centre here, even on a small scale, or to preserve this place from being submerged, before the finalisation of the plans for the Project.

In spite of all this, Sri Jawaharlal Nehru, our great Prime Minister, while laying the foundation stone of Nagarjunasagar Project on 10-12-55, showed his personal affection to this place, spoke laudatory words in praise of Sri Bhagavan Nagarjuna and suggested ways and means for the preservation of the memory of the place. This attitude of his is quite praiseworthy in the present circumstances.

We have established a temple–Nagarjuna Buddhist Vihar–for the protection and progress of Buddhist society, religion and culture, under the divine kindliness of the all-compassionate and fully enlightened Lord Sakyamuni and under the guidance of the instructions of Sri Acharya Nagarjuna.

In the village in Nagarjunakonda valley a temporary building is being constructed for the purpose.

On the completion of the Project when the whole valley would be submerged, a demand will be made on the Government for a site as near as possible to the place, where a permanent building will be constructed.

We appeal to all the religion-loving people of all faiths to help mentally, Physically and financially, in this pious effort and attain fame and virtue here and hereafter.

Sri Nagarjuna Bauddhao Vihar

23rd January 1956

Yours affectionately,

D. S. DHARMAJYOTI

Chief organiser, Sri Nagarjunakonda

Bauddha Bhagna Dharma Dhatusthal

Suraksha Sanghatan. (Organisation

for the preservation of the Buddhist

relics at Nagarjunakonda)

Address:

Sri Nagarjuna Bauddha Vihar

Nagarjunakonda

P. O. Macherla, Guntur Dt. (Andhra State)

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