Dhauligiri: The Peace Pagoda

Bhubaneswar, Odisha

In 261 B.C., a deadly, furious and most bloody battle named 'Kalinga War' was fought on the soil of Odisha or ancient Kalinga. This war was the reason of transformation of King Ashoka, the warrior king became a follower of Buddhism and managed to spread it around the World by following the path of peace & non-violence. The war was fought on the banks of River Daya at Dhauli on the outskirts of city of Bhubaneswar, the temple city and capital of Odisha. It is believed millions of people died in the war, even the females from villages were on the battle field. Blood wad flowing in River Daya instead of water, which was unbearable for the King, though he won the war. So the place got some special importance for the King and he built many monuments, pillars and written edicts. Eleven out of Ashoka's famous fourteen stone edicts are here on the Dhauli Hills, these were discovered in the year 1837 by Lt. M. Kittoe.

The place is roughly 8 kilometers down South from the City Center and 3 kilometers off NH 203 which connects Bhubaneswar and Puri.




Ashoka's stone edicts are preserved under the rock carved stone elephant.










HISTORY of SHANTI STUPA at DHAULI

Seven hundred years ago Mahabhikshu Nichiren Bodhisattva of Japan had made a prophecy that 2503 years after the demise of Lord Buddha, Buddhism will return to the land of its origin. India is called the country of the moon, where the Buddha appears shining in the world as brightly as the Sun appears in Japan. The moon moves from West to East. It is the omen of Buddhism in Japan returning to India. Moonlight is not as bright as Sunlight, therefore the Buddha preached this Lotus sutra for only eight years in his life time. Sunlight is brighter than Moonlight. This is an auspicious omen of Japanese Buddhism shining through the long darkness of the fifth 500-year period. According to this prophecy, the chief priest of Nipponzan Myohoji Fujii Guruji came down to India in 1930 from Mt. Minobu, the original holy place of Nichiren Sect. He took part in Mahatma Gandhi's struggle for independence and has spent ascetic life chanting the mantra 'Na-Mu-Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo' with non-violence. Some of his disciples lived in the Wardha-Ashram to help Gandhiji. Gandhiji would himself chant the mantra 'Na-Mu-Myo-Ho-Ren-Ge-Kyo' to the accompaniment of a small drum he started this mantra his daily prayer. After the independence of India, Jawaharlal Nehru tried to give a form of Fujii Guruji's decision. He became the president of 'Rajgiri Development Samiti'. In Bihar laid the foundation of the first Shanti Stupa in India. In 1969 on the occasion of the inauguration ceremony of the Rajgiri Shanti Stupa, the Governor of Bihar, Sri Nityananda Kanungo was present and he decided to establish this Shanti Stupa in his home land Orissa. He also formed the Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha and under his chairmanship invited Fujii Guruji. Dr. Radhanatha Ratha, editor of daily news paper 'Samaj' was the force behind this organization and he carried the responsibility extremely well. The state minister of Electricity and Water supplies have helped by providing a road to the peak of Dhauli Hill and also by levelling the ground below on the other hand Fuji Guruji along with his young disciples also showed the way by building the Stupa. Nipponzan Myohoji happily bore the entire cost considering this to be an offering to Lord Buddha. The disciplies had to put a great effort and sacrifice in building the stupa. Built entirely with the physical labor of the people, the Stupa was ready in two years of time. On 8th November 1972 then the Chief-minister of Odisha Smt. Nandini Satapathy was invited as the chief-guest for the inaguration of the Stupa, under the guidance of Fujii Guruji. Dhauligiri is an eminent and historic place. It was here that Emperor Ashoka laid down the weapons of violence and accepted a life of Ahimsa (non-violence) in the form of Buddhism. Below the hill in the huge rock is inscribed the edict of the Emperor. It was 2300 years ago that the Emperor tired of the Kalinga War came here to rest. While praying dejectedly inner thoughts and spirits of Ahimsa seemed to call out from the blowing breeze and waves of River Daya. Emperor Ashoka had 84000 Stupas built and had them sent to far way places upto Greece with message of Peace. Ashoka is remembered among the other things for his works in establishing peace among nations. Orissa should indeed be proud that Fujii Guruji had selected this place for the 'Vishwashanti Stupa'. This stupa symbolized peace for the future generation based on the deals of Emperor Ashoka and speaks against man's inhuman craze for nuclear weapons which might end the world.

Source: Bhikshu Shanti Shugei, Kalinga Nippon Buddha Sangha

Travelling to a place like this is no longer an expensive affair and booking of flights are no more a hassle. Flights, especially domestic flights to this Eastern part of India are now pretty affordable. So this vacation try to see something different and less explored... Happy Travelling :)