Deeksha Bhoomi Nagpu
Recently during my Nagpur visit in the month of April, we Dhamma Chakra Stupa and compassionate, towards Dr. Ambedkar and his movement.Lacs of people from each corner of India as well as abroad comes every year on this historic place and raised their hands to salute this courageous personality Baba sahib Dr B. R. Ambedkar.People wearing blue cap on their heads came in flocks from train, buses and conveyances whatever they get.They comes hundreds miles away with singing songs of their emancipator Dr. Baba sahib Ambedkar.The day 'Deeksha Deevas' i.e. 14 Oct. is being celebrated each year as Ashok Vijaya Dashmi day got opportunity to made the visit of 'Deeksha-Bhoomi'.However, we have came here 5 to 6 times earlier,but it was under construction at that time.Now, it is mostly completed.Any one feel glazed looking to the towering monument known as
The 'Deeksha Bhoomi' is the place where Dr B.R. Ambedkar; the architect-er of Indian constitution and 1st Law minister of Govt of India, embraced Buddhism with his lacs of followers leaving Hinduism where he was born.As he found, Hinduism is the main obstruction towards emancipation of the his downtrodden mass of dalit who is forced to live worse than animal in Hindu fold. Dr Ambedkar had already declared in 1935 that although, he was born as a Hindu but he would not die as Hindu.After this declaration, he studies various solution and found Buddhism as the way of life for his followers. He selected Nagpur for his conversion ceremony,as he explained in his speech at that occasion, because Nagpur was the homeland of Nag people who embraced Buddhism and supported it with great effort in its early period.
A wide space near Ramdaspeth was declared for the ceremony. On 14 Oct. 1956 Baba Sahib Ambedkar and his wife Savita Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in presence of lac's of his followers. He took oath of three Jewels and five Precepts from a renowned Buddhist monk of Burma(Myanmar) Ven Mahasthavir U Chandramani.After taking oath, he then gave the oath of three Jewels, five precepts and 22 Vows to his followers.
Dr Ambedkar died on 6 Dec.1956 just one and half month after this ceremony.After his death, 'Dr Ambedkar Smarak Committee' was formed to take up the task of Deeksha Bhoomi development. The committee had decided to build a monument as the memorial of that mass conversion to Buddhism.It was decided that the monument would be in line of Shachi Buddha Stu pa.
The towering Stu pa was designed by the famous architect Sheo Dan Mal (mokha). The construction work was started in July 1978 and after completion, it was open for the people on 18 Dec 2001 following a formal inauguration by the then President of India K. R. Narayana
The Stupa is based upon the architecture of the world famous Sanchi Buddha Stupa but it is completely hollow from inside.It is said that it is the largest hollow Stupa among all Buddha Stupas in the world.
The towering monument has 120 ft. dia and 120 ft height. The ground floor hall has 211 x 211 ft square size approx. At the center of this hall, a Buddha statue is placed. Above the hall, there is a hollow dome.This dome is surrounded by veranda.On all four direction of dome, fountains are there.Above the dome,there is a small slab and a little decorative umbrella. A high quality marble from Dholpur(Rajasthan) are used for flooring of the Stu-pa.The Stu-pa has doors on four directions. The doors open in large arc, which are decorated with Ashok chakras and statues of horses, elephants and lions as ancient Buddhist tradition.There is also a library and photo exhibition on the life and mission of Dr Baba sahib Ambedkar.
Beside of Buddha Vihara, there is a sacred Bodhi Tree.This Bodhi Tree was planted by Ven Bhadant Aanad Kaushalyayan as the memoir of Buddha enlightenment. He had brought three branches of the Bodhi Tree from Anuradhapuram in Shri Lanka.
Today, Deeksha Bhoomi i.e. Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism is a kindle light to Indian mass who is forced to live worse than cat and dog in Hindu society.On Ashok Vijaya Dashami Day, lacs of these people reach there and pay floral tributes towards their emancipator.
Recently during my Nagpur visit in the month of April, we Dhamma Chakra Stupa and compassionate, towards Dr. Ambedkar and his movement.Lacs of people from each corner of India as well as abroad comes every year on this historic place and raised their hands to salute this courageous personality Baba sahib Dr B. R. Ambedkar.People wearing blue cap on their heads came in flocks from train, buses and conveyances whatever they get.They comes hundreds miles away with singing songs of their emancipator Dr. Baba sahib Ambedkar.The day 'Deeksha Deevas' i.e. 14 Oct. is being celebrated each year as Ashok Vijaya Dashmi day got opportunity to made the visit of 'Deeksha-Bhoomi'.However, we have came here 5 to 6 times earlier,but it was under construction at that time.Now, it is mostly completed.Any one feel glazed looking to the towering monument known as
The 'Deeksha Bhoomi' is the place where Dr B.R. Ambedkar; the architect-er of Indian constitution and 1st Law minister of Govt of India, embraced Buddhism with his lacs of followers leaving Hinduism where he was born.As he found, Hinduism is the main obstruction towards emancipation of the his downtrodden mass of dalit who is forced to live worse than animal in Hindu fold. Dr Ambedkar had already declared in 1935 that although, he was born as a Hindu but he would not die as Hindu.After this declaration, he studies various solution and found Buddhism as the way of life for his followers. He selected Nagpur for his conversion ceremony,as he explained in his speech at that occasion, because Nagpur was the homeland of Nag people who embraced Buddhism and supported it with great effort in its early period.
A wide space near Ramdaspeth was declared for the ceremony. On 14 Oct. 1956 Baba Sahib Ambedkar and his wife Savita Ambedkar embraced Buddhism in presence of lac's of his followers. He took oath of three Jewels and five Precepts from a renowned Buddhist monk of Burma(Myanmar) Ven Mahasthavir U Chandramani.After taking oath, he then gave the oath of three Jewels, five precepts and 22 Vows to his followers.Dr Ambedkar died on 6 Dec.1956 just one and half month after this ceremony.After his death, 'Dr Ambedkar Smarak Committee' was formed to take up the task of Deeksha Bhoomi development. The committee had decided to build a monument as the memorial of that mass conversion to Buddhism.It was decided that the monument would be in line of Shachi Buddha Stu pa.
The towering Stu pa was designed by the famous architect Sheo Dan Mal (mokha). The construction work was started in July 1978 and after completion, it was open for the people on 18 Dec 2001 following a formal inauguration by the then President of India K. R. Narayana
The Stupa is based upon the architecture of the world famous Sanchi Buddha Stupa but it is completely hollow from inside.It is said that it is the largest hollow Stupa among all Buddha Stupas in the world.The towering monument has 120 ft. dia and 120 ft height. The ground floor hall has 211 x 211 ft square size approx. At the center of this hall, a Buddha statue is placed. Above the hall, there is a hollow dome.This dome is surrounded by veranda.On all four direction of dome, fountains are there.Above the dome,there is a small slab and a little decorative umbrella. A high quality marble from Dholpur(Rajasthan) are used for flooring of the Stu-pa.The Stu-pa has doors on four directions. The doors open in large arc, which are decorated with Ashok chakras and statues of horses, elephants and lions as ancient Buddhist tradition.There is also a library and photo exhibition on the life and mission of Dr Baba sahib Ambedkar.
Around the Stu-pa, there is a vast garden.The statues of Loard Buddha and Dr Baba Sahib Ambedkar are installed on front of this Stu-pa.Buddha Vihar is there on right hand side of Stu-pa where Bhanteji have facility to stay.
Beside of Buddha Vihara, there is a sacred Bodhi Tree.This Bodhi Tree was planted by Ven Bhadant Aanad Kaushalyayan as the memoir of Buddha enlightenment. He had brought three branches of the Bodhi Tree from Anuradhapuram in Shri Lanka.Today, Deeksha Bhoomi i.e. Ambedkar's conversion to Buddhism is a kindle light to Indian mass who is forced to live worse than cat and dog in Hindu society.On Ashok Vijaya Dashami Day, lacs of these people reach there and pay floral tributes towards their emancipator.
You have narrated this post so beautifully. Thanks for sharing. Deekshabhoomi is a sacred monument of Buddhism at the place where the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar,[2] went back to Buddhism along with his about 500,000 followers on 14 October 1956. Check out more about Deekshabhoomi also.
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