In 1951, the Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery is
established in Dhaka City, and permanently installed in its
present position at Sabujbag, Kamalapur, Dhaka-1214 in 1960. This is
the first Buddhist Monastery in Dhaka after the division of India in
1947. Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha took initiative in
1951 to establish a new Buddhist Centre in Dhaka, the then
Provincial Capital of East Pakistan to unite and project the
Religious and Socio-cultural activities of the Buddhists of the
newly emerged country Pakistan.
It is to be mentioned that greater Dhaka is a place
where Buddhism flourished in the past days. Dhamrai, Savar,
Narsingdhi and Vikrampur were the Buddhist Centres which is at
present coming to light through excavation. Recently ancient
Buddhist Monasteries discovered at Savar, Wari-Bateswar and
Vikrampur. In order to keep alive the past glory of Buddhism of this
area the name of Dhaka Buddhist Monastery has been re-named as
Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery. History records that Great King
Ashoka established 84 thousand Votive Stupas throughout ancient
India which were known as Dharmarajika. Such Votive Stupa was
established by King Ashoka at present Dhamrai, Savar, Dhaka.
Needless to mention here that Dhamrai originated from Dharmarajika.
In order to commemorate this historical name of event the Dhaka
Buddhist Monastery has been re-named as Dharmarajika Buddhist
Monastery. Under the leadership of Late Mahasanghanayaka
Visuddhananda Mahathero, the then President of Bangladesh Bouddha
Kristi Prachar Sangha ably assisted by Late Banghish Thero, B. A.
and present President of the BBKPS Sanghanayaka Suddhananda
Mahathero and with the help and assistance of the Members of
Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha established this historical
Monastery. The Monastery was set up to act as a focal point for
Buddhist teachings and meditation and to provide much needed support
to the community. Since opening our doors, our center has set up
many social welfare programs and has been involved in coming to the
assistance of the community whenever a disaster or any other
problems arises.
BBKPS has brought back a portion of Ash Relics of Atisha Dipankar
the great scholar of Bangladesh of 10th century from China in 1978.
This relics has been ceremonially installed at Dharmarajika Buddhist
Monastery in 1978. Mention may be made here that Govt of Bangladesh
rendered all possible assistance at that time. With the arrival of
Atisha's ash relics the name of great Buddhist Scholar came to light
after many many
years. Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha played a historical
role in reviving the Buddhist heritage of Bangladesh.
Atish Dipankar was born in 980 A.D at a village
Bajrajogini, Bikarampur, Munshigonj, Dhaka. His father's name was
King Kallyanasree and mother's name was Queen Prabhabati.
Kalyanasree was the local ruler appointed by the Pala Kings. He was
pious and qualified. He sent his son Chandragarbha (Atisha
Dipankar's early name) to Pandit
Jetari (JETARI) who was the resident of Barendra (present Rajshahi).
At the age of 25 he defeated a great Pandit on religious debate.
Then the name and fame of Atisha Dipankar spread all over in India.
Atisha went to Rahulagupta another great Buddhist monk of Krishagiri
of South India. He accepted him and entered to the life of Samanera
(Novice) under his guidance. He was renamed as GUHAJYA GYANABAJRA.
For further knowledge he went to Odhantapuri Mahavihara
(University). There he took ordination from Silarakkhit Thero the
Vice Chancellor of Odhantapuri Mahabihara and became monk. Then he
took the name Dipankar Sreegyan. Afterwords he came to another
scholer Dharmarakshit of Magadha for further knowledge. After
receiving knowledge from him he
went to Suvarnabhumi (present Thailand and Indonesia) to aquire
knowledge on Buddhist Philoshophy. He gathered knowledge from
Dharmarakkit of Suvarnabhumi but some scholars say that his name was
Dharmapala. After completing his study he returned back to
Bangladesh via Srilanka. After visiting holy places there Atisha
Dipankar joined Vikramsila University and subsequently became the
Vice Chancellor.
From there he went to Tibet to reform Buddhism in 1038
A.D. From Tibet he did not come back and expired in 1054 A. D. in
Tibet. In 1978 his ashes (remains) has been brought to Bangladesh by
Bangladesh Bouddha Kristi Prachar Sangha in its Head Quarter
Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery.
Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery is famous for its
newly built 38' Standing Buddha Statue. Ever first of its kind in
Bangladesh this Statue has been erected by the guidance of H. H.
Sanghanayaka Suddhananda Mahathero and Phra Maha Boonsong Upasamo of
Wat Songmettawanaram of Chonburi, Thailand under the patronage of
Royal Thai Family. This historic statue was ceremonially opened by
Hon'ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina in 2012.
Another attractive Pagoda and Atisha Statue is going
to be constructed at Dharmarajika Buddhist Monastery by the
patronage of His Majest King of Bhutan and other donors.
Holy Bodhi Tree is planted in this Monastery in 1965
which was brought from Anuradhapur, Srilanka which was a gift of the
then Prime Minister Sreemavo Bandernayaka of Srilanka. Bo-tree is a
pious tree because under this tree Goutama attained Bodhi
(Enlightenment) and became the Buddha. In this campus of the Bodhi
Tree statue of 27 past Buddha's are installed with a Samadhi Buddha
in the midst.