Buddha hair relic handed over to SL

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Hair relics of Gautam Buddha were handed over to the representatives of Sri Lankan government at a festive ceremony at Chittagong Buddhist Monastery yesterday, marking a historic moment of sharing an invaluable possession as a token of fraternity between Bangladesh and Sri lanka.

Sangharaj Dharmasen Mohasthabir, the supreme patriarch of the Buddhists in Bangladesh, handed over the hair relics (kesho dhatu) to Uduyagama Sri Buddharaxmita Thero, chief of Asigiri Chapter of Sri Lanka, through the government representatives of the two countries.

Responding to the gesture of religious and brotherly tie, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohita Bogallagama also handed over a footprint of Buddha as a gift to Bangladesh.

Religious Adviser Maj Gen (retd) Dr ASM Matiur Rahman and Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury represented Bangladesh while Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama, Trade and Marketing Development Minister Bandula Gunawardena and Religious and Moral Upliftment Minister Pandu Bandarnaike, received the relics on behalf of Sri Lankan government.

Addressing the ceremony, the advisers of the caretaker government and the Buddhist leaders of Bangladesh expressed happiness over sharing of the possession with great religious and historic value.

Through the exchange of holy relics the whole world would be reminded of Buddha’s teachings that speak of goodwill, peace, tranquility and universal fraternity, they said.

Receiving the hair relics, the government representatives and Buddhist leaders of Sri Lanka said the bond of friendship and tie between the Buddhist community as well as people of the two countries would last for ever.

A magnificent Chaitya (a minaret-like structure) will be set up in Sri Lanka for preservation and display of the hair relics, they said.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka will receive the gift at Bandarnaike International Airport from where it will be taken to Gangaramaya Temple in Colombo in the afternoon.

Since a Tibetan monk donated it in 1930, the hair relics of Gautam Buddha have been preserved in Chittagong Buddhist Monastery for the last 77 years.

Madampe Senanyaka Aramaya Trust, a Sri Lankan organisation, expressed their eagerness to collect some of the relics for displaying it to the Buddhist devotees in their country in 2003, said Ajit Barua, chairman of Bangladesh Buddhist Association.

After several correspondences through the governments of the two countries, the monastery authorities agreed to hand over part of the relics as a gesture of goodwill and friendship between the two peoples, Ajit said.

Local devotees here can take a look on the relics preserved in a wooden box only once a year when the box is opened during the Buddha Purnima.

Earlier at different times, Buddhist devotees from Sri Lanka, Japan and Thailand collected the holy remaining of Gautam Buddha from this monastery.

After receiving the hair relics, Uduyagama Sri Buddharaxmita Thero expressed his heart-felt thanks to Bangladesh government, particularly to Sangharaj and other leaders of Bangladesh Buddhist Association, for preserving and sharing the religious possession.

“I cannot find any difference between you and the people of my country as far as the religious value and teachings of Buddha are concerned,” he said.

He wished that the friendship and tie between the Buddhist communities and people of the two countries will strengthen further and perpetuate.

Bangladesh Buddhist Association leaders in their speeches said that Chittagong Buddhist Monastery also preserved some other invaluable relics like Ashthi Dhatu (body remain of Buddha), some ancient books including a Tripitak written on palm leaf.

For preservation of these relics century-old Chittagong Buddhist Monastery needs renovation and reconstruction that might cost US$ 1 Million, said the leaders drawing the attention of Bangladesh government and the Lankan delegates.

Religious Adviser ASM Matiur Rahman assured the Buddhist community of every support and cooperation from the government.

Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama also assured them of assistance.

Thousands of Buddhist devotees including Sri Lankan youths studying in Bangladesh thronged Chittagong Buddhist Monastery braving the heavy downpour to witness the handing over of the sacred hair relics.

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