Are interested me and half the small statues of marble. "Probably, they are very old?" - I ask of the abbot. He whistle me to the window and points to a nearby hill. Throughout his passes slope collapse. It turns out that the top of the hill when it was crowned with an ancient pagoda. Over time, it collapsed, and the land taken into their fold sacred wreckage. Recently, a landslide occurred, exposing the ancient relics, which are now kept in the monastery.
Showing posts with label buddhist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buddhist. Show all posts
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Glorious past of Arakan
The next morning I was in the monastery. I got there, of course, on the trishaw, which a great many of Cox's Bazar, and indeed throughout Bangladesh. Before we go on foot pier, first through the Arakan, and then the Muslim Quarter. In the first Sando Bata respectful welcome, and secondly to my skinhead escort in dark orange toge relate quite indifferent. Buddhist monk was not such a rarity in the Cox's Bazar.
We were lucky. There was a deep shade. From the pier to the boat had to jump on board and bridges, spread through the black mud. The boat was fast and domchal us to the island in less than an hour. Remember the felucca, which taschila a thick rope to a huge shark. On the surface was visible only to its huge head. Along the perimeter of the island surrounded by tidal or mangrove thickets.
On the pier, we immediately went to a Buddhist monastery. This is where my conversation with the rector interrupted cry "Allahu Akbar". Was a creek just above my ear. The mosque is built into the wall with the wall of the monastery. In fact, according to Islamic law, the chapel should be built at a respectful distance from the shrines of other religions. In real life everything happens in a different way. On a small island had to get on the Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus.
Brozhu of Arakan village lnuschey to the monastery. In the shade of palm trees sheltering huts of bamboo and cane. In some yards powdered tanakhoy women simplest machines to weave cloth to sew from the capes and skirts. A dense material that goes to traditional bag over his shoulder. At their zherdochke weighs an entire collection. Multicolored floral torbochki look stain.
Know that the life of peasants in the Buddhist-Islamic environment not so easy. Their land they have little or none. Industry helps. Rohingya involved and the specific businesses such as samogonovarenie. The demand for alcohol among Muslims there. Rohingya - born fishermen. Under the canopy sits very colorful old. In ugolochke lips clamped thick cigar and the deft hand of cut fish. Neither give nor take - the wife of an old pirate. That is because the Bengalis called Rohingya "might" or "magh," which, according to some researchers, is a pirate. Indeed, over the centuries Arakan kingdom known for its powerful fleet that controlled the mouth of the Ganges. One can only imagine the armada of sailing ships, vyplyvayuschih because of the island. And the sails were usually black.
Many hodilo and free pirate sudenyshek. Their riotous team found a suitable partner: Portuguese seafarers, adventurers. Together, they lead to the horror of merchant ships. Not brezgovali and the slave trade. Slaves were sold to the Dutch trading post, which was littered with Koromondelskoe coast of India.
All this is now in the past as a prosperous kingdom of Arakan. But under his rule at that time was a large part of modern Bangladesh. In Arakan chronicles referred to the 12 Bengali principalities, conquered armies and fleets of Arakan kings. In general, in the historical annals mention 314 Arakan monarchs who ruled for five centuries. They belonged to and a major port of Chittagong, in Arakan "Saytagaun" that is interpreted in two ways: "warlord" or "fortress". Special significance to Arakan reached in the middle of XV century, when the King of Ba For MDP, and having an Islamic title - Kalima Shah. No, it was not a Muslim, and zealously practiced Buddhism. Just to enforce the King of Arakan have been and magometane. In addition, Ba Co MDP wanted to be on an equal footing with the Mogul. Over time, Arakan kingdom weakened. In 1666, it lost Chittagong, and in 1784 lost its independence at all. Rohingya same - Buddhists have long lived in these places, a result of Muslim rule. According to preliminary estimates, currently Rohingya in Bangladesh has more than 200 thousand. They live in India, in the states of Tripura and Mizoram. In Myanmar the same Arakane them about 2 million. All of them - Buddhists.
We were lucky. There was a deep shade. From the pier to the boat had to jump on board and bridges, spread through the black mud. The boat was fast and domchal us to the island in less than an hour. Remember the felucca, which taschila a thick rope to a huge shark. On the surface was visible only to its huge head. Along the perimeter of the island surrounded by tidal or mangrove thickets.
On the pier, we immediately went to a Buddhist monastery. This is where my conversation with the rector interrupted cry "Allahu Akbar". Was a creek just above my ear. The mosque is built into the wall with the wall of the monastery. In fact, according to Islamic law, the chapel should be built at a respectful distance from the shrines of other religions. In real life everything happens in a different way. On a small island had to get on the Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus.
Brozhu of Arakan village lnuschey to the monastery. In the shade of palm trees sheltering huts of bamboo and cane. In some yards powdered tanakhoy women simplest machines to weave cloth to sew from the capes and skirts. A dense material that goes to traditional bag over his shoulder. At their zherdochke weighs an entire collection. Multicolored floral torbochki look stain.
Know that the life of peasants in the Buddhist-Islamic environment not so easy. Their land they have little or none. Industry helps. Rohingya involved and the specific businesses such as samogonovarenie. The demand for alcohol among Muslims there. Rohingya - born fishermen. Under the canopy sits very colorful old. In ugolochke lips clamped thick cigar and the deft hand of cut fish. Neither give nor take - the wife of an old pirate. That is because the Bengalis called Rohingya "might" or "magh," which, according to some researchers, is a pirate. Indeed, over the centuries Arakan kingdom known for its powerful fleet that controlled the mouth of the Ganges. One can only imagine the armada of sailing ships, vyplyvayuschih because of the island. And the sails were usually black.
Many hodilo and free pirate sudenyshek. Their riotous team found a suitable partner: Portuguese seafarers, adventurers. Together, they lead to the horror of merchant ships. Not brezgovali and the slave trade. Slaves were sold to the Dutch trading post, which was littered with Koromondelskoe coast of India.
All this is now in the past as a prosperous kingdom of Arakan. But under his rule at that time was a large part of modern Bangladesh. In Arakan chronicles referred to the 12 Bengali principalities, conquered armies and fleets of Arakan kings. In general, in the historical annals mention 314 Arakan monarchs who ruled for five centuries. They belonged to and a major port of Chittagong, in Arakan "Saytagaun" that is interpreted in two ways: "warlord" or "fortress". Special significance to Arakan reached in the middle of XV century, when the King of Ba For MDP, and having an Islamic title - Kalima Shah. No, it was not a Muslim, and zealously practiced Buddhism. Just to enforce the King of Arakan have been and magometane. In addition, Ba Co MDP wanted to be on an equal footing with the Mogul. Over time, Arakan kingdom weakened. In 1666, it lost Chittagong, and in 1784 lost its independence at all. Rohingya same - Buddhists have long lived in these places, a result of Muslim rule. According to preliminary estimates, currently Rohingya in Bangladesh has more than 200 thousand. They live in India, in the states of Tripura and Mizoram. In Myanmar the same Arakane them about 2 million. All of them - Buddhists.
On the island, the ancient god
Moheshkhali Island in Arakan called Mahazou. Mahazou - this is NAT, dobuddiyskoe deity-conservator. A Rohingya NATOV there are 33, but the Burmese - 37. Mahazou regarded as the patron of Arakan kings. Perhaps they somehow provoked the Natal and he refused to protect the rulers. However, god does not leave the island, Rohingya. They remain faithful to Buddhism, its culture and customs, that is not easy as the first in the alien environment.
A Rohingya, as well as the Burmese, Buddhism is organically combined with the worship of local deities Natama. Rector island monastery explained to me that the Buddhist faith is more in the future, subsequent births, and Natama pray to acquire well-being in this life. In Arakan pantheon included some of the gods of Hinduism. Popular, for example, Saraswati - the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, particularly authoritative in students. At the highest hill of the island is a Hindu shrine - the temple of Adinath, dedicated to goddess Durga. Marble sculpture of the goddess like a little doll. Saddened me to state an old pagoda on top of one of the highest hills. Her body ziyaet failure. It turns out that criminals have tried to discover the treasures inside the pagoda. Shrine is not able to protect the four stone lions standing on their corners. Type they are not formidable, and the open mouth seems to be toothless.
Very chirk me girl-arakanki with densely spread tanakhoy face. As Staiki birds, влетели them in a monastery, where I talked with the rector. Especially nice was the one with a sun drawn on the cheeks. Napudrivanie tanakhoy than purely cosmetic and has a magical significance. She would like to protect against evil influences. In general, the Rohingya are very magic. In the body, even Buddhist monks bear tattoo. First of all, it is miraculous squares "information" and "Ain". Even among Rohingya are unhappy, but odd, especially 3, 5, 7 and 9 - bring good luck. But back to the monastery.
Solntselikaya Beauty was very shy and did not want to call your name. Help out friends. They are vying cried: "Hey Hey Khayn! Khayn Hey Hey!
In the monastery is a school board with Burmese letters. In the Buddhist monastery of Burmese children learn the language to read the holy book. Arakan is actually speaking the language as spoken. Thanks monastery education, almost all Rohingya literate.
My mood improved even more after lunch monastery. Meal consisted of marine delicacies. What just was not there: mussels, trepangi, squids. And refreshing coconut juice. Nowhere, I did not drink this delicious coconut juice, as the island Mahazou.
On the way back from the island to get a seafood import. Berthed boats and all kinds of pandemonium sudenyshek. It seems that holds them to the edges covered with silver. Part of a rich harvest has already been discharged under the canopies. Entire slides rays. Dozens of small sharks. What a horrendously long fish, a bit like a snake. A shark-hammer? Instead, she heads oblong bar at the end of which - the eyes, the blue by the way, under the color of sea water in a sunny day. Huge impressive and endless shelly Bazar on the shore of the bay. If the fishing port are represented by the inhabitants of oceanic depths, it is their home. A variety of shells just endlessly. These are noble and white hold sacred. They are used during religious ceremonies and Buddhists and Hindus. Skilful musician extracts of charming sounds. And those pink shells in size and shape similar to the helmets of knights. Many figures, skillfully collected from shells of different. Hilarious funny mermaid. All this makes Rohingya-Buddhists. After all, as Muslims are not with their hands to produce an image, the more people. Lots of souvenirs brought from Myanmar, including pearls and three colors: white, pink and black. There are also mothers and sinks, was nurtured by a miracle. Especially unusual black rather than black and dark purple.
Just a series of trade pleschetsya sea. It is very soft here. At the stretching tens of kilometers cay. The sand is clean. At the bottom is not even small pebbles. Sometimes only the nail on the waves to the shore the sea star, living stars. I picked up their relationship and away to sea. It is gratifying to manumit star.
And over the Gulf at this time as the red banner of rage tropical sunset. Okay, I made a good case: given the life of a living substance. Perhaps, as Buddhism teaches, thus I have a sub-karma.
A Rohingya, as well as the Burmese, Buddhism is organically combined with the worship of local deities Natama. Rector island monastery explained to me that the Buddhist faith is more in the future, subsequent births, and Natama pray to acquire well-being in this life. In Arakan pantheon included some of the gods of Hinduism. Popular, for example, Saraswati - the goddess of wisdom and knowledge, particularly authoritative in students. At the highest hill of the island is a Hindu shrine - the temple of Adinath, dedicated to goddess Durga. Marble sculpture of the goddess like a little doll. Saddened me to state an old pagoda on top of one of the highest hills. Her body ziyaet failure. It turns out that criminals have tried to discover the treasures inside the pagoda. Shrine is not able to protect the four stone lions standing on their corners. Type they are not formidable, and the open mouth seems to be toothless.
Very chirk me girl-arakanki with densely spread tanakhoy face. As Staiki birds, влетели them in a monastery, where I talked with the rector. Especially nice was the one with a sun drawn on the cheeks. Napudrivanie tanakhoy than purely cosmetic and has a magical significance. She would like to protect against evil influences. In general, the Rohingya are very magic. In the body, even Buddhist monks bear tattoo. First of all, it is miraculous squares "information" and "Ain". Even among Rohingya are unhappy, but odd, especially 3, 5, 7 and 9 - bring good luck. But back to the monastery.
Solntselikaya Beauty was very shy and did not want to call your name. Help out friends. They are vying cried: "Hey Hey Khayn! Khayn Hey Hey!
In the monastery is a school board with Burmese letters. In the Buddhist monastery of Burmese children learn the language to read the holy book. Arakan is actually speaking the language as spoken. Thanks monastery education, almost all Rohingya literate.
My mood improved even more after lunch monastery. Meal consisted of marine delicacies. What just was not there: mussels, trepangi, squids. And refreshing coconut juice. Nowhere, I did not drink this delicious coconut juice, as the island Mahazou.
On the way back from the island to get a seafood import. Berthed boats and all kinds of pandemonium sudenyshek. It seems that holds them to the edges covered with silver. Part of a rich harvest has already been discharged under the canopies. Entire slides rays. Dozens of small sharks. What a horrendously long fish, a bit like a snake. A shark-hammer? Instead, she heads oblong bar at the end of which - the eyes, the blue by the way, under the color of sea water in a sunny day. Huge impressive and endless shelly Bazar on the shore of the bay. If the fishing port are represented by the inhabitants of oceanic depths, it is their home. A variety of shells just endlessly. These are noble and white hold sacred. They are used during religious ceremonies and Buddhists and Hindus. Skilful musician extracts of charming sounds. And those pink shells in size and shape similar to the helmets of knights. Many figures, skillfully collected from shells of different. Hilarious funny mermaid. All this makes Rohingya-Buddhists. After all, as Muslims are not with their hands to produce an image, the more people. Lots of souvenirs brought from Myanmar, including pearls and three colors: white, pink and black. There are also mothers and sinks, was nurtured by a miracle. Especially unusual black rather than black and dark purple.
Just a series of trade pleschetsya sea. It is very soft here. At the stretching tens of kilometers cay. The sand is clean. At the bottom is not even small pebbles. Sometimes only the nail on the waves to the shore the sea star, living stars. I picked up their relationship and away to sea. It is gratifying to manumit star.
And over the Gulf at this time as the red banner of rage tropical sunset. Okay, I made a good case: given the life of a living substance. Perhaps, as Buddhism teaches, thus I have a sub-karma.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Comilla Buddhist Vihara
Buddhist Vihara or monastery is an important form of institution associated with Buddhism. It may be defined as a residence for monks, a centre for religious work and meditation and a centre of Buddhist learning. Reference to five kinds of dwellings (Pancha Lenani) namely, Vihara, Addayoga, Pasada, Hammiya and Guha is found in the Buddhist canonical texts as fit for monks. Of these only the Vihara (monastery) and Guha (Cave) have survived.
Epigraphic, literary and archaeological evidence testify to the existence of many Buddhist Viharas in Bengal (West Bengal and Bangladesh) and Bihar from the 5th century AD to the end of the 12th century. These monasteries were generally designed in the old traditional Kusana pattern, a square block formed by four rows of cells along the four sides of an inner courtyard. They were usually built of stone or brick. As the monastic organisation developed, they became elaborate brick structures with many adjuncts. Often they consisted of several storeys and along the inner courtyard there usually ran a verandah supported on pillars. In some of them a stupa or shrine with a dais appeared. Within the shrine stood the images of Buddha, Bodhisattva or Buddhist female deities. More or less the same plan was followed in building monastic establishments in Bengal and Bihar during the Gupta and Pala period. In course of time monasteries became important centres of learning.
An idea of the plan and structure of some of the flourishing monasteries may be found from the account of hiuen-tsang, who referred to the grand monastery of po-si-po, situated about 6.5 km west of the capital city of Pundravardhana (mahasthan). The monastery was famous for its spacious halls and tall chambers. General cunningham identified this vihara with bhasu vihara. Huen-tsang also noticed the famous Lo-to-mo-chi vihara (raktamrittika mahavihara) near Karnasuvarna (Rangamati, Murshidabad, West Bengal). The site of the monastery has been identified at Rangamati (modern Chiruti, Murshidabad, West Bengal). A number of smaller monastic blocks arranged on a regular plan, with other adjuncts, like shrines, stupas, pavilions etc have been excavated from the site.
One of the earliest viharas in Bengal was located at Biharail (Rajshahi district, Bangladesh). The plan of the monastery was designed on an ancient pattern, ie rows of cells round a central courtyard. The date of the monastery may be ascribed to the Gupta period.
A number of monasteries grew up during the Pala period in ancient Bengal. One of them was somapura mahavihara at paharpur, 46.5 km to the northwest of Mahasthana. The available data suggests that the Pala ruler dharmapala founded the vihara. It followed the traditional cruciform plan for the central shrine. There were 177 individual cells around the central courtyard. There were central blocks in the middle of the eastern, southern and western sides. These might have been subsidiary chapels. It was the premier vihara of its kind and its fame lingered till the 11th century AD.
The famous nalanda Mahavihara was founded a few centuries earlier; Huen-tsang speaks about its magnificence and grandeur. Reference to this monastery is found in Tibetan and Chinese sources. The fame of this monastery lingered even after the Pala period.
Reference to a monastery known as vikramashila is found in Tibetan records. The Pala ruler Dharmapala was its founder. The exact site of this mahavihara is at Antichak, a small village in Bhagalpur district (Bihar). The monastery had 107 temples and 50 other institutions providing room for 108 monks. It attracted scholars from neighbouring countries.
The name of the Odantapuri monastery is traceable in Pagsam jon zang (a Tibetan text), but no full-length description is available in the Tibetan source. Gopala I (?) built it near Nalanda. This was the monastery invaded by bakhtiyar khalji.
Very interesting and important structural complexes have been discovered at mainamati (Comilla district, Bangladesh). Remains of quite a few viharas have been unearthed here and the most elaborate is the shalvan vihara. The complex consists of a fairly large vihara of the usual plan of four ranges of monastic cells round a central court, with a temple in cruciform plan situated in the centre. According to a legend on a seal (discovered at the site) the founder of the monastery was Bhavadeva, a ruler of deva dynasty.
Other notable monasteries of Pala period were Traikuta, Devikota (identified with ancient kotivarsa, 'modern Bangarh'), Pandita vihara and jagaddala (situated near Ramavati). Excavations conducted in 1972 to 1974 yielded a Buddhist monastic complex at Bharatpur in the Burdwan district of West Bengal. The date of the monastery may be ascribed to the early medieval period. Recent excavations at jagjivanpur (Malda district, West Bengal) revealed another Buddhist monastery of the ninth century AD. Unfortunately, nothing of the superstructure has survived. However, a number of monastic cells facing a rectangular courtyard have been found. An interesting feature is the presence of circular corner cells. It is believed that the general layout of the monastic complex at Jagjivanpur is by and large similar to that of Nalanda.
Beside these, scattered references to some monasteries are found in epigraphic and other sources. They were no less important. Among them Pullahari (in western Magadha), halud vihara (45 km south of Paharpur), Parikramana vihara and Yashovarmapura vihara (in Bihar) deserve mention
Epigraphic, literary and archaeological evidence testify to the existence of many Buddhist Viharas in Bengal (West Bengal and Bangladesh) and Bihar from the 5th century AD to the end of the 12th century. These monasteries were generally designed in the old traditional Kusana pattern, a square block formed by four rows of cells along the four sides of an inner courtyard. They were usually built of stone or brick. As the monastic organisation developed, they became elaborate brick structures with many adjuncts. Often they consisted of several storeys and along the inner courtyard there usually ran a verandah supported on pillars. In some of them a stupa or shrine with a dais appeared. Within the shrine stood the images of Buddha, Bodhisattva or Buddhist female deities. More or less the same plan was followed in building monastic establishments in Bengal and Bihar during the Gupta and Pala period. In course of time monasteries became important centres of learning.
An idea of the plan and structure of some of the flourishing monasteries may be found from the account of hiuen-tsang, who referred to the grand monastery of po-si-po, situated about 6.5 km west of the capital city of Pundravardhana (mahasthan). The monastery was famous for its spacious halls and tall chambers. General cunningham identified this vihara with bhasu vihara. Huen-tsang also noticed the famous Lo-to-mo-chi vihara (raktamrittika mahavihara) near Karnasuvarna (Rangamati, Murshidabad, West Bengal). The site of the monastery has been identified at Rangamati (modern Chiruti, Murshidabad, West Bengal). A number of smaller monastic blocks arranged on a regular plan, with other adjuncts, like shrines, stupas, pavilions etc have been excavated from the site.
One of the earliest viharas in Bengal was located at Biharail (Rajshahi district, Bangladesh). The plan of the monastery was designed on an ancient pattern, ie rows of cells round a central courtyard. The date of the monastery may be ascribed to the Gupta period.
A number of monasteries grew up during the Pala period in ancient Bengal. One of them was somapura mahavihara at paharpur, 46.5 km to the northwest of Mahasthana. The available data suggests that the Pala ruler dharmapala founded the vihara. It followed the traditional cruciform plan for the central shrine. There were 177 individual cells around the central courtyard. There were central blocks in the middle of the eastern, southern and western sides. These might have been subsidiary chapels. It was the premier vihara of its kind and its fame lingered till the 11th century AD.
The famous nalanda Mahavihara was founded a few centuries earlier; Huen-tsang speaks about its magnificence and grandeur. Reference to this monastery is found in Tibetan and Chinese sources. The fame of this monastery lingered even after the Pala period.
Reference to a monastery known as vikramashila is found in Tibetan records. The Pala ruler Dharmapala was its founder. The exact site of this mahavihara is at Antichak, a small village in Bhagalpur district (Bihar). The monastery had 107 temples and 50 other institutions providing room for 108 monks. It attracted scholars from neighbouring countries.
The name of the Odantapuri monastery is traceable in Pagsam jon zang (a Tibetan text), but no full-length description is available in the Tibetan source. Gopala I (?) built it near Nalanda. This was the monastery invaded by bakhtiyar khalji.
Very interesting and important structural complexes have been discovered at mainamati (Comilla district, Bangladesh). Remains of quite a few viharas have been unearthed here and the most elaborate is the shalvan vihara. The complex consists of a fairly large vihara of the usual plan of four ranges of monastic cells round a central court, with a temple in cruciform plan situated in the centre. According to a legend on a seal (discovered at the site) the founder of the monastery was Bhavadeva, a ruler of deva dynasty.
Other notable monasteries of Pala period were Traikuta, Devikota (identified with ancient kotivarsa, 'modern Bangarh'), Pandita vihara and jagaddala (situated near Ramavati). Excavations conducted in 1972 to 1974 yielded a Buddhist monastic complex at Bharatpur in the Burdwan district of West Bengal. The date of the monastery may be ascribed to the early medieval period. Recent excavations at jagjivanpur (Malda district, West Bengal) revealed another Buddhist monastery of the ninth century AD. Unfortunately, nothing of the superstructure has survived. However, a number of monastic cells facing a rectangular courtyard have been found. An interesting feature is the presence of circular corner cells. It is believed that the general layout of the monastic complex at Jagjivanpur is by and large similar to that of Nalanda.
Beside these, scattered references to some monasteries are found in epigraphic and other sources. They were no less important. Among them Pullahari (in western Magadha), halud vihara (45 km south of Paharpur), Parikramana vihara and Yashovarmapura vihara (in Bihar) deserve mention
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