WHERE I WENT
The temple consists of a large prayer hall and an inner altar.
A marble statue of Buddha forms the centre piece of the altar.
The wall panels depict various events in the life of Buddha.
Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist temple in Worli
Chances are that you like me, have passed this sign several times and wondered what a sign in Japanese is doing in Mumbai.
So one day, my curiosity got the better of me and I went to discover what lay beyond that sign.
WHAT I LEARNT
Built in 1956, this temple's origins are linked to an old prophecy by a 13th century Japanese Buddhist monk Nichiren who said that the ultimate salvation of humanity, contaminated by all that was evil and impure, lay on the western haven of India, the country that was home to Buddhism.
According to information I gathered on the internet, centuries later, another Japanese monk Nichidatsu Fujii, founder of the Nipponzan-Myohoji-Daisanga order of Nichiren Buddhism came to India in 1931 with a group of disciples with the intention of fulfilling that prophecy. During his visit to India, he met and interacted with Mahatma Gandhi and contributed to India's freedom struggle in the 1930s. As a form of gratitude, Jugal Kishore Birla a Gandhian and well known philanthropist who was so impressed by Fujii Guruji's thoughts and vision that he built the temple at Worli. Since its construction, it has been renovated and maintained by the Raja Baldeodas Birla family trust.
WHAT I SAW
The temple consists of a large prayer hall and an inner altar.
A marble statue of Buddha forms the centre piece of the altar.
The wall panels depict various events in the life of Buddha.
Prayers are held twice a day at 6 am and at 5:30 pm. The hall reverberates with the sounds of the Japanese drums in tune to the chants of "Na mu myo ho ren ge kyo" which is the Lotus Mantra.
Prayers are led by the resident monk Bhikshu Morita who has been here for the last 30 years. I ovehear him speak in fluent Hindi to a visitor who had just arrived.
WHAT I LOVED
There is a sense of calm and tranquility that envelops you as soon as you ascend the stairs into the temple. The temple is open to people from all faiths. It is a spiritual space that exudes peace and serenity despite the sounds of construction and the distant honks of traffic.
WHERE: Dr Annie Besant Rd, Opp Poddar Hospital, B Wing, Worli, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400018.
TIMINGS: 05:30 AM - 12:30 PM , 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM
WHERE: Dr Annie Besant Rd, Opp Poddar Hospital, B Wing, Worli, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400018.
TIMINGS: 05:30 AM - 12:30 PM , 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM
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