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Ganga-Mekhong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra
BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute has a main mission to operate project activities to drive the propagation of Buddhism both nationally and internationally to create cooperation and exchange knowledge, create good understanding for living together peacefully by using the principles of Buddhism to develop sustainable and stable prosperity on the path of the Noble Path.
Bodhigaya Institute is an independent, non-profit organization, founded by the gathering of Buddhists who know the great virtues of the Triple Gem, working together with determination to create stability in Buddhism by instilling faith in Buddhism through various project activities, using cooperation from various networks, both government sector, private organizations, groups of people, and individuals, to achieve success. And with the awareness of the crises that humanity faces that can be completely solved by Buddhism, Bodhgaya Institute has been working in accordance with this mission for 17 years and has outstanding and well-known achievements, namely: Dhammayatra of the 5 countries of the Mekong River Basin (Cambodia-Thailand-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam) The objective is to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Buddha in practicing Dhamma, to unite the faith of the Buddhists in the Mekong River Basin to be united as having the same Father, the Lord Buddha, with the Mekong River as a mother that nourishes the people in this region to live a stable life, and to proclaim Buddhism, to continue the Buddha's Buddhist aspirations to continue and preserve them as a Dhamma heritage for future generations.
The Mekong River Basin Dharma Yatra 5 Countries has already been held twice:
1st Dhammayatra 5 Lands: Following the footsteps of the noble monks of the Mekong River Basin Held between 21 May – 4 June 2017 and the opening ceremony of Dhammayatra was held at Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, Kingdom of Cambodia, chaired by Buddhist leaders and leaders of the Kingdom of Cambodia as follows: His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Cambodia and His Excellency Ho Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia
2nd Dhammayatra 5 Mekong Basin: Buddhist Diplomacy for World Peace Held between 15 – 31 October 2019 and held a ceremonyClosing of the Dhammayatra and paying homage to the ancient kings at Angkor Wat Temple, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia With the leaders of the monks and leaders of the country in the Kingdom of Cambodia as the chairman, as follows: His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Cambodia and General Samdech Pichey Sena Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia
The Dhammayatra project aims to follow in the footsteps of the Lord Buddha in studying and practicing Dhamma, to unite the stream of faith of the Buddhists in the Mekong River basin to be united as one, as they have the same Father, the Lord Buddha, with the Mekong River as a mother that nourishes the people in this region to live a stable life, and to proclaim Buddhism, continue the Buddha's Buddhist aspiration to last forever, and to preserve it as a Dhamma heritage for future generations.
From the success of the 2 previous Dhammayatra events of the 5 countries, it was possible to create a power of faith and unity among the people of the 5 countries to occur widely and grandly, leading to the 3rd Dhammayatra project under the name {Ganga-Mekong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra}(India-Thai) It is a project to invite the relics of the Lord Buddha (real bones) along with the relics of Sariputta and Maha Moggallana from India for people to pay homage and is an important historical symbol of the visit of the Lord Buddha to bestow blessings on Buddhists after a hiatus of more than 1 century. The pilgrimage to the relics of the Lord Buddha, which will be the greatest project because it is a pilgrimage connecting the land of the Lord Buddha from the great Ganga River in India to the land of Buddhism in the Mekong River Basin of Thailand. It is the introduction of the relics of the Lord Buddha by the Indian government from the National Museum of India, followed by the relics of the left and right chief disciples, Sariputta and Maha Moggallana from the great stupa of Sanchi, India, between 23 February - 19 March 2024.
In preparing for the Ganga-Mekong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra, the invitation of the Buddha's Relics along with the relics of Sariputta and Maha Moggallana from India is a collaboration between the Indian government and the Thai government, along with Wat Thai Buddhagaya, Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit, Wat Suvarnabhumi Phutthachaitri, and Bodhiyawichalai Institute 980 to connect and spread the power of faith of the people in Buddhism in both regions to be steadfast and everlasting, create the benefits of the principles of Dhamma to create the power of unity and goodness of all mankind, to live together peacefully based on the philosophy and teachings of the Lord Buddha, and also provide an opportunity for the people to pay homage and be an important historical symbol of the visit of the Lord Buddha to bestow blessings on Buddhists after a gap of almost 1 century. The visit of the Buddha's Relics this time also provides an opportunity for Buddhists to carry out religious activities together. To create a Dharma network to pass on love, unity and create peace through Dharma in Asia, the birthplace of Buddhism, which has been firmly established for over 2,600 years.
Schedule of the Ganga-Mekong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra
Ganga-Mekong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra has a schedule to invite the relics of the Lord Buddha. Representatives of the Indian government will invite the relics of the Lord Buddha from the National Museum of India in New Delhi, Republic of India, along with the relics of Sariputta and Maha Moggallana from the Sanchi Stupa, India, to be enshrined in Thailand on 22 February 2024. The invitation ceremony will be held on 23 February 2024 at the Sanam Luang Ceremonial Ground and will be open for the public to pay homage from 24 February to 3 March 2024. After that, they will be invited to Chiang Mai Province - Ubon Ratchathani Province - Krabi Province and then invited to return to the Republic of India.
4th-5th century BC
Piprahwa (ancient Kapilavastu), Siddharthanagar district, Uttar Pradesh.
National Museum, New Delhi Acc. No. Sl. No. 115 & 116
The life story of Buddha (briefly)
Prince Siddhattha was born to King Suddhodana of Kapilavastu (identified in Piprahva, Basti district, Uttar Pradesh) and Queen Maya around 563 BC, which is an important event in the history of mankind. At the age of 29, he abandoned worldly pleasures and set out on a tireless quest for salvation. While sitting under the Bodhi tree with a strong desire, he said, “… I will not rise from this seat until I have attained the highest and perfect knowledge.” He attained enlightenment, known as Kvatama (his Gotra Buddha) (the Perfect Buddha) at the age of 35. Later, at the age of 45, he traveled to teach the Dharma (Saddharma) in many areas and helped people and communities to attain the Dharma (become a monk).
Distribution of Relics: The Buddha passed away or attained Mahaparinirvana at the age of 80 at Kusinagara. When he was nearing his passing away, Ananda asked the Buddha who would guide him after his passing away. The Buddha replied that it was his teachings and Dhamma. Milindapanaha states, “He who sees the Dhamma sees the Buddha” (Mil., 71). And in Mahavastu, it says, “When one sees the relics, one sees the Buddha” (Mhv.133).
Although the Buddha had passed away, his precious relics were still revered as the symbol of the Perfectly Enlightened Buddha. The Mallas of Kusinagara cremated the Buddha's body in a royal ceremony (cakravatin). His relics from the crematorium were collected and distributed by the brahmin Dhona of Kusinagara to the king and monks, with eight portions being given to:
1. King Ajaatshatruof Magadha
2. The king Licchavis of Vaishali
3. The Sakya king of Kapilavastu
4. The Malla King of Kusinara
5. King Tuliya of the Allakappa
6. The Malla King of Pava
7. The Koliya King of Ramakhamhaeng
8. The great Brahmin of the Vettadipaka
The relics of the Lord Buddha are commemorated in eight stupas, and two stupas have been discovered, one on the casket where the relics were kept, and the other on the ashes. Thus, the stupas were built on the site of the cremation of the Buddha's body (Saririka-stupas), making them the oldest surviving sacred sites. It is said that Emperor Ashoka (c. 272-232 BCE), a devout Buddhist, opened seven of these eight stupas and enshrined most of the relics in the countless stupas (84,000 stupas) built by him in his efforts to spread Buddhism and the Dharma.
Kapilavastu Piprahwa
The relics, which are under the care of the National Museum, New Delhi, were excavated from Piprahwa in the Siddharthnagar district of Uttar Pradesh, formerly part of the ancient city of Kapilavastu. The mound at Piprahwa has also been identified with ancient Kapilavastu. The discovery of an inscribed sarcophagus by British colonial engineer and estate manager William Claxton Peppé (1852-1936) in 1898 at the site of the stupa was a breakthrough. The inscription on the lid of the casket refers to the relics of the Buddha and his Sakya clan, which reads:
" Sukitti Bhatinam Sa Bhakiniganum Sa Bhuta Dalanum Salila Niddāla Bhaddasa Bhakawate Sakiyanarm "
This cremation of the Buddha's body was jointly performed by the Sakya brothers and sons.
Translator of the inscription: Sri Subhuthi Mahanayake Thero of Waskaduwa Temple, Sri Lanka, Assistant Archaeologist Team, and Mr. Pepe
The discovery prompted several further expeditions. Further excavations of the stupa, partly excavated by Peppe, by the Archaeological Survey of India (1971–1977), in addition to revealing three stages of construction, also uncovered two more caskets, one to the north and the other to the south, of a pit containing 22 relics: 12 from the larger casket and 10 from the smaller casket. Twenty of the sacred bones are housed in the National Museum, New Delhi, while the remaining two are on display at the Indian Museum, Kolkata.
Later, with the discovery of more than forty clay seals from various depths and locations in the Eastern monastery at Piprahwa, according to the legend ‘Om Devaputra Vihara Kapilavastu Bhikkhu Sanghasa’ meaning ‘community of Kapilavastu monks living in the Devaputra Vihara’ and ‘Mahakapilavastu Bhikkhu Sanghasa’ in the Brahmin language of the 1st and 2nd century AD, this is sufficient evidence to confirm that Piprahwa is the ancient Kapilavastu.
Timeline since 1898 (2441 BE)
– 1898 : The British colonial engineer William Claxton Peppé discovered a stone chest containing five vases containing offerings including beads, pearls, precious and semiprecious stones, bones and ashes. A replica of the offerings was kept by Peppé, while the majority of the offerings were handed over to the Indian Museum in Kolkata.
- 1899 : The relics in the stone casket were offered to King Chulalongkorn of Thailand. The relics were further divided into three parts and given to Thailand, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. In Thailand, the relics are enshrined in a stupa on the top of Suwannabanpot in Bangkok. Every year during the Loi Krathong festival, there is a seven-day, seven-night festival that has become a tradition to pay homage to the relics. Mr. Peppe gave another part of the relics as a token of gratitude to Phra Sri Subhuthi Mahanayake Thero, who helped with the excavation. This part is kept at Waskaduwaa Viharaya in Kalutara, Sri Lanka.
- 1951-1952 : The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) took over the excavations at Piprahwa after the abolition of the Zamindari system in Uttar Pradesh and enabled further excavations at the site.
– 1971 – 1977 : The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) carried out excavations at Piprahwa between 1971 and 1977 under the supervision of Shri. K. M. Srivastava, Director (Archaeology). The team recovered two steatite caskets containing twelve sacred relics from a larger casket and ten sacred relics from a smaller casket.
- 1997 : The Golden Pavilion was given as a gift to the museum by the Thai royal family.
– Current status : Some of these sacred relics were taken to Sri Lanka (1976,2012) (1976, 2012), Mongolia (1993,2022) (1993,2022), Singapore (1994) (1994), South Korea (1995) (1995) and Thailand (1995) (Dec 1995), Singapore (1997) (1997). The sacred relics (20 bone fragments) on loan to the National Museum by the Archaeological Survey of India. Now in the safe custody of the National Museum, New Delhi, with the remaining two at the Indian Museum, Kolkata, the sacred relics will go on display in Thailand and Cambodia in February 2024, the second such exhibition in Thailand in 27 years (showing the moon's celestial movement through 27 stars) and the first in Cambodia.
The relics of the Arahant
Right Chief Disciple – Sariputta
The left chief disciple – Maha Moggallana
The relics of the Buddha's chief disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana, were excavated and found at Sanchi and Satdhara (approximately 10 km west of Sanchi) in Madhya Pradesh, India in 1851 by British archaeologists Major Alexander Cunningham and Captain Frederick Charles Maisey, who later sold them to the Victoria and Albert Museum in England in 1921. Meanwhile, the Mahabodhi Society in England, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and India, throughout the period of appeal and attempts to bring the relics back from England, were finally successful in 1948.
Immediately after its return, the relic was exhibited throughout Asia before being re-enshrined in Sanchi in 1952. This was the climax of several important collaborations, including the colonial archaeology project to establish a historical museum of Buddha, the rise of Buddhist nationalism in the subcontinent and Buddhism throughout Asia, and the cultural nation-building project of the Independence of India.
In the early days, the relics of the Arahants, including the relics of the Lord Buddha, were not for worship but were enshrined in stupas for the faithful to visit to “experience the essence of the existence of the Lord Buddha as a great teacher, including senior disciples, monks and nuns.” Later, around the 2nd century BCE (300 CE), when Buddhism was accepted in various continents, the worship of relics began to spread more widely in Buddhism. Relics other than the relics of the Lord Buddha also began to be worshipped and supported by various states.
Sariputta and Moggallana were Brahmins and the Buddha's favorite disciples after Ananda. They attained nirvana near Rajagriha (now Rajagriha in Magadha), and their relics are enshrined in stupas built in the area. The earliest historical accounts of stupas containing their relics are recorded by two Chinese pilgrims, Fa-Hien (399-411 CE) and Xuanzang (629-641 CE), who visited Buddhist holy sites in India and mentioned that their relics were enshrined in stupas at Mathura. The records were discovered by Alexander Cunningham, Director of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), during an archaeological excavation of a Buddhist site.
Based on the travelogues of two Chinese pilgrims and the Buddhist text Ashoka Vedanta, Alexander argues that the Mauryan emperor Ashoka opened eight stupas immediately after the Buddha's death and distributed the relics and those of his chief disciples among the thousands of stupas he built across the subcontinent. As a result, some of the relics of Sariputta and Maudgalyana are preserved in stupas at Sanchi.
In 1849, Major Alexander Cunningham and Captain Fred C. Macey were commissioned by the British Government of India to prepare an exhibition on the stupas at Sanchi. In 1851, they excavated Stupas 2 and 3, and discovered the reliquaries of Sariputta and Moggallana in Stupa 3. The soapstone or steatite reliquaries were placed in two stone cases, each containing a small bone fragment, garnet beads, lapis lazuli beads, crystal beads and pearls. Sariputta's reliquaries also contained two pieces of sandalwood, presumably from his cremation site. Similar reliquaries were also found in Stupa 2 at Satdhara (40 km from Sanchi).
Unfortunately, the excavation took place during the colonial period, when Major Alexander and Captain Frederick divided the finds into two parts: relics with inscriptions of archaeological value and parts of artistic value. Major Alexander transported his part of the relics to England on two ships, one of which reportedly sank near Jaffna. Frederick made separate arrangements for the relics he received to be shipped to England. Frederick's part from Sanchi and Satara was later loaned to the South Kensington Museum in 1866 (later renamed the Victoria & Albert Museum in 1899) and in 1921 Frederick's great-granddaughter Dorothy Saward sold them to the V&A for £250. References to these relics can also be found in Alexander's correspondence. With the Sinhalese monk Subhuti (1835-1917)
On 17 April 1932, G.A. Dempster, on behalf of the Buddhist Mission (the Mahabodhi Society of England), wrote to the Director of the Indian Museum (the India Section of the South Kensington Museum, popularly known as the Indian Museum until 1945), requesting that the museum transfer the relics of the two disciples to the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara (rebuilt by the Mahabodhi Society of India under Anagarika Dhammapala at Sarnath, near Varanasi, before some of the relics of the Buddha (from Alexander's excavations) were returned to India and re-enshrined in a stupa at Sarnath.
Following Dempster’s (rejected) attempt, on 18 October 1932, E.W. Adikaram, Honorary Secretary of the Buddhist Missionary, visited the V&A Museum to allow Buddhists to pay homage to the relic on the 2476th anniversary of the nirvana of Sariputta. On 13 November 1932, the museum staff granted the request on the condition that the relic be taken to the Indian Museum, not the Buddhist Missionary as requested. In 1938, the V&A Museum received another request from a prominent British Buddhist, Frank R. Mellor, asking that the museum provide seats in front of the relic for Buddhists to pay homage. Mellor was denied, but he persisted in his letter and gave interviews to several media outlets demanding that the museum return the relic to Buddhists.
This received widespread media coverage in Asia, including in the Buddhist countries of Thailand and Burma. In March 1939, the trustees of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Burma also lodged a strong protest against the British government for allowing the relic to be displayed in a museum rather than enshrined in the pagoda. The then King of Siam wrote a similar letter to the King of England.
In 1939, the museum received a letter from the India Office and a letter from the colonial government of India, inquiring about the possession of the relics and the possibility of returning them to the Mahabodhi Society of India (MBSI). With the relentless efforts of Anagarika Dharmapala and Justice Ashutosh Mukherjee, the founders of the MBSI, in 1891 a unanimous letter was sent through the Bombay Buddhist Society, demanding the return of the relics to the Mahabodhi Society of Calcutta (now Kolkata). With this letter came the expectation of a significant outcome, as the Indian government spoke on behalf of Indian Buddhists, but was ostracized by British Buddhists.
The issue was renewed after World War II. On 20 February 1947, the relics were handed over to Daya Hewavitarne, representative of the Mahabodhi Society (of Sri Lanka), through the Secretary of State of India. The relics were taken to Sri Lanka, where they were received with great enthusiasm and were displayed in public for two years. However, it turned out that the relics and the casket were actually plaster casts of the originals. In June 1948, the High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom wrote to the Commonwealth Relations Office requesting the return of the original casket containing the relics of the two saints. On 8 October 1948, Sir D N Mitra, the High Commissioner's legal counsel, received the original casket on behalf of the Government of India. The relics were sent to Sri Lanka and from there to India for presentation to the Mahabodhi Society.
Thus, the attempt and success in bringing the relics from England was “a combination of lofty nationalism, Asiaticism and a strong desire for international recognition of the revival of Buddhism in Asia.” Beginning in the late 19th century, it was a great struggle between colonial archaeology and Buddhist revival, a struggle between the colonists, collectors, museum officials and Buddhist leaders.
The relics were handed over by the Prime Minister of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) to the High Commissioner of India in Colombo on 6 January 1949. Within a week, they were delivered on board the HMIS Teer by the then Governor of West Bengal, K N Katju. The ceremony was marked with all the formalities of state, including a procession, a guard of honour, cultural performances and a 19-gun salute. The relics were installed on a makeshift shrine at the Government House in Calcutta, while the newly proclaimed Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, presented them before a gathering of diplomats, clergy and senior political leaders. The following day, a grand reception was held at Calcutta Maidan where Prime Minister Nehru handed over the sacred relics to Dr Shyama Prasad Mookherjee, Minister of Industries and President of the Mahabodhi Society of India and delivered a memorial address emphasizing peace, friendship and non-violence from India and the sermons of Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi and reaffirmed the secular and multi-religious nation-building that had been achieved through the Declaration of Independence in 1947.
After the display of the relics in Calcutta, Dr. Shyama took the relics on a Dharmayatra tour from 1951-1952 in South and Southeast Asia, namely Ladakh, Orissa, Bihar, Assam in India and Sikkim (then an independent protectorate), Tibet, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. In November 1952, the relics were re-enshrined in the relic temple built at Sanchi, where every November a fair and exhibition of the relics is held.
Information: Embassy of India in Thailand
Translation Division: International Religious Relations Group, Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture and Volunteer Ms. Sukjit Khiankham
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Important events
Prime Minister's Office Order
Subject: Appointment of a committee to organize the ceremony to invite the relics of the Lord Buddha and the relics of the Arahants Sariputta and Moggallana from the National Museum of India to be temporarily enshrined in Thailand to honor His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of his 72nd birthday.
July 28, 2024
Sequence of important events in the preparation discussions
The Indian Embassy officials and the curator of the Delhi Museum, together with Venerable Upatissa, brought the relics of the Lord Buddha, the relics of Sariputta and Mahamoggallana to the Republic of India.
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of Bodhigaya Institute, along with the working group of Bodhigaya Institute and relevant government officials, humbly sent off the relics of the Lord Buddha, along with the relics of the Arahants Sariputta and Maha Moggallana, from Krabi Province to the Republic of India.
The ceremony to invite the relics of the Lord Buddha, the relics of the chief disciples of the Arahants, Sariputta and Maha Moggallana, to be enshrined at Wat Mahathat Wachiramongkol, Krabi Province.
Dr. Supachai Viraphuchong, Secretary-General of Bodhigaya Institute, along with the working group of Bodhigaya Institute and relevant government officials, led the royal relics of the Lord Buddha, along with the relics of the Arahants Sariputta and Maha Moggallana from Ubon Ratchathani Province to Krabi Province.
The ceremony to invite the relics of the Lord Buddha, the relics of the chief disciples of the Arahants, Sariputta and Maha Moggallana, to be enshrined at Mahawanaram Temple, Ubon Ratchathani Province.
Dr. Supachai Viraphuchong, Secretary-General of Bodhigaya Institute, along with the working group of Bodhigaya Institute and relevant government officials, led the royal relics of the Lord Buddha, along with the relics of the Arahants Sariputta and Maha Moggallana from Chiang Mai Province to Ubon Ratchathani Province
The ceremony to invite the relics of the Lord Buddha, the relics of the chief disciples of the Arahants, Sariputta and Maha Moggallana, to be enshrined at Ho Kham Luang, Chiang Mai Province.
Dr. Supachai Viraphuchong, Secretary-General of Bodhigaya Institute, along with the working group of Bodhigaya Institute and relevant government officials, led the royal relics of the Lord Buddha, along with the relics of the Arahants Sariputta and Maha Moggallana from Don Mueang Air Force Base Airport 6, Bangkok to Chiang Mai Province.
พระบาทสมเด็จพระเจ้าอยู่หัว และสมเด็จพระนางเจ้า ฯ พระบรมราชินี เสด็จพระราชดำเนินไปทรงสักการะพระบรมสารีริกธาตุ และพระอรหันตธาตุของพระสารีบุตรและพระโมคคัลลานะ เนื่องในโอกาสพระราชพิธีมหามงคลเฉลิมพระชนมพรรษา 6 รอบ 28 กรกฎาคม 2567 ณ มณฑลพิธีท้องสนามหลวง เขตพระนคร กรุงเทพมหานคร
The grand procession carrying the relics of the Buddha and the relics of Sariputta and Maha Moggallana from the National Museum of India and Sanchi Buddhist Monastery to be enshrined at the Royal Plaza.
At Don Mueang Military Airport 2, Wing 6, the government held a ceremony to receive the relics of the Buddha and the Arahant relics of Sariputta and Moggallana from the Republic of India to be temporarily enshrined in Thailand. They were then brought to be enshrined at the National Museum to await the procession to the pavilion at Sanam Luang ceremonial grounds.
The government held a press conference on the ceremony to invite the relics of the Buddha and the relics of Sariputta and Moggallana from the Republic of India to be temporarily enshrined in Thailand. The event was attended by Mr. Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Culture, H.E. Mr. Nagesh Singh, Ambassador of India to Thailand, and Mr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of Bodhigaya 980 Institute, along with Mrs. Yupha Thaweewattanakitbaworn, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Mr. Phanombut Chandrachote, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, and Mr. Chaipol Suk-iam, Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs.
Mr. Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Culture, chaired the meeting of the Public Relations Committee for the invitation of the relics of the Buddha and the relics of the Arahants of Sariputta and Moggallana from the Republic of India to be temporarily enshrined in Thailand.
The committee for organizing the procession carrying the relics of the Lord Buddha met with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture.
The Religious Affairs Division, Department of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Culture, organized a ceremony to worship and build a pavilion to enshrine the relics of the Lord Buddha at the Royal Plaza.
Mr. Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Culture, chaired the meeting of the Steering Committee for the Ceremony to Invite the Relics of the Lord Buddha and the Arahant Relics of Phra Sariputta and Phra Moggallana from India to be Temporarily Enshrined in Thailand under the Ganga-Mekhong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra to Honor His Majesty the King on the Auspicious Occasion of His Majesty's 72nd Birthday Anniversary on 28 July 2024 at the Ministry of Culture Conference Center, 8th Floor and via electronic media.
A delegation from the Sanchi Buddhist Monastery, Madhya Pradesh, Republic of India, led by Most Venerable Banagala Upatissa Thero, Rev Ambulagala Sumangala, and Mr. Chanaka Gunatathunga, visited the Sanam Luang Ceremonial Ground and the National Museum, Bangkok, where preparations are being made to temporarily enshrine the relics of the Lord Buddha and the Arahant relics of Sariputta and Moggallana, from 23 February to 3 March 2024.
Mr. Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Culture, chaired a meeting with the Indian advance preparation team on the matter of inviting the relics of the Lord Buddha from the Republic of India to be temporarily enshrined in Thailand. The meeting was attended by Mrs. Paulomi Tripathi, Deputy Chief of Mission, the advance team from India, Mr. Chaiyapol Suk-iam, Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs, and the working team from Thailand, as well as the working team from Bodhigaya 980 Institute led by Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya Institute, at Meeting Room 1, 8th Floor, Watdhanadhamwisit Building, Ministry of Culture.
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, along with the Institute's Board of Directors, attended a meeting to discuss with the Ministry of Culture on the principle of inviting the Buddha's relics and the relics, with Ambassador Nagesh Singh and Mr. Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Culture, chairing the meeting.
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, along with the Institute's Board of Directors, attended a meeting to discuss with the Ministry of Culture on the principle of inviting the Buddha's relics and the relics, with With Mr. Suphanich Chaiyawat, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Mr. Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Culture, chairing the meeting.
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, welcomed Mr. Settha Thavisin, Prime Minister, on the occasion of his visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia at Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, Cambodia. He also reported on the preparations for Ganga-Mekhong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, led the Institute's board to meet Mr. Sermsak Pongpanich, Minister of Culture, along with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and the Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs to discuss the Ganga-Mekhong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra.
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, Met with Mr. Itthiphol Tunpluem, Minister of Culture, and Mr. Chaipol Suk-iam, Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs, at the Ministry of Culture to discuss project management guidelines. Ganga-Mekhong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra.
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, led HE. Mr. Nagesh Singh, Ambassador of India to Thailand, to meet General Prawit Wongsuwon, Deputy Prime Minister, and Mr. Itthiphol Kunpluem, Minister of Culture, with Mr. Chaiyapol, Director-General of the Department of Religious Affairs, and relevant persons joining to discuss the organization of the Ganga-Mekhong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra, at the 5 Provinces Border Forest Conservation Foundation.
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, led the institute's executives to report to His Holiness Somdej Phra Maha Thirajarn, member of the Sangha Supreme Council, abbot of Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangklararm, and chairman of the Office of Overseeing Buddhist Missionaries Abroad, regarding preparations for the Dhammayatra of the Buddha's Relics in the Great River Ganges in the Mekong River Basin at Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimonmangklararm.
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, met with DR. Ram Madhav, a founding member of the Governing Council, India Foundation, Advisory Body to the Prime Minister of India, and H.E. Mr. Nagesh Singh, Ambassador of India to Thailand, at Novotel Hotel, Suvarnabhumi Airport, to discuss guidelines for organizing the Ganga-Mekhong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra project.
Dr. Supachai Virapuchong, Secretary-General of BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, met with H.E. Mr. Nagesh Singh, Ambassador of India to Thailand, to discuss the approach to bring the relics of the Lord Buddha to Thailand on the occasion of the 3rd Dhammayatra under the project name of Ganga-Mekhong Holy Buddha Relics Dhammayatra
Wat Mahathat Yuwaratrangsarit Ratcha Wora Maha Wihan, together with BodhigayaVijjalaya 980 Institute, have created commemorative amulets on the occasion of inviting the relics of the Lord Buddha, the relics of the Arahant Sariputta, and the relics of the Great Moggallana from the Republic of India to be temporarily enshrined in Thailand. (Proceeds after deducting expenses will be used to support Buddhism.)
Head Office
Wat Thai Buddhagaya (Royal Thai Monastery Buddhagaya),
Bodhgaya Pin.824231, Dist. Gaya, State; Bihar, India
Thailand Office
14 Ngamwongwarn 8 Alley BangKhen
Mueang Nonthaburi Nonthaburi 11000
Venerable Sariputta
He was an Indian monk who was the chief disciple on the right side of the Buddha. He was praised by the Buddha as being the most excellent among all monks in terms of wisdom. In addition, Sariputta also had the virtue of gratitude and doing good deeds for Buddhism. Therefore, this monk was praised as “Dhamma Senapatti” (Commander of Dhamma) together with the Buddha who was “Dhamma Raja”.
When Sariputta was born, he was named “Upatissa”. He was the son of a Brahmin woman named “Sari” and a Brahmin who was the head of Upatissa village in Nalaka or Nalanda named “Vangkanta”. The word “Upatissa” means the villagers of Upatissa. Upatissa had three younger brothers: Phra Cunda, Phra Upasena, Phra Rewatta, and three younger sisters: Nang Jala, Upacala, and Sīsupacala. On the same day that the Brahmin woman Sari gave birth to Upatissa, it was also the day that a neighboring family gave birth to a son named “Kolita” or later Phra Maha Moggallana. The family of the Brahmin woman Sari was as wealthy and prosperous as Kolita’s family. The temperaments of both Upatissa and Kolita were similar. They had been friends and studied together since they were little until they grew up. Moreover, their families had been close friends for seven generations. Therefore, the two were very close friends.
One day, Upatissa and Kolita went to play at the annual festival in Rajagriha. While watching the entertainment, they felt the same sadness that these activities were completely pointless and useless. What should they find to hold on to and escape from such a bond? Two days later, they went to be ordained in the monastery of Sanjaya Velatthaputta in Rajagriha. They completed their studies in just two or three days. When they finished, they left the monastery. However, they were not satisfied because they saw that the knowledge they received was not what they were looking for. They decided to go their separate ways to find a teacher who could truly teach the truth of the world. They promised that if anyone found such a teacher, they would tell them without hiding anything.
One day, when Upatissa was traveling, he met Venerable Assaji, one of the five ascetics who, after listening to the Dhamma from the Buddha and attaining Arahantship, walked with his alms bowl and robes to Rajagriha to beg for alms early in the morning. When Upatissa met Venerable Assaji, he was impressed by the admirable and well-controlled posture of Venerable Assaji, whose faculties were well-trained. He thought that this person would become an Arahant, so he followed Venerable Assaji behind, waited for an opportunity, and asked Venerable Assaji. Venerable Assaji explained the profound teachings of the Buddha as follows:
เย ธมฺมา เหตุปฺปภวา เตสํ เหตํุ ตถาคโต
เตสญฺจ โย นิโรโธ จ เอวํวาที มหาสมโณ
Whatever dharmas arise from a cause, the Tathagata has explained their cause.
And the extinction of those dharmas, the great ascetic always spoke in this way.
When Upatissa heard it, he attained Sotapanna. After that, Upatissa paid respect to Venerable Assaji and told his close friend Kolita about the teachings he had heard, who also attained Sotapanna. The two of them invited Sanjaya, a wandering monk, to go and see the Buddha, but Sanjaya refused. The two of them took 250 wandering monks to listen to the teachings from the Buddha. After listening to the teachings, the 250 wandering monks attained Arahantship, but Upatissa and Kolita still attained Sotapanna as before. The Buddha ordained them all with the Ehi Bhikkhu Upasampada method. After being ordained in the Buddhist order, Upatissa was given a new name: Sariputta
Half a month later (after Sariputta was ordained in Buddhism), at Sukharakhata Cave, at the foot of Kishkuta Mountain, Rajagaha City, the Buddha went to teach Sariputta. At that time, Dīghanakha, the wanderer who was the nephew (uncle) of Sariputta, came to see the Buddha to ask questions. The Buddha taught about views and feelings. Dīghanakha attained Sotapanna. As for Sariputta, he was working to fan the Buddha. He heard those teachings and became an arahant. That day was the full moon day of the month of Magha. The next event, the Buddha gave the Ovadapatimokkha sermon to 1,250 arahants.
The Lord Buddha praised Sariputta as the foremost in wisdom, i.e., the one who had the most wisdom among the Buddha's disciples.
Venerable Maha Moggallana
He was the chief monk on the left side of the Buddha. He was the eighty great disciple who was the best in terms of having great supernatural powers, along with Phra Sariputta, the chief disciple on the right. He was the son of a Brahmin in the village of Kolitakam. He was named “Kolita” after the village. His mother was named Moggallana. People generally called him “Moggallana” after his mother. He was a close friend of Upatissamanava (Phra Sariputta). They traveled to seek pleasure and entertainment as teenagers. Their parents were wealthy. They also had similar temperaments and were ordained together.
Once, when Upatissa traveled until he met Venerable Assaji, one of the five ascetics, who after listening to the Dhamma from the Buddha until he attained Arahantship, walked with his alms bowl and robes to Rajagriha to beg for alms early in the morning. When Upatissa met Venerable Assaji, he was impressed by the admirable and well-controlled posture of Venerable Assaji, whose faculties were well-trained. He therefore thought that this person would become an Arahant, so he followed Venerable Assaji behind, waited for an opportunity, and then asked Venerable Assaji. Venerable Assaji explained the profound teachings of the Buddha as follows:
เย ธมฺมา เหตุปฺปภวา เตสํ เหตํุ ตถาคโต
เตสญฺจ โย นิโรโธ จ เอวํวาที มหาสมโณ
Whatever dharmas arise from a cause, the Tathagata has explained their cause.
And the extinction of those dharmas, the great ascetic always spoke in this way.
When Upatissa heard this he attained Sotapanna. Upatissa the young man brought the teachings of the Venerable Assaji to inform the young man Kolita. Kolita also gained the eye to see the Dhamma. Both young men went to see the Buddha at Veluvana monastery and asked for ordination from the Buddha. The Buddha granted them permission to ordain as monks. Kolita, who was ordained as a Venerable Maha Moggallana After striving for 7 days, he attained Arahantship. As for Upatissa, the young man who was ordained as Sariputta, he was ordained for 15 days before attaining Arahantship.
When the Venerable Maha Moggallana had been ordained for 7 days, he went to strive in the forest near the village of Kalpalavalamuttagama in Magadha. He was overcome by the feeling of sloth and drowsiness and could not strive. At that time, the Lord Buddha was staying in the Bhesakalavana, a place for feeding meat, near the city of Sungsumaragiri, the capital of the Bhagga kingdom. He knew by his wisdom that Venerable Moggallana was drowsy, so he performed a miracle to make it appear as if he were standing right in front of him. He taught him a method to overcome drowsiness in sequence as follows:
Moggallana, when you have any perception and drowsiness arises, you should keep that perception in your mind for a long time. It will be a cause for you to abandon drowsiness.
1. If you still can't let go, you should reflect on the Dhamma you have learned and listened to a lot. This will cause you to let go of drowsiness.
2. If you still can't let go, you should recite the Dhamma you have learned and listened to as much as possible. This will help you let go of drowsiness.
3. If you still can't let go, you should lift both ears and rub your body with your palms to help you let go of drowsiness.
4. If you still can't let go, get up and wipe your eyes, wipe your face with water, look around in all directions, look up at the stars, it will cause you to let go of drowsiness.
5. If you still can't let go, you should keep in mind the Āloka-sanya, hold and set the light in your mind, both day and night. Make your mind open and bright. This will cause you to let go of drowsiness.
6. If you still can't let go, you should walk meditation, keep your senses calm, and not think about the outside world. This will cause you to let go of drowsiness.
7. If you still cannot let go, you should complete the lion's sleep, lying on your right side, with your feet crossed over, with awareness, and intending to get up regularly. When you wake up, you should get up quickly with the intention that you will not engage in pleasure in sleeping and falling asleep again. This will cause you to let go of drowsiness.
The Buddha taught methods to gradually relieve drowsiness. If drowsiness does not go away, sleep, but sleep mindfully.
The Buddha gave 3 sermons.
1. Moggallana, you should bear in mind that you will not raise your trunk, that is, your conceit that you are this or that, into the family. Because if a monk raises himself to the family thinking that they will welcome him in this way or that way, if the people in the family have a lot of work to do, he will feel bored. If they are not attentive to welcome him, he will feel embarrassed and think in various ways. He will become distracted and unrestrained, and his mind will be far from concentration.
2. Moggallana, you should keep in mind that we will not speak words that will cause arguments because if we do, we will have to speak a lot and disagreements. This will cause distraction and loss of composure, and the mind will be far from concentration.
3. Moggallana: The Tathagata does not praise association in any way, but neither does he condemn association in any way. That is, we do not praise association with people, both householders and monks. But we praise association in a quiet, noiseless abode, suitable for retreat as is proper for a monk.
Then, Venerable Maha Moggallana asked about the practice that leads to the end of craving, the freedom from the yoga of defilements that make the mind cling. The Buddha taught about the elements of meditation, the gist of which is: “The monks in this Dhamma-Vinaya, when they have heard that all dharmas should not be clung to, they should determine those dharmas when they experience a feeling that is either happiness or suffering or neither happiness nor suffering, and contemplate them with wisdom that consists of disenchantment, cessation, and non-clinging. Then their minds will be free from the defilements, and they will know that birth is ended, the holy life has been lived.”
Venerable Maha Moggallana has attained Arahantship. He is an important force of the religion. He helps ease the burden and also makes the Buddha’s ideas successful because he has more power and influence than other disciples. He was praised by the Buddha and appointed him to the position of the chief disciple on the left. He praised him to be the chief disciple with Venerable Sariputta, saying, “Venerable Sariputta is the chief disciple on the right, like a mother who gives birth to a child. Venerable Moggallana is the chief disciple on the left, like a nurse who takes care of a newborn baby. Venerable Sariputta will guide him to the Sotapanna stage. Venerable Moggallana will guide him to the higher qualities.” In addition, Venerable Maha Moggallana is also a person who is skilled in Nawakam, which is construction work. The Buddha once assigned him to the position of Navakammadhitthayi, which is the supervisor of the construction of the Pubbarama Temple in the city of Savatthi, which Mrs. Visakha donated money to build.
