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Srinagar, Oct 18 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday offered prayers at the Buddhist monastery in Elista, also known as Geden Sheddup Choekorling Monastery, in Kalmykia, Russia.
“Homage was paid to the sacred relics of Lord Buddha brought from India and enshrined in the main Buddhist monastery in Elista, known as Gaden Sheddup Choekorling Monastery,” the LG’s office said on Friday.
“I pray to Lord Buddha to bless us all and strengthen the spiritual bond between people.”
Manoj Sinha is on a week-long visit to Kalmykia, Russia. The LG leads a delegation that has been tasked with bringing back the holy relics of Lord Buddha after a week-long exhibition.
Expressing his gratitude for this opportunity, LG Sinha thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for entrusting him with this sacred responsibility.
Upon his arrival in Kalmykia’s capital Elista, LG Sinha said he looked forward to paying respects to the holy relics and interacting with the Head of the Republic of Kalmykia and Head of the Buddhists of Kalmykia Batu Sergeyevich Khasikov, as well as the Shajin Lama, venerable monks and local devotees.
Kashmir has been famous for its Buddhist historical sites, including the Harwan Buddhist site, where the Fourth Buddhist Conference was held.
Kashmir has many important Buddhist sites, including ancient ruins such as Harwan and Ushkur, which were centers of learning and important for the spread of Buddhism, and historical monasteries such as Alchi Monastery (although often associated with Ladakh) and the Shankaracharya Temple, which have historical links to Buddhism.
Other sites include the Ambaran Buddhist ruins and the ancient Parihaspur Monastery near Akhnoor.
Harwan in Srinagar is an ancient site where the Fourth Buddhist Council was held and a monastery existed during the Kushan era.
Ushkur is an ancient Buddhist site near Baramulla, which has been mentioned as a pilgrimage site. Excavations have yielded terracotta Buddha heads from the 7th-8th century.
Ambaran is another archaeological site near Akhnoor in Jammu, containing a monastery complex that provides insight into a millennium of Buddhist cultural development from the 2nd century BCE to the 7th century CE.
Parihaspur, on the outskirts of Srinagar city, is an ancient site that contained a large monastery built by the Kashmir king Lalitaditya, known for its colossal image of the Buddha.
Alchi Monastery, located on the banks of the Indus River, is known for its ancient frescoes and sculptures that blend Buddhist and Hindu influences.
It is one of the oldest and most beautiful campuses in the region.
Jayendra Vihar is a famous ancient monastery and learning center near Baramulla, which was visited by scholars like Hiuen Tsang in the 7th century.
–IANS
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