JAPANESE TEMPLE

Long since I knew that there is an old Japanese temple near Rabindra Sarobar. But I was never sure of its exact location and therefore, opened the Google Map to discover that it is quite near to my place. On 11^th February, 2018, I thought of visiting there. Instead of visiting  Rabindra Sarobar via Lake Gardens flyover, I drove over the Dhakuria bridge, took an u-turn towards the right side and proceeded ahead keeping AMRI Hospital on my left , then took a right turn to reach the temple gate on my left on Kavi Bharati Sarani  erstwhile Lake Road.

I could see from the road the golden peak of the milk white Pagoda, shining under the morning Sun. Unfortunately the gate was under lock and key from inside. I ask the people loitering on the street. They were neither aware of the timings nor interested.

I had no option but to wait outside and tried to announce my presence shaking the gate a little. A gentle man came out of the temple and asked my intention. Once aware that I desired to visit the temple, he softly called someone. The Priest and caretaker of the temple came out. He was a fair skinned smiling man, reminded typical Buddhist monk. He opened the lock and invited me inside.

We were introduced ourselves. He is Mr. Tsering, pronounced as Sering. He is from Japan but speaks flawless English. He informed that the temple opens at 05.00 AM in the morning and closes at 08.00 AM. It opens again from 07.00 PM to 9.00 PM for evening prayers. In between, the gate remains closed. I came to know that many followers of Lord Buddha and others too attended the temple and the temple had been maintained out of donation. He smilingly informed that I was a day late in coming to the place as on February, 10 the temple celebrated its 83^rd birthday. Many attended the evening prayers on that day and temple was decorated.

As I could gather the temple was built in 1935 and first of this kind in India at that time. The question comes to the mind how on earth a Japanese Buddhist temple was thought to be built on such a remote city where hardly people of Japanese origin were found?

The thought of propagating the teachings of a particular sect of Buddhism started from a prophecy made by a prominent monk in Japan about 700 years ago. He was Maha Bodhisattva Nichiren.He prophesized that the ultimate salvation of humanity destroying all that was evil and impure would trigger from India which was home to Buddhism.    Centuries later, in the year 1931, a Japanese Bhikhu (monk) arrived in India along with a team of disciples with a mission to fulfill that prophecy and would take what India had to offer and spread it all around the world.

The name of this venerable monk was Nichidatsu Fuji. He was an ardent follower of the philosophy of Maha Bodhisattva Nichiren. From the core of his heart he was also very much supportive of non-violent freedom struggle of Indians against the British rulers. He reached Mumbai (the erstwhile Bombay)   in 1931. While at Mumbai) the monk met Mahatma Gandhi who was also greatly influenced by Fuji’s thoughts. Subsequently he came to Kolkata (the erstwhile Calcutta). By that time, the Dhakuria Lake, presently Rabindro Sarobar was dug. He started organizing his prayer session on the bank of the Lake.

One evening Sri. Jugal Kishore Birla, a great philanthropist and a diehard Gandhian met Fuji during a prayer session. The monk Nichidatsu Fuji  sought for Sri.Birla’s assistance in constructing a temple to propagate the ultimate teachings given by Lord Buddha just before he attained Mahanirvan. These teachings were known as Lotus Sutra and   Maha Bodhisattva Nichiren used to preach the same in Japan. Sri. Birla being impressed by Monk Fuji’s world view acquired a plot of land. The temple of the Nipponzan Myohoji order was built. It was opened for the public view on February, 10, 1935.

Today the temple covers an area of 8,840 square feet. Though the interiors were designed following purely traditional form, overall it has an oriental atmosphere. Any one whatever may be the religion could assemble during the morning and evening prayers. During prayer sessions devotees chant “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō’ meaning Glory to the Sutra of the Lotus of the Supreme Law to the resounding beat of drums.  Lotus Sutra preaches tranquility and peace throughout the World.

In today’s world where war monger , terrorists and corrupt politicians have occupied the centre stage, it is really heartening to see that a small group of people  continuously praying for peace of mankind chanting “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō’

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