Delhi, a city of mighty kingdoms, historically relates to the most inspirational Sutta (discourse) of Maha Satipatthana preached in its vicinity. King Kanishka (2nd Cen. A.D.) also attempted to establish Buddhist teachings in Delhi.
New Delhi Centre (Buddhist Temple) of Maha Bodhi Society of India land was a gift by the British Viceroy of India, handed over to the Maha Bodhi Society and the cost of the construction was entirely donated by the generosity of Raja Seth Jugal Kishore Birla. The foundation stone was laid by K. Yonewaza, the Japanese Consul General in India in 1931 and this Buddist Temple (Delhi Centre) of Maha Bodhi Society of India was reverentially opened by Mahatma Gandhi in 1939 before the Independence of India. He declared “all castes are equal and I call on all people to practice love and tolerance”.
This centre is located on Mandir Marg (Road) of the Capital city of India. It is located very close to New Delhi’s famed Laxmi Narayan Temple, famously known as Birla Mandir.
Since then, the Buddha Vihara has been continuously functioning as the most venerable centre for Buddhism in the Capital of India. Thousands of devotees irrespective of faith and identification pay frequent visits to the Vihara to pay homage to the Buddha and His compassionate message of peace and non- violence.
The auspicious Days of Buddha Dharma are celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion. In these religious ceremonies, almost all the former Prime Ministers, President, great leaders of India such as Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Pandit Nehru, Dr. S. Radhakrishnen, Morarji Desai and the architect of the Constitution of India – Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, Sri Lal Bahadur Shastri, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, etc. and Dudley Senanayaka, Mr. & Mrs. S.W.R.D. Bandaranayake, J.R. Jayawardane (Sri Lanka), many more Prime Ministers, Presidents, High Commissioners and Ambassadors of foreign countries like Sri Lanka, Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Burma etc. took part on various occasions.
The Buddha Vihara houses a beautiful gold polished Buddha murti, another exquisite Buddha murti of Burmese origin within a highly decorated frame, beautiful picture of Buddha gifted by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru – the first Prime Minister of India.
