The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a striking Buddhist meditation monument located at Gorai, Mumbai, overlooking the Arabian Sea. It symbolizes peace, harmony, and the practice of Vipassana meditation as taught by Gautama Buddha.
The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a monumental meditation hall located in Gorai, Borivali West, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Inaugurated on 8 February 2009 by then-President Pratibha Patil, it stands as a symbol of peace and harmony, built entirely through voluntary donations.
The structure is dedicated to preserving and sharing the non-sectarian teachings of Vipassana meditation, attributed to S. N. Goenka, and expresses gratitude to Myanmar for safeguarding this ancient practice.
Architecturally, it features the world’s largest stone dome built without supporting pillars, with an internal diameter of 85.15 meters and a height of 99.06 meters. The dome can seat over 8,000 meditators, making it the largest meditation hall of its kind. The design is inspired by the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar, and enshrines Buddha’s relics in its central keystone—relics originally discovered in Bhattiprolu, Andhra Pradesh, and donated by the Mahabodhi Society of India and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.
The complex includes a museum on the Buddha’s life, a library, meditation cells, and the Dhamma Pattana center, which offers free 10-day Vipassana courses. The site is open daily from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with no entry fee. While only experienced meditators may enter the main dome, all visitors can view it from the gallery.
Declared one of the Seven Wonders of Maharashtra in 2013, the pagoda combines ancient Indian masonry with modern engineering to last a millennium.
.jpeg)
No comments:
Post a Comment