Stress on Buddha link to village

Bhadaria (Banka): Ramji Singh, a former MP and a noted Gandhian scholar, on Saturday called upon people to raise the demand for conservation and renovation of Bhadaria village where, he said, Gautam Buddha had stayed for over three months and preached a woman, Bisakha, the first time.

Singh was addressing a gathering of Bhadaria residents under Amarpur block in Banka district, some 250km east of Patna, at an event organised by Bisakha Foundation, a Bhadaria-based voluntary organisation to commemorate the historical event some 2,500 years back (6th century AD).

“Two names, Gautam Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi, are very familiar in the world. It’s a matter of pride that this village is tagged with Buddha, who came here and stayed for over three months,” Singh said in his address, emphasising also on developing the village as a tourism model.

Rajendra Singh, historian and social worker in Bhagalpur, said the Buddha’s arrival at the village and his preaching to Bisakha was a unique event. Ajit Kumar Pathak, convener of Bisakha Foundation, underlined two important events of Buddha’s life in this village.

“Earlier, Buddhist monks didn’t take any by-products of milk but the Buddha first allowed them to take milk, ghee etc. Second, monks didn’t take food on voyage, many dying because of such strict norms. But the Buddha allowed them to take food and drinks during voyage,” Pathak said while referring to various texts.

Different speakers pointed out the village’s historical significance. Amrendra, a scholar of Angika language, referred to eminent writers on Buddhism like Hawaldar Tripathi Sahridoy, Rahul Snaskrityan and others. Lakhan Lal Pathak, chief patron of the foundation, said the aim behind organising the event was to revive the importance of the place with an aim to promote tourism.

Chief guest Ramji unveiled a plaque which depicted historical references to the village. “We want to develop our village as a tourist spot,” said Dipika Kumari, a Class IX student. The residents have decided to build a gate at the main entrance and install statues of Buddha and Bisakha.

Courtesy: The Telegraph