Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Opening Ceremony of Vijayarama Vihara


19th of July 2019, first day of program
Old Vijayarama Temple

Vijayarama Vihara (Temple) is one of the oldest temple in Nepal established in 1947 AD (2004 BS) by Most Venerable Sanghamahanayaka Ariya Dhammarakkhita Nepal Buddhasasana Vamsalankara Siri Aggamahapandita late Pragyananda Mahasthavira.
New Opened Vijayarama Temple




Circle rainbow in
Opening day 
It was a good fresh, cloudy and auspicious moment 8:10 morning 19th of July 2019, Vijayarama Vihara Opening program was started by opening the eyes of Pagoda and the stone plate of Vijayarama Temple in the presence of the Most Ven. Aggamahapandita Dr. Gyanapurnika Mahasthavira, the Chief sangha of Nepal, Most Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thero, the Chief sangha of Taiwan (Sri Lankan), Most Ven. Chandragupta Mahasthavira, the Director of Shakya Sinha Vihara Preservation and Development Committee, Ven. Ashoka, Ven. Piyadassi, Ven. Nun Satyashila, the founder of Vijayarama Temple, Mrs. Dhana Mayaju Bhawani and family, the sponsor of opening program, Mr. Ghanshyam Giri, the mayor of Chandragiri municipality, Ms. Lisa Nakarmi, the vice mayor of Chandragiri municipality, villagers of Dombu tole (town) and other lay people from many other cities.

Ven. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thero
Ms. Lisa Nakarmi
Mr. Ghanshyam Giri
Opening Stone plate by Ven. Dr.
Gyanapurnika Mahasthavira
Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima
Nayaka Thero
Opening the eye of Pagoda
Opened Stone Plate
  
Fire up the candle in front of
Buddha Statue
Vijayarama Temple held a sort program on the day of Opening ceremony. Most Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thero fired up the candle in front of the Buddha statue and the Most Ven. Aggamahapandita Dr. Gyanapurnika Mahasthavira gave five precepts to devotees.

Mr. Mahendra Tandukar, the Director of re-construction committee of Vijayarama Temple gave a speech about the history of Vijayarama Temple which was established in 1947 AD.

Ven. Nun Satyashila, the founder of Vijayarama temple gave a speech about the way she became nun from Buddhagaya with the help of Most Ven. Sanghamahanayaka late Pragyananda Mahasthavira and the situation of Vijayarama Temple in past.

Ven. Nun Satyashila
The founder of Vijayarama Temple
Mr. Ghanshyam Giri giving speech
The special guest Mr. Ghanshyam Giri, the mayor of Chandragiri municipality gave a speech that he is very happy and feel auspicious to have a monastery in Dombu village where people can do lot of meritorious deeds. Further he proclaim that he would help to build a new monastery building for nuns in Vijayarama Temple.

The special guest Most Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thero, Sri Lankan high priest gave a speech with lot of happy that he came to Nepal before 19 years and invited 5 children to come to Sri Lanka to educate Buddhist Studies from Sri Lanka and now that students are doing hard work for propagate the Buddhism having conducting such a program. Further he proclaim that he would like to give scholarship to Nepali students to study in his university, Nagananda International Buddhist University in Sri Lanka.

The chief guest Most Ven. Aggamahapandita Dr. Gyanapurnika Mahasthavira, the chief sangha of Nepal gave a speech from the experience of his childhood novice life with late Pragyananda Mahasthavira’s hard work to propagate the Buddhism in Nepal again. Further he declared with an ultimate glad that present state of Vijayarama Temple and Dombu villagers faith towards Buddhism is better than before.

Moreover, Vijayarama Temple held a program to bestowing Credential of Sadhuwada to the devotees who helped donating more than 10,000 NRP to re-construct the Vijayarama temple.









Ven. Piyaratana donating
100,000 NRP
Ven. Lakkhana donating 
100,000 NRP
Additionally, Vijayarama temple is going to build a new monastery building for the nuns and Ven. Lakkhana, the Chief of Vijayarama Temple donated 100,000 NRP, Most Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thero (Sri Lankan) donated 1000$, Ven. Piyaratana donated 100,000 NRP to build the new nun’s building.

The announcer of the day was Ven. Piyaratana and he thanks to all monks, nuns all devotees and the crew members who helped for make this ceremony bright and reminds to devotees to donate as they can for new nun building.




20th of July, 2019, second day of program



Second day was the Mahaparitrana (great chanting) program on the occasion of Opening Vijayarama Temple and 89th birthday (3rd Janku) of Ven. Nun Satyashila, the founder of Vijayarama Temple.

Mahaparitran procession
Morning 7 o’clock Mahaparitrana procession was started from Gurjudhara – Balambu – Dombu. Mahaparitrana program was started at 8:30am by giving the five precepts to devotees by Most Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thero (Sri Lankan high priest) and worshiping the Buddha by conducting the Buddhapuja.




Nun Nyanawati
giving speech about
biography of nun Satyashila
Ven. Nun Nyanawati, the second vice Director of Shakya Sinha Vihara Preservation and Development Committee gave a speech about the biography of Ven. Nun Satyashila. Then Amita Dhakhwa, the member of Shakya Sinha Vihar Preservation and Development Committee read the Certificate of Praise (Abhinandana patra) and Most Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thero granted that Certificate to nun Satyashila. Additionally, in the granting program the Praising Certificate was granted to the members of re-construction committee by Ven. Chandragupta Mahasthavira, the Chief of Shakya Sinha Temple.


Mrs. Amita Dhakhwa reading Certificate of Praise 

Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thero granting
 Certificate of Praise to nun Satyashila


Thereafter, at 10am Mahaparitrana was started by monk committee (Bhikshu mahasangha); Ven. Dhammashovana Mahasthavira, Ven. Shilabhadra Mahasthavira, Ven. Dr. Bodagama Chandima Nayaka Thero (Sri Lanka), Ven. Chandragupta Mahasthavira, Ven. Khanong (Thailand), Ven. Bhaddiya Mahasthavira, Ven. Upatissa, Ven. Panyaratana, Ven. Sukha, Ven. Mahanama, Ven. Saranankara, Ven. Janaka, Ven. Sarada, Ven. Punna, Ven. Shantasiddhartha, Ven. Samita. Mahaparitrana ceremony was end at 5:00pm.









The sponsor of Mahaparitran ceremony was Mrs. Dhana Mayaju Bhawani family. Many many Sadhuwad to them for being sponsor for this meritorious program. May them and all devotees bless by Triple Gems and be happy, healthy, long life and may attain Nibbana in samsara.
Sponsors of Mahaparitrana and Opening Ceremony
Mrs. Dhana Mayaju Bhawani
Mr. Rajendra

Reporter - Ven. Piyaratana 

Sunday, January 6, 2019

Trekking Trip from Ghandruk to Poonhill

It was 29th of December, 2018. We, all together 26 members with YDF group started our trekking trip from Kathmandu to Ghandruk by bus early in the morning about 7:00 am. We reached to Ghandruk around 7:00pm. The route from Kathmandu to Pokhara was easy to drive due to the good pitch road. But from Pokhara to Ghandruk was off road. So, we were slow to drive from Pokhara to Ghandruk. First day we got a rest in "Meshroom Guest House" at Ghandruk. I personally do not recommend this guest house to see the view of Himalayas.


Next day 30th of December 2018, we started our trekking from Ghandruk to Ghodepani. In first day we just drive by bus. So, we had an excitement to start our trekking soon. Although, because of the nice views of Machapuchre and Annapurna Mountain, we took some time to enjoy taking photos of beautiful sunrise aside from the Annapurna. Even at the dawn time it was very beautiful to see Himalayans. In the meantime of sunrise in Ghandruk, Annapurna and Machapuchre Himalayas seemed like gold in color. It was one of the beautiful moment started from Ghandruk before starting our trekking.

We were so happy to see more than 6000m hieght Himalayas from nearby. Then, after breakfast from there we started our trekking around 8:00am. There were stony stairs to go up and down in hills. Somewhere muddy road and somewhere water became ice on the road due to the cold. On the way, some of my friends could go fast and some could not. Some were healthy and some were unhealthy. But YDF group, the organizer came with fully ready in any situation. So, they had medicine for some normal illness i.e., headache, stomach pain, gastritis, pressure, wound etc. In second day we had lunch in "Tadapani" and with seeing lot of beautiful views of forests, hills and mountains reached at "Ghodepani" hotel. It was very cold there about -2c°.


31st of December, Third day morning about 6:30am started our trekking again to "Poonhill" to see sunrise. We watched beautiful sunrise with Golden Annapurna, Machapuchre, Dhaulagiri, Nilgiri, Tilicho, Gangapurna Himalayas and enjoyed a lot in Poonhill.
From there we had our breakfast from same hotel and ended our trekking journey to "Ulleri".  we had our lunch there and went to "Nayapool" by jeep. From there we backed our journey to Pokhara by our reserved bus. It was the 2018/2019 New Year Eve so we enjoyed the New Year Eve in Pokhara Lakeside.

1st of January, 2019. Fourth day of our trip with the Happy New Year 2019 visited "Peace Pagoda", International Pokhara Museum. As it was a special day of the year to all people, it was a most special day for us to make a surprise day to one of our friend, Taradevi as it was her Birthday too. We celebrated her birthday unexpectedly in Lakeside of Pokhara with unexpectedly met friend, Raju Maharjan. Last day of our trip was the first day of the year 2019 with lots of specialities. At last we all back to the Kathmandu.
Evening view of Fewa Lake of Pokhara

Normally, people do trekking from Poonhill to Ghandruk. But it was very memorable four days trekking trip from Ghandruk to Poonhill for us in 29, 30, 31 of December 2018 and 1st of January 2019. I recommend to make this adventure, happiest trekking trip to the people who wish to see Annapurna Himalayas sites in the cost around 8000-10,000 MRP.

Fewa Lake of Pokhara

Machapuchre Mountain 6993- view from Ghandruk

Poonhill - sunrise 

Annapurna Mountain South 8091 - view from Poonhill

Annapurna Mountain sites - view form Ghandruk

On the way to Tadapani  
Gandruk - hill view from Ghandruk



Annapurna - view between hills


Fewa Lake - sunset view

Annapurna Mountain - view form Poonhill

Ghandruk

Annapurna - view form Ghandruk

Ghandruk beauty

Ghandruk village

Annapurna site view

Small waterfall of Ghandruk

Forest way to Tadapani 

Foggy Annapurna Mountain 8091m

Annapurna - dawn view

Dawn view from Poonhill

Sunrise from Poonhill

Sunrise from Poonhill

Gurja and Dhaulagiri Mountain

Dhaulagiri Mountain 8167m

Annapurna South 7219m

To see the videos of Ghandruk to Poonhill Trekking trip please click links below edited by Luxman Shrestha.

https://youtu.be/YUqsuVSmsuY
https://youtu.be/230fRh3ZzxA