BERHAMPUR: The Padmasambhava Mahavihara monastery, located at Chandragiri is an architectural marvel. Its design was conceptualised by an Oriya engineer from Berhampur, Prabir Kumar Dash. For the 44-year-old, it was the biggest challenge of his career. The foundation stone of the monastery was laid in 2003. Finally, in 2008 Prabir’s hard work paid off. The building was completed and was considered as the largest Buddhist monastery in South Asia. The monastery, inaugurated by Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on January 12, 2010, during his last visit to Chandragiri, has since attracted many foreign and domestic tourists. Prabir said: “I put my heart and soul into the project. Dalai Lama praised and admired me for the architecture and structural design of the Padmasambhava Mahavihara monastery. It was really a great feeling and indeed the turning point of my career.” Prabir did his schooling from KC High School, Berhampur. He passed MTech. in structures from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in 2009. At present, he has launched an environment engineering consultancy in Berhampur.
“Earlier, I didn’t have any idea about the structural designs of Buddhist monasteries. But in 2003 Pema, the in-charge of Lamas in the Phuntsokling Tibetan settlement, Chandragiri, contacted me and asked if I was interested to work on the monastery project. I agreed immediately. Later on I found out that he got my phone number and address from the Berhampur city directory,” said Prabir. Before starting work on the project, Prabir visited a Tibetan monastery in Kathmandu, Nepal. “I designed everything on AutoCad, a software application for design. Initially, it was difficult to coordinate with Lama Tashi, the chief Tibetan designer based in USA, to prepare the design of the Padmasambhava Mahavihara monastery because he could communicate only in Tibetan. But slowly things fell in place,” he said. Taslim Khan, a contractor based in New Delhi who had experience of building about five monasteries, worked with Prabir. Those days Prabir used to stay at Camp Number 4 at Jiranga in Chandragiri. The five-storeyed, 96-foot high Padmasambhava Mahavihara monastery was build over 10-acres at a cost of Rs 8 crore. Its main attraction is a 21-foot statue of Buddha and his two main disciples in the assembly hall. The other attractions are a 17-foot statue of Padmasambava with his eight manifestations and two consorts and a statue of Buddhisatva Avalokitesavara with thousand arms and eyes.
“Monastery is a center for spiritual activities where residential monks are trained in the philosophical foundations of Buddhist sutras and the tantric techniques that lead towards enlightenment. They also learn traditional painting, astrology and Tibetan medicine. The monastery is engaged actively in prayer ceremonies where people come to receive blessings. It was a powerful place to experience the living tradition of Buddhism,” said Jampel, chairman of local Tibetan assembly.“The monastery has boosted tourism in Orissa,” said Gyetral Jigmei Rinpoche, chief abbot of the monastery. Brad, a tourist from the US, who recently visited the monastery, said: “I saw the monastery during my visit to Chandragiri. The interiors and the main structure are beautiful.” “It is the third best tourist place in Orissa after Puri and Konark. But the authorities must take immediate steps to construct a proper road from Lobarsingh to Jiranga temple to enable more tourists to visit the monastery,” said Prabir. After achieving success in building the Padmasambhava Mahavihara monastery, Prabir began receiving offers for various other projects. Some of them include the upcoming 76-foot high and 55-foot wide Lotus Temple at Aurobindo Matru Mandir in Ankuspur near Berhampur and one Iskcon temple in Berhampur.
Source: The Telegraph
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