Global Vipassana Pagoda

The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a notable monument in Mumbai, India. The pagoda is to serve as a monument of peace and harmony. This monument was inaugurated by Pratibha Patil, the President of India on February 8, 2009. It is located in the north of Mumbai in an area called Gorai and is built on donated land on a peninsula between Gorai creek and the Arabian Sea. The Global Vipassana Pagoda is built out of gratitude to the Buddha, his teaching and the community of monks practicing his teaching. Its traditional Burmese design is an expression of gratitude towards the country of Myanmar for preserving the practice of Vipassana. The shape of the pagoda is a copy of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. It is being built combining ancient Indian and modern technology to enable it to last for a thousand years

Description

The center of the Global Vipassana Pagoda contains the world's largest stone dome built without any supporting pillars. The height of the dome is approximately 29 metres, while the height of the building is 96.12 meters, which is twice the size of the previously largest hollow stone monument in the world, the Gol Gumbaz Dome in Bijapur, India. External diameter of the largest section of the dome is 97.46m and the shorter sections is 94.82m. Internal diamter of the dome is 85.15m. The inside of the pagoda is hollow and serves as a very large meditation hall with an area covering more than 6000 m2 (65,000 ft2). The massive inner dome seats over 8000 people enabling them to practice the non-sectarian Vipassana meditation as taught by Mr S.N. Goenka and now being practiced in over 100 countries. An inaugural one-day meditation course was held at the pagoda on December 21 2008, with Mr S.N. Goenka in attendance as the teacher.

The aim of the pagoda complex is, among others, to express gratitude to Gautama Buddha for dispensing for what followers believe is a universal teaching for the eradication of suffering, to educate the public about the life and teaching of the Buddha, and to provide a place for the practice of meditation. 10-day vipassana meditation courses are held free of charge at the meditation centre that is part of the Global Vipassana Pagoda complex.

Construction history

Timeline

Planning for the construction of the Global Vipassana Pagoda began in 1997, while actual building work started in 2000. The pagoda consists of three sub-domes. The first and largest dome was completed in October 2006 when bone relics of Gautama Buddha were enshrined in the central locking stone of the dome on October 29 2006, making it the world's largest structure containing relics of the Buddha. The relics were originally found in the stupa at Sanchi. They have been donated by the Mahabodhi Society of India and the prime minister of Sri Lanka to be kept at the Global Vipassana Pagoda. The second and third domes sit atop the first dome. Construction of the third dome was structurally completed on November 21 2008.

The Global Vipassana Pagoda complex is still under construction with plans to include a museum depicting the life and teaching of Gautama Buddha that is expected to draw one hundred thousand visitors annually. The Global Vipassana Pagoda's educational displays will communicate the Buddha's universal teaching as a path towards real happiness.

The Global Vipassana Pagoda complex will consist of the following structures:

  • Pagoda dome containing relics of Buddha (complete)
  • Vipassana meditation centre Dhamma Pattana (complete)
  • Museum depicting life of the Buddha
  • Two smaller pagodas on the north and south side (north pagoda complete)
  • Library and study rooms
  • Circumambulation path around the dome
  • Administration building (complete)
  • Underground parkade

The south pagoda, once completed, will contain 100 meditation cells for use by Vipassana students taking a meditation course at the adjoining meditation centre.

Construction materials

The foundation of the dome consists of basalt, while the dome itself is made from sandstone imported from Rajasthan. The individual blocks of sandstone weigh 600-700 kg each and are joined by lime mortar. The circumambulation path is laid in marble.

The pinnacle of the pagoda is adorned with a large crystal. The spire is covered in real gold, while the rest of the pagoda will be covered in gold paint. The spire is topped with a special ornamental umbrella piece donated by the Burmese. The main doors to the pagoda are wooden and hand-carved in Myanmar (Burma).

External links

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Margo Simon
23 April 2017
Worth to see. U can try free meditation for 10 mins,check the gallery and visit a souvenir shop. I suggest to go earlier morning,coz lately getting crowd n be careful its extremely hot.
Nilén Varade
2 May 2013
The Worlds largest stone dome built without any pillars. Architecture at its best. A place of the buddhist for peace & harmony. Continuous meditation sessions. Just next to Esselworld amusement park .
ITC Hotels
3 August 2012
The Global Vipassana Pagoda serves as a monument of peace and harmony. The center of the Pagoda contains the worlds largest stone dome built without any supporting pillars.
Rohan Sangodkar
14 October 2012
Best time to visit is after 4pm.This structures shines like diamond in the night.Last ferry for coming back is at 7.30pm.
Minal Ruhela
9 December 2013
Be quite and patient when exploring intricate work of Burmese and other South Asian craftsmen. Also check-out the book counter
Akshay Doiphode
20 February 2012
Great place for a day out...very peacefull .... <3
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0.3km from Essel world Amusement Park, Gorai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Get directions
Wed 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Thu 1:00 PM–2:00 PM
Fri Noon–5:00 PM
Sat 9:00 AM–9:00 PM
Sun 6:00 AM–8:00 PM
Mon 1:00 PM–6:00 PM

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