Naveen to unveil Buddhist statue in Tibetan settlement

Berhampur: The picturesque Jirango in Gajapati district, a Tibetan settlement, which is known for its 70-ft-high Buddhist monastery, will soon have another attraction. On Thursday, chief minister Naveen Patnaik will unveil a 19-feet-high stone statue of Padmasambhava, revered as the second Buddha.
The statue weighing around 18 tonne has been built from special stones brought from Rajasthan and installed inside the water body near the famous five-storied monastery. It has been made by noted sculptor and Padmashri awardee Prabhakar Moharana of Bhubaneswar, said monk Gyetrul Jigmey Rinpoche.

Besides building the statue, the Tibetan settlers have also renovated the water body. “We will also illuminate the statue to make it more attractive,” said Khenpo Pema Tenphell. Over Rs 50 lakh has been spent on the project, he said, adding, It will be one of the main attractions for visitors to Jirango, which was declared a tourist spot by the state government.

Around 28 tonnes of stone were used to make the statue that took around two years to be built, said Moharana. Several Buddhist monks from different parts of the country and abroad, including Nepal and USA, will be present during the unveiling of the statue, said Khempo.

According to historians, Padmasambhava was born in Odisha. His life and teachings have shaped the spiritual landscape of the Himalayan region and its people, said Rinpche. Padmasambhava was also the founder of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century. The monastery was opened by the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibetans, in 2010.

Not only Buddhists, but tourists from all religions throng the place for a glimpse during the winter. The monastery houses idols of 21-ft Budha, 17-ft Budha Padma Sambhav and idols of Avaloketeswara.