Dalai Lama Inaugurates World's Highest Stupa
(Press Trust of India | Dehra Dun | October 28, 2002)
Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama today inaugurated the world's highest Buddhist stupa at a glittering ceremony here attended by Defence Minister George Fernandes. The Dalai Lama recited prayers as he entered the 185-ft stupa built in Mindrolling Monestry to commemorate the "descent of Lord Buddha in the Garden of Lotuses".
Besides Fernandes, several ministers of the Tibetan government in exile were present at the ceremony. The stupa, having five shrine rooms and built under the guidance of Master Ti Ching, is one of the series of eight built to commemorate landmarks in Lord Buddha's life.
The first stupa was built by King Shuddhodana, Gautam Buddha's father, at Lumbini in Nepal to commemorate his birth. The second was built by king Bimbsar in Bodh Gaya on Lord Buddha's attainment of "Enlightenment". The other stupas are in Varanasi, Lichavi, Magadh, Vaishali and Kushinagar.
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