The Times of India News Service

PATNA: Chief minister Rabri Devi said on Monday that the only solution to the present day terror, bloodshed and destruction in the world lay in following the teachings of Buddha.

Inaugurating the exhibition of the mortal remains of Buddha and manjusha recovered from the excavation of Vaishali in the Karpoori Thakur conference hall of the Patna Museum, she said that Buddha's message of peace, harmony and brotherhood was still relevant as it provides solutions to several problems being faced by the world. The chief minister also inaugurated the exhibition of photographs related to different aspects of Buddha's life, right from his birth to his mahaparinirvan.

Speaking on the occasion Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, MP, said that the state government has decided to lay the asthi kalash at Vaishali after preparing a Rs 3.50 crore project, so that mortal remains of Buddha could be open for viewing by the tourists both from India and abroad. He underlined the need of completion of the work on Buddhist circuit and developing Vaishali as the international tourist spot. He said that Buddha had spent last phase of his life at Vaishali, where he had informed about his mahaparinirvan 90 days ahead.

Art and culture minister Ashok Kumar Singh in his presidential address said that it was in 1998 that on the CM's direction, Buddha's asthi kalash, which had been found in course of Vaishali excavation in 1958, had been put for people's viewing at Bodh Gaya during Bauddha Mahotsava. His holy ashes had been divided in eight equal parts and carried to different parts of the country. But Vaishali being the seat of first democracy of the world, preserved the asthi kalash, as precious wealth, he said, adding that the state government proposes to set up a museum at Vaishali with the funds received from the 11th Finance Commission for the protection and preservation of heritage.

Health minister Shakuni Chaudhary, minister of state for tourism Suresh Paswan, Ram Kripal Yadav, MLC, also spoke on the occasion. Earlier, Bauddha Bhikshus worshipped the asthi kalash in their traditional way.

A seminar on "Buddha's Message of Scientific Religion" was organised at the Gautam Buddha Institute of Development Studies at Rajendra Nagar, which was presided over by institute chairman Bishwanath Singh. The head monk of the Burmese Buddhist temple inaugurated the library of the institute.

The function organised by the Bihar Rajya Nagrik Parishad was chaired by its vice-chairman Radhanandan Jha. Under the patronage of Bhante Karunasheel, worship of Buddha was organised at Ashoka Bauddha Vihar centre here.

The function organised by the Buddha Mission of India here was addressed among others by higher education minister Ram Lakhan Ram `Raman' who said that Buddha's teachings would be included in the school syllabus. Minister of state for tourism Suresh Paswan said that Buddha's statue of Kadamkuan would be linked with the Buddha circuit.