Hey guys here we are again with our #4th vlog. Few people living on Calcutta’s (Kolkata) Lake Road are aware that there is a Japanese Buddhist Temple in the vicinity, and even fewer are aware that it is officially called The Nipponzan Myohoji Temple
Nichidatsu Fujii (1885 – 1985) was a Japanese monk who was deeply influenced by the writings of Nichiren, a Japanese Monk revered as a saint. Nichiren held the opinion that the Lotus Sutra, a collection of teachings of the Buddha near the end of his life, was the sole means of attaining enlightenment, and that one day the Lotus Sutra would be preached in India. It was with this aim in mind that Nichidatsu Fujii arrived in Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1931 and walked the streets of the city beating his drum and chanting “Namu Myōhō Renge Kyō”, which translates to “I take refuge in (devote or submit myself to) the wonderful law of the Lotus Flower Sutra”. This chant or mantra may still be seen above the door of the Nipponzan Myohoji Japanese Buddhist Temple of Calcutta (Kolkata).
This piece of land on 60/20(1) Lake Road, Calcutta 700019 is where the Nipponzan Myohoji Japanese Buddhist Temple was built in 1935.
The Nipponzan Myohoji Japanese Buddhist Temple has regular prayers even today. The morning service is from 5am to 6:30am, and the evening service is from 5pm to 6:30pm. There are practicing Buddhists in Calcutta who attend the service.
The temple was featured in director Dibakar Banerjee’s Hindi feature film “Detective Byomkesh Bakshy” which released in April 2015. If you are looking for directions to the Nipponzan Myohoji Japanese Buddhist Temple, imagine yourself standing at Gol Park, facing the Dhakuria Bridge. You take the road which runs under the bridge, and to its left and proceed straight till its end and then turn right. Proceed straight for a bit, and you will find the temple on your left. While in the neighbourhood, see if you can spot the residence of the current President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, which is right next door.
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