The Buddha Dhatu Jadi also known as the Bandarban Golden Temple is located close to Balaghata town, in Bandarban City, in Bangladesh. Dhatu is the material remains of a holy person, and in this temple, the relics belong to Buddha. It is the largest Theravada Buddhist temple in Bangladesh and has the second-largest Buddha statue in the country.
Shrine’s History
Bandarban has a large ethnic population of Buddhists. Buddhism is practised by a small percentage of 0.7 in Bangladesh, predominantly a Muslim country. Buddhism is the third-largest religion in Bangladesh and the practice is of Theravada Buddhism; most Buddhists are from the south-eastern district of Chittagong and the Chittagong Hill Tracts.
In Bangladesh, the Theravada Buddhism, now practised as “Sangharaj Nikaya”, was introduced in the late 19th century, replacing many of the old forms of Buddhism practised till then. The credit for this is given to Ven. Saramedha, known popularly as “Sangharaj”.
The ethnic population of the town belongs mostly to Marma, an indigenous group of the Chittagong Hill region on the eastern end of the country. They are of Arakanese descent and Buddhists by religion and are the second-largest indigenous group in the hill districts of Bangladesh.
Ven. U Paññya Jota Mahathero is the founder and chief priest of the temple. He belongs to the Royal Bohmong family of Bandarban. He is a Theravada monk since 1991. He had served the government of Bangladesh for 8 years as a senior assistant judge. The Buddhas dhatu (relic), which is enshrined in the temple, was a gift given to Ven. U Paññya Jota Mahathero in 1994 by the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee of Myanmar.
Architectural Relevance of This Shrine
Approached by an elegant stairway, the impressive temple built on the hill top is decorated with exquisite sculptural images. Apart from the second-biggest statue of the Buddha that is enshrined in the sanctum, there are smaller statues and a golden bell set on a dragon within the temple precincts. Construction of the temple was started in 1995 and completed in 2000. The dhatu, the corporeal relics of Buddha, has been enshrined here below four statues of Buddha. The dhatu is enshrined here, with the basic belief among Buddhists that it provides for peace of mind and happiness. The temple now forms a part of the Tourism Development Project of the ‘Buddhist Circuit Tour’ that is sponsored by the South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By RoadDhaka and Bandarban are linked by road. There are direct bus services available from Dhaka to reach Bandarban.
By RailThe nearest Railway Station is DhakaBy AirShah Amanat International Airport serves as Chittagongs international airport situated at Potenga Road, South Patenga, Chittagong, besides domestic services to and from Dhaka