Maha Bodhi Society Headquarters, College Square, Calcutta
Calcutta, India · 1949–1957
22.57510°N, 88.36350°E
Key Facts
- ◆ The Sri Dharmarajika Vihara and adjacent headquarters building in College Square were built from the benefactions of Mrs Mary E. Foster, a wealthy Hawaiian Theosophist, by Anagarika Dharmapala.
- ◆ The two buildings were connected at the first floor by a little covered bridge.
- ◆ Sangharakshita gave weekly public lectures in the lecture hall on topics including 'Buddhism and God' and 'Practical Buddhism for the Layman'.
- ◆ He effectively edited the Maha Bodhi journal from this building, seeing multiple issues through the press.
- ◆ For pilgrims from Buddhist South-East Asia, Calcutta was the gateway to the holy places; the headquarters was a busy hub, especially in winter.
- ◆ The 1956 tour of Buddhist holy places with the 'Eminent Buddhists from the Border Areas' departed from here.
“Some days there was a puja or other religious ceremony to attend in the temple, as it was called, which occupied the first floor of the Sri Dharmarajika Vihara and was connected with the corresponding floor of the headquarters building by a little covered bridge.”
— In the Sign of the Golden Wheel
“For pilgrims coming from the Buddhist countries of South-east Asia, Calcutta was the gateway to Bodh Gaya and the other holy places of northern India. The headquarters building was therefore a busy place, especially during the winter months.”
— In the Sign of the Golden Wheel
Source: In the Sign of the Golden Wheel
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