Boudha Arghun Sadan| Boudha Arghun Sadan |
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(Translated from the Tamu Boudha Arghun Sadan’s 25th anniversary “Smarika” published in 2059 B.S) History: Five decades ago, Pokhara Valley was not a developed town as it is today. People from the neighboring hills had not migrated there yet. However, Pokhara was an essential stop for Gurkha soldiers serving in Indian and British Armies. During the First and Second World Wars, thousands of Nepalese soldiers (Gurkhas) fought under the British flag. After the World War II, British left India in 1947 AD. To assist the retired Gurkha soldiers, a Post War Reconstruction Fund (PWRF) was established. The fund had 54 Lakh Indian Rupees in it. The retired Gurkhas living in India were to get 10 Lakh of it and the rest was for the retired Gurkhas in Nepal. In 2013 B.S, the Gurkhas with that fund founded the District Soldiers Board Hospital in Pokhara. Major Bir Singh Gurung led that effort. Later, the government renamed the hospital as Western Regional Hospital. The PWRF fund also helped to open the District Soldiers Board High School in Pokhara that later became Amar Singh High School. In 1960 A.D., the Indian Government opened its permanent pension camp in Pokhara. These developments created an environment for migration to Pokhara valley. Many ex-servicemen families, especially the Gurungs, started migrating to Pokhara. People also began bringing their sick family members from the villages to Pokhara for treatment. People in those days did not come to the hospital unless it was a dire necessary. Most of these patients died in the hospital. The Gurung custom requires a lama, pachu, ghyabri, Aashyon and son-in-law to perform the final rites. A few other things are also required to cremate the dead body. The hospital usually required the families to claim the dead body immediately. It was very difficult for the Gurungs to perform the final rites since they did not have a cremation place of their own or a religious organization in Pokhara. That situation gave birth to the concept of Boudha Arghun Sadan. In 2027 B.S., three ex-soldiers - Capt. Budhibal Gurung, N/Sub Bil Bahadur Gurung, and late Capt. Budhi Bahadur Gurung, founded an informal committee. This committee collected small donations of fifty paisa, one rupee, and five rupees from the pensioners visiting Pokhara to collect their pensions. With the collected donations, they helped others to cremate their dead relatives. In 2030 B.S., the committee had requested the Pokhara “Nagar Panchayat” (municipality) for a piece of land that the gurungs could use for cremating their dead ones. It was an uphill battle for the committee to deal with the bureaucracy of that time. Only after numerous requests in 2035 B.S, the then Ward Number 10 President formally approved the request to grant the present location of Boudha Arghun Sadan. When the committee took the approval letter to the Pokhara Nagar Panchayat, they were asked to come back after forming a formal committee. The Gurung ex-servicemen held a meeting at Himalayan Petroleum Company, a company that they had founded around the same time. This meeting approved a committee with Capt. Budhibal Gurung as President, N/Sub Bil Bahadur Gurung as Secretary, Capt. Budhi Bahadur Gurung as Treasurer, and Capt. T. B. Gurung and Mrs. Kanta Gurung as its members. In 2038 B.S, the Pokhara Nagar Panchayat approved the committee’s request. However, the actual ownership of 14 Ropani and 7 Aana land to the organization became reality only in 2049 B.S. National Soccer player, late Mr. Narkaji Gurung, also played an important role in this process. He was a good friend of Mr. Ganesh Sherchan, then Pradhan Panch of Pokhara Nagar Panchayat. The Boudha Arghun Sadan is conveniently located at the bank of river Seti and only 80 meters away from the Western Regional Hospital. After receiving land from the government, the Sadan started with a small and temporary two-room house built with blocks and Tin. One room was used for storage and sleeping room for the guard. Lama, Pachu, and Ghyabri performed daily morning and evening prayers in the other room. They would also perform the final rites for the dead in the same room. Later, the Sadan also built a permanent cremation platform down at the bank of Seti. The Arghun Sadan that had such a modest beginning is now a well-established and respected Tamu institution. It has served the entire gurung community of Pokhara and surrounding hills for 25 years. Today, Arghun Sadan has a beautiful Buddha temple (Gumba), a guesthouse with office and a morgue, a modern kitchen with dinning hall, a conference hall, guards’ room, a permanent cremation platform, and toilets. There are many religiously significant statues and structures throughout Arghun Sadan to felicitate prayers, weddings and complete final rites e.g. pye or arghun and swemekain. It all became possible due to the generosity of countless community members and honest leadership of the executive committees of the past and present. Boudha Arghun Sadan is a registered religious and community institution. Programs and Services: 1). Cremation and Final Rites: This is one of the most important services that Arghun Sadan offers. Since its inception, Arghun Sadan has cremated more than four thousand dead bodies and performed their final rites. Many people have also performed swemekain and arghun of their dead loved ones at the Sadan. The Arghun Sadan has all the facilities available to perform traditional Gurung final rites. 2). Marriage: The Arghun Sadan has started offering marriage services since 2039 B.S. The honorable lama teacher administers the marriage ceremony by offering prayers to Lord Buddha and offering blessings to the wedding couple. So far, more than six hundred couples have taken their marriage vows at the Arghun Sadan. 3). Baishak Purnima (Buddha Purnima): Every year, Arghun Sadan observes the Baishak Purnima as an important festival. The three most significant events in the life of Gautama Buddha occurred on this auspicious day – His birth, enlightenment and nirvana. The lama teachers at the Arghun Sadan perform the prayers for peace throughout the day and devotees in large number come to pray. On this occasion, Arghun Sadan also invites religious teachers and high-ranking lamas to give talks on Buddhism. Arghun Sadan provides moderate lunch to all guests and devotees from the donations collected. 4). Ashad Purnima: Like Baishak Purnima, Ashad purnima also has a great significance in Buddhism. According to Buddhist texts, on this auspicious day, a Bodhisattva entered into the womb of Queen Mayadevi to be born as Sidhartha who later became Buddha. At the age of 29, on the day of Ashad Purnima, Sidhartha left his palace in search of truth. After attaining enlightenment, Lord Buddha gave his first teaching on Ashad Purnima. Boudha Arghun Sadan along with other Buddhist organizations of Pokhara valley organizes prayers and peace rally throughout the town. 5). Tamu Lhochar (New Year): Every year on 15 Poush, Tamus celebrate Lhochar and welcome their New Year. Tamus gather at Boudha Arghun Sadan to pray and celebrate Lhochar. 6). Prayers for Peace and Meditation: Boudha Arghun Sadan organizes special programs in which lamas read the sacred Buddhist texts and pray for world peace. The devotees come to pray, and practice fasting and meditation. 7). Discussions, Visiting Speakers, and Seminars: Boudha Arghun Sadan organizes various interaction programs. Often it invites high-ranking lamas, Pachus, Ghyabris and other scholars to speak or discuss about various religious and social issues. The Sadan also takes initiatives to teach leadership and religious awareness to our youths. In 2041 B.S Boudha Arghun Sadan published the book of Mr. Jagman Gurung – “Nepal KO Ekikaran Ma Gurungharu KO Bhumika” [Role of Gurungs in Unification of Nepal]. Future Aspirations of Boudha Arghun Sadan: 1). Boudha Arghun Sadan has undertaken an initiative to actively promote and teach Buddhist religion to people of all ages. A new building is under construction to facilitate Buddhist teachings and a library. 2). Boudha Arghun Sadan is planning to build a separate building for Pachu and Ghyabri teachers. 3). Boudha Arghun Sadan is also looking to build a morgue with cold storage room. 4). Boudha Arghun Sadan is also planning to build an advanced cremation facility. Contact Information: Boudha Arghun Sadan Gautam Buddha Margh, Pokhara – 10 Nepal. Telephone: 977-61-520361 |