Global Vipasna Pagoda is in Mumbai

Global Vipassana Pagoda In Mumbai 

Last year, while I was in Seattle , I saw an article in New York Times on Satya Narayan Goenka  and his exemplary work in promoting Buddhism and his unique Vipasna practice. In the same write up there was a mention of his dream project Global Vipassana Pagoda which is situated in Gorai area, near city of Mumbai. 

I decided to visit this place soon after my return. I can say after my visit to the place with full conviction that this Pagoda is an unique place for spiritual experience and the city should be proud of it. 

Planning for the construction of the Pagoda was started  in 1997, while actual construction work started in 2000. The pagoda consists of three sub-domes. The first and largest dome was completed when bone relics of Gautama Buddha were enshrined in the central locking stone of the dome on October 29, 2006, making it the world's largest hollow stone masonry structure. It contains  relics of the Buddha which were originally found in Bhattiprolu, Guntur district in Andhra. 

The center of the Global Vipassana Pagoda contains the world's largest stone dome built without any supporting pillars.

The height of the dome is 30 metres, while the height of the building is 96.12 meters, which is twice the size of the previously largest hollow stone monument in the world, the Gol Gumbaz  Dome in Bijapur, India. The external diameter of the largest section of the dome is 97.46m and the shorter sections, is 94.82m. The internal diameter of the dome is 85.15m. The inside of the pagoda is hollow , it is a large hall with an area covering more than 6000 sq m  and utilized for practice the non-sectarian Vipassana meditation as taught by Goenka, and now being practiced in over 160 centres in more than 60 countries.

He was the leading businessman in Burma, one day he decided to pass on  that business to gen-next and he left worldly pleasures in his quest for spirituality. 

The Vipassana Pagoda is typically built with traditional Burmese design, incorporating modern technology. The entry to the dome for normal visitors is allowed only upto a glass view area and entry to the meditation hall inside the large dome is opened only to the people, who have undergone 10 day Vipassana meditation course. Calmness and silence is the keyword of the shrine and visitors needs to bear this in mind and maintain silence to respect the divinity of the complex.

How to reach : The Complex is located near the Gorai creek facing Arabian Sea . You may reach here by road via Bhayandar/Gorai and can also be reached by ferry from Borivali/ Gorai. While substantial vehicle parking is available, the same is not properly developed.

I summarize below facts about the Pagoda : 

• The Global Vipassana Pagoda resembles Myanmar’s Golden Pakoda in structure.
• This monument was opened by former President of India, Pratibha Patil, in 2009.
• The main purpose of this place is to spread the knowledge about Vipassana.
• The Global Vipassana Pagoda is one of the tallest stone structures in the world.
• Original bone relics of Gautama Buddha are enshrined here.
• The Global Vipassana Pagoda is a hollow stone structure, having 3 stories. The entire monument is painted with glimmering Thai gold paint, on the outside.
• This monument is the largest pillar-less dome in the world. Around eight thousand people can meditate at any given instant, within the monument.
• A 4,000 kg Dhamma wheel is suspended at a height of ninety feet within the monument.
• To the north and south of the main pagoda, stand two other smaller pagodas which are 60 feet high each. The pagoda on the north has a huge hall for teaching meditation to the public, whereas the pagoda on the south, houses one hundred and eight cells dedicated to meditation.
• The monument also hosts a magnificent Ashok pillar.
• A centre called ‘Dhammapattana’ is located in the complex, where many student courses are conducted every week. The complex also has a research centre, an audio-visual room, a gallery and several air-conditioned rooms.