Chaitya Bhoomi, also written as Chaityabhoomi, (

IAST The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Brahmic family, Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that ...

: ''Caityabhūmī'', Officially: ''Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Chaityabhoomi Memorial'') is a Buddhist chaitya and the cremation place of B. R. Ambedkar, the architect of the

Indian Constitution The Constitution of India is the supreme legal document of India, and the longest written national constitution in the world. The document lays down the framework that demarcates fundamental political code, structure, procedures, powers, and ...

and the revived Buddhism in India. It is situated besides Dadar Chowpatty (beach),

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

, Maharashtra, India. Chaitya Bhoomi is a revered place of pilgrimage for Ambedkar's followers, who visit in millions annually on his death anniversary (''Mahaparinirvan Diwas'') on 6 December. The Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the Governor, the Minister and many other politicians pay tribute to Ambedkar every year on 6 December in Chaitya Bhoomi.

Narendra Modi Narendra Damodardas Modi (born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician who has served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India since 2014. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Par ...

, the

Prime Minister of India The prime minister of India (ISO 15919, ISO: ) is the head of government of the Republic of India. Executive authority is vested in the prime minister and his chosen Union Council of Ministers, Council of Ministers, despite the president of ...

, has also visited. Chaitya Bhoomi hosts a memorial to Ambedkar and has been graded an A-class tourism and pilgrimage site by the Government of Maharashtra.

Structural details

The structure is square in shape with a small dome divided into ground and mezzanine floors. In the square-shaped structure is a circular wall about 1.5 metres in height. In the circular area are placed the bust of Ambedkar and a statue of Gautam Buddha. The circular wall has two entrances and is furnished with marble flooring. On the mezzanine floor there is a Stupa, besides the resting place for

Bhikkhu A ''bhikkhu'' (, ) is an ordained male in Buddhist monasticism. Male, and female monastics (''bhikkhunī''), are members of the Sangha (Buddhist community). The lives of all Buddhist monastics are governed by a set of rules called the pratimok� ...

s. The main entrance gate of the Chaitya Bhoomi is replica of the Gate of the Stupa of Sanchi while inside a replica of

Ashoka Pillar The pillars of Ashoka are a series of Monolith, monolithic columns dispersed throughout the Indian subcontinent, erected—or at least inscribed with Edicts of Ashoka, edicts—by the 3rd Mauryan Emperor Ashoka the Great, who reigned from to ...

is made. The Chaitya Bhoomi was inaugurated by Meerabai Yashvant Ambedkar, the daughter-in-law of B. R. Ambedkar, on 5 December 1971. Here, the

relic In religion, a relic is an object or article of religious significance from the past. It usually consists of the physical remains or personal effects of a saint or other person preserved for the purpose of veneration as a tangible memorial. Reli ...

s of Ambedkar are enshrined. In 2012, the Central Government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh cleared the transfer of Indu Mills land to the Maharashtra Government for constructing a memorial.

Mahaparinirvan Din

Ambedkar's death anniversary (6 December) is observed as Mahaparinirvan Din.

Million 1,000,000 (one million), or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. The word is derived from the early Italian ''millione'' (''milione'' in modern Italian), from ''mille'', "thousand", plus the ...

s of people across India throng Chaitya Bhoomi to pay homage to him.

Gallery

File:Chaitya Bhoomi Stupa 01.jpg, Chaitya Bhoomi File:Ashoka pillar, Chaitya Bhoomi 04.jpg, Ashoka pillar, Chaitya Bhoomi File:Ashoka pillar and Chaitya Bhoomi gate (inner side).jpg, Ashoka pillar and Chaitya Bhoomi gate (inner side) File:Chaitya Bhoomi Stupa 04.jpg, Chaitya Bhoomi Volunteers of Samata Sainik Dal and Ambedkars followers, surrounded by Chaitya Bhoomi on Mahaparinirvana Day File:Structure of Chaitya Bhoomi stupa inside Chaitya Bhoomi.jpg, Structure of Chaitya Bhoomi stupa inside Chaitya Bhoomi File:Replica of Sanchi gate at Chaitya Bhoomi.png, Replica of Sanchi gate carving at Chaitya Bhoomi File:Sand carved Buddha at Dadar Chowpatty.png, Sand carved Buddha at Dadar Chowpatty on Mahaparinirvan Din File:People across India gathered at Chaitya Bhoomi on 6th December.png, People across India gathered at Chaitya Bhoomi on 6 December File:An offering at Chaitya Bhoomi by family.png, An offering at Dadar Chowpatty by family File:A Buddhist monk watching photo exhibition at Chaitya Bhoomi.png, A Buddhist monk watching photo exhibition at Chaitya Bhoomi File:Resting Place Of Yashwant Bhimrao Ambedkar.jpg, Resting Place Of Yashwant Bhimrao Ambedkar

References

External links

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The day Shivaji Park turns blue; 15 Dec 2018; Bhanuj Kappal
by mint Memorials to B. R. Ambedkar Monuments and memorials in Maharashtra Buildings and structures in Mumbai Stupas in India Buddhist temples in Maharashtra

Structural details

Mahaparinirvan Din

Gallery

See also

References

External links