THE BUDDHA DHATU JADI TEMPLE, THE GOLDEN TEMPLE OF BANDARBAN

The Buddha Dhatu Jadi

BANDARBAN

The Buddha Dhatu Jadi Temple also has another name that is Bandarban Golden Temple. It is located close to Balaghata town, in Bandarban City, in Bangladesh.The Bangla word "Dhatu" means Material. Here ‘Dhatu’ refers to the material that belongs to a sacred owner. As the material belongs to Buddha in this temple, it was named ‘The Buddha Dhatu Jadi’.  It is the largest Theravada Buddhist Temple and it has second largest Buddha statue in Bangladesh.

Founder:

Ven. U Pannya Jota Thera is the founder and chief priest of the temple. He belongs to 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 Buddha’s Dhatu (relic), which is enshrined in the temple, was a gift given to Ven. U Pannya Jota Thera in 1994 by the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee of Myanmar.

The Bandarban Golden Temple belongs to the Theravada Buddhism order, which is practiced by the Marma tribal people, a dominant ethnic group of Bandarban. It was built in 2000 in Arakanese architecture, an adoption of South East Asia style. The temple is built on top of a 60 metres (200 ft) high hill, which is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the Balaghat town, and 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the Banderban city. Its golden colour and eye-catching architecture make it a feast for the eyes.

Apart from the second biggest Lord Buddha statue enshrined in the sanctum, there are smaller statues and a golden bell set on a dragon within the temple precincts. 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.