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Global Vipassana Pagoda, Mumbai Overview
You will be surprised to know that Global Vipassana Pagoda is one of the quietest and peaceful places, situated amidst the city noises of suburbs of Gorai in Mumbai. As the name suggests, the Global Vipassana Pagoda is a dome-shaped meditation hall that has a seating capacity of around 8000 people. Many Vipassana practitioners and devotees from all over the world travel to this place in order to nourish their soul and mind with meditation.
Known for its serene ambience, this meditation centre is situated on a peninsula between the Arabian Sea and Gorai Creek. This structure was built only with the donation money and is open to visitors belonging to all age groups. Before enrolling yourself in the yoga classes, you can take a 10 minutes trail session of Anapana Meditation to experience the importance of meditation for inner peace.
The Pagoda was constructed in the memory of Sayagyi U Ba Khin who was an Accountant-General of Independent Myanmar and also an experienced Vipassana teacher. He is a renowned figure who tried best to bring back Vipassana to India, the place it originated. The place is considered as one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra and is visited by visitors who are going through a stressful and painful phase in their life.
More on Global Vipassana Pagoda
History of Global Vipassana Pagoda
The idea of building the Global Vipassana Pagoda was proposed by Shree S.N. Goenka in 1997 and the construction of the same began in 2000. The main objective was to preach the true teachings of Lord Buddha about Dhamma and the correct path to living. He felt that it was crucial to instil these teachings in the minds of people who were driven by superstitions and other forms of religious dogmas. It was only through these preaching, an individual could live an improved life in harmony and peace.
Acharya Goenkaji firmly believed that the Pagoda would serve as an important medium to communicate the teachings of Dhamma through the technique of Vipassana, which was supposedly lost nearly two million years ago. Simultaneously, he was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 2012 for his commendable work. After a year, on 6th June 2013, the Pagoda was nominated as one of the seven wonders of Maharashtra for its excellent architecture and purpose.
Purpose of the Pagoda
The Pagoda was essentially constructed revive Lord Budhha teachings of Dhamma. The main focus is on preaching teachings that will ensure harmony and peace in the world with simultaneous eradication of poverty and misery. Through Vipassana, the devotees are expected to detach themselves from the material world and discover mental peace.
Architecture of Global Vipassana Pagoda
Spread over an area of about 13 acres, the global Vipassana Pagoda is a perfect example of traditional Buddhist architecture, with a slight touch of Burmese designs. The traditional Burmese architecture has been incorporated in the Pagoda as a gesture of respect towards Myanmar for safeguarding the practice of Vipassana Meditation. The dome-shaped structure of Pagoda is inspired by Golden Pagoda in Myanmar and showcases a perfect blend of modern and ancient architecture.
The Pagoda is painted in golden colour and has a Shikhara, the spire, made of actual gold, which was donated by the Burmese. It is embellished with decorative pieces and has a close resemblance to an umbrella. The inner dome is a massive structure that can accommodate around 8000 people to practice Vipassana meditation at one time. The beautiful wooden doors at the entrance are intricately carved by hand and have been imported from Myanmar.
The sturdy foundation of the structure is made of Basalt rocks and the dome is built from the sandstones which were imported from Rajasthan. The sandstone blocks weigh around 600 to 700 kg and are interlocked with each other with the help of bricks and lime mortar. The structure is strong enough to stand tall for several years. The most interesting fact about this structure is that the 29 meters high dome is not supported by any pillar. The central area of the dome, the prayer hall, covers an area of about 6000 sq. meters. A large crystal is placed on the top of the pagoda.
Courses Offered at Global Vipassana Pagoda
Beginner Course: The beginner course comprises of 10 days meditation course during which the participants have to follow strict regulations pertaining to the timetable, no sexual misconduct, not harming any living being, no consumption of alcohol or other intoxicants, and no telling lies.
The students practice ten hours of meditation every day with breaks in between. The first three days are focused on developing concentration through Aanapana and the next seven days are for complete immersion in Vipassana Practice. On the last day, the Metta Bhavana technique of meditation is taught. These courses are bilingual and can be attended by members who do not understand local languages.
10-day Executive Course: These courses are preliminary lessons intended especially for Business Executives, Entrepreneurs and Government Officials
Old Students Short-term Course: The participants who have completed at least one 10-day course are considered as old students. They can enrol for a 3-day short course each year to revise and stay updated about the technique.
Advanced Courses: This includes the same timetable as that for the beginner courses, however, the duration and the degree of meditation is highly developed. Participants can choose between 20, 30, 45 and 60 days of course periods.
Children’s Course: These courses are designed to help children in the age group 8 to 12 years learn meditation.
Tips for Visiting Global Pagoda
1. Please maintain silence on the premises.
2. Do not litter the site.
3. Carry your ID proof. The management doesn’t allow anyone without an Identity Proof.
4. The last ferry leaves from Gorai Creek at 5:00 PM
How to Reach Global Vipassana Pagoda?
Private Transport Route to Reach Global Pagoda
In order to reach Global Vipassana, you will have to start from Western Express Highway and head towards Mira-Bhayandar or towards Ahmedabad. From Mira-Bhayandar, you will have to further drive till the Gold Nest Circle and then take a left from here. Continue driving towards Maxus Mall till you come across a right turn. Once to turn right, head to the T point and from there take a left.
Further, you can take the help of sign boards to reach Essel World Parking Lot. From there, drive a few meters ahead and take a right turn. Once you reach the entrance of the Esselworld, you will have to inform the guards that you are heading towards the Pagoda. After driving a little further from this point, you will come across a helipad from where you will have to take a right to reach the Global Pagoda.
Public Transport Routes to Reach Global Pagoda
For those wanting to travel to the Pagoda via public transport should take the train till the Western Railway Mumbai Suburban Line at Borivali Station. Upon reaching the station, exit from its western gate and proceed to the Chandavarkar road. From here you can either take an auto-rickshaw or BEST buses to reach the Gorai Creek which is 4 km away from this place. Buses with number 247 and 294 will take you to the Gorai Creek from here.
Once you reach Gorai Creek, you will have to take a ferry to reach the Pagoda. You have two ferry options available, the Esselworld Ferry Service which will cost you Rs. 50 per person, and the local ferry service which will cost you around Rs. 5. If you opt for the Esselworld Ferry Service then you will have to walk from the jetty to reach the Pagoda, however, if you take the local ferry then you will have to an auto-rickshaw or take the bus 711 to reach the place.
If you are travelling from Bhayandar Station (West) then you can take the Mira Bhayandar Municipal Transport (MBMT). Bus route number 4 will take you to the Global Vipassana Pagoda.