London Buddhist Vihara
{{Short description|Buddhist temple in London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = London Buddhist Vihara
| native_name =
| image = London Buddhist Vihara, London, UK.jpg
| alt = The main building in Bedford Park, London
| caption = The main building on The Avenue, Bedford Park, Chiswick, formerly a social club
| location = Dharmapala Building, The Avenue, London {{postcode|W|4|1|UD}}
| coordinates = {{coord|51.49669|-0.25594|format=dms|region:GB-EAL_type:landmark |display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = Theravada Buddhism
| deity =
| country = United Kingdom
| functional_status =
| architect = Norman Shaw (exterior);
E. J. May (interior)
| general_contractor =
| website = {{URL|https://www.londonbuddhistvihara.org/}}
| leadership = Anagarika Dharmapala, founder
| year_completed = {{circa|1877}}
| designation1 = Grade II Listed Building
| designation1_offname = London Buddhist Vihara (Former CAV Social Club)
| designation1_date = 2 February 1970
| designation1_number = {{NHLE|num=1079469|short=yes}}
}}
The London Buddhist Vihara (Sinhala:ලන්ඩන් බෞද්ධ විහාරය Landan Bauddha Viharaya) is one of the main Theravada Buddhist temples in the United Kingdom. The Vihara was the first Sri Lankan Buddhist monastery to be established outside Asia.
Established in 1926, the Vihara is managed by the Anagarika Dharmapala Trust in Colombo. The current chief bhikkhu of the Vihara is Ven Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera, who is also the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain.[http://www.island.lk/2008/05/05/news18.html Bogoda Seelawimala Thera appointed new Sanghanayake in Britain]
The Vihara building, Grade II listed, was the social club for Chiswick's Bedford Park garden suburb until 1939. The building was designed by Norman Shaw; the interior, now much modified, was by Edward John May.
History
File:Srimath Anagarika Dharmapala (1864-1933).jpg]]
The London Buddhist Vihara was founded in 1926 by Anagarika Dharmapala.[http://www.lankaeverything.com/index.php?option=com_phocagallery&view=category&id=11:tissa-madawela&Itemid=23 London Buddhist Vihara Founder’s Day Celebrations]
One of the temple's main benefactors during its early days was Mary Foster, who financed ‘Foster House’ in Ealing.[http://www.island.lk/2001/10/28/featur10.html 75th Anniversary Celebrations of the London Buddhist Vihara] This was the first Sri Lankan Buddhist temple established outside Asia and was named the London Buddhist Vihara in 1926. Shortly afterwards, the Vihara moved to Gloucester Road in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, where it continued until the Second World War. During the war, the temple premises were requisitioned, and the monks returned to Ceylon.
In 1955, the Vihara reopened in Ovington Square, Knightsbridge under the initiative of Sir Cyril de Zoysa.[http://sinhale.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/sir-cyril-de-zoysa-the-great-buddhist-devotee/ Sir Cyril de Zoysa, the great Buddhist devotee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718111102/http://sinhale.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/sir-cyril-de-zoysa-the-great-buddhist-devotee/ |date=2011-07-18 }}.
Narada Nayaka Thera became the chief bhikkhu of the Vihara in 1958.[http://www.buddhistvihara.com/newsletters/2003-winter/narada_maha_thera.htm A Biographical Sketch of Venerable Narada Maha Thera] The Vihara moved to Heathfield Gardens, Chiswick in 1964. Hammalawa Saddhatissa Nayaka Thera subsequently became the chief Bhikkhu of the Vihara[http://www.infolanka.com/org/diary/196.html NEW POSTAL STAMP] and was succeeded in 1985 by Dr Medagama Vajiragnana Nayaka Thera.[http://phatgiaoquoctebariavungtau.com/budsas_m/ebud/ebdha242.htm Buddhist missionary in the West after WW II]{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
In 1994, The Vihara moved to its present premises at The Avenue, Chiswick. Ven Bogoda Seelawimala Nayaka Thera was appointed as the chief bhikkhu in May 2008. The Vihara has several resident bhikkhus from Sri Lanka, and conducts and actively engages in religious Buddhist activities in the region.
Building
{{anchor|Bedford Park Club}}
The Vihara building was the social club for the Bedford Park garden suburb until 1939. The architect, Richard Norman Shaw, designed the exterior in 1877-8; the interior, now much modified, was by the architect Edward John May. The building was Grade II listed in 1970.{{National Heritage List for England |num=1079469 |desc=London Buddhist Vihara (Former CAV Social Club) |grade=II |access-date=3 August 2021}}
File:Plans for Bedford Park Club by Norman Shaw 1878.jpg|Plans for Bedford Park Club by Norman Shaw, 1878
File:Sketch of The Club, Bedford Park, 1880.jpg|Sketch of The Club, Bedford Park, 1880
File:LondonBuddhistVihara02.jpg|View inside the meditation room, formerly a billiard hall, 2024
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.londonbuddhistvihara.org/}}
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M3UgbsXggc London Buddhist Vihara 90th Anniversary & Anagarika Dharmapala Tribute by Mr.Amal Abeyawardene]
{{Chiswick}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Buddhist monasteries in England
Category:Buddhist temples in London
Category:Buildings and structures in Chiswick
Category:Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Ealing
Category:Religion in the London Borough of Ealing
Category:Theravada Buddhist monasteries