Bhubabeswar, Sept 9: The famous mantra or chants of Buddhism — Buddham Saranam Gachhami — resonate in the new temple inaugurated on the first floor of the Kalinga Buddha Vihara here.

This temple is the perfect tribute to Srimath Anagarika Dharmapal, one of the greatest laymen who served the cause of Buddhism and worked hard for its revival in India after his dedicated work in Sri Lanka.

This temple is sure to help spread Buddhism in the city. A newly installed statue of Guru Rinpoche (precious Guru) also known as Guru Padmasambhava (lotus-born), about 5.5 feet high, has also arrived as a gift from Bhutan to Odisha. This gift came as part of the visit by the Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley to the state to revive old ties.

Odisha became a flourishing centre for Buddhism after the historic Kalinga war, where emperor Ashoka turned into Dharmasoka from Chandasoka. He did a lot for the spread of Buddhism and thus started a new era of art, education, peace and learning.

A sapling of peepal or Bodhi tree was planted inside the Kalinga Buddha Vihar on May 13, 1957.

Buddhist followers believe that during stress and anxiety if a person takes solace under a Bodhi tree, there is bound to be a reduction in the stress level. Several small statues surround the Bodhi tree here. The huge tree has also become home to several animals, especially squirrels.

The Bhutanese Prime Minister also praised Buddhist monuments in and around the city. He also said that after seeing the rock edict near Dhauli he felt enriched with the knowledge of Buddhist way of life, as they were predominant in the ancient Kalinga empire.