Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled a 19-foot-high statue of Guru Padmasambhava, the founder of Tibetan Buddhism, at Jirang in Gajapati district on Thursday. Historians claim that Guru Padmasambhava, also known as second Buddha, was born and brought up in Odisha before he left for Tibet. The statue of Guru Padmasambhava has been sculpted by noted sculptor Padmashri Prabhakar Moharana. Addressing the gathering, Mr. Patnaik said Odisha was once a major centre of learning and practice of Buddhism. It is the land that transformed Emperor Ashoka to a benevolent king, said Mr. Patnaik.

Source: The Hindu February 07, 2019 20:17 UTC