Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Renkōji Temple

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Country
  
Japan

Completed
  
1594

Phone
  
+81 3-3311-7832

Burials
  
Subhas Chandra Bose

Website
  
None

Opened
  
1594

Affiliation
  
Nichiren Buddhism

Renkōji Temple

Location
  
3‐30-20, Wada, Suginami-ku, Tokyo

Address
  
3 Chome-30-20 Wada, Suginami, Tokyo 166-0012, Japan

Similar
  
Sanshinomori Park, Netaji Bhawan, Anyoji, Shōfuku‑ji, Kisshō‑ji

Melon pan au temple senso ji d asakusa tokyo vlog japon 9


Renkōji Temple (蓮光寺, Renkōji) is a Buddhist temple in Tokyo, Japan. It is assumed to be the purported location of the ashes of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Indian freedom-fighter, which have been preserved since September 18, 1945. The small, well-preserved temple was established in 1594 inspired by the God of Wealth and Happiness. It belongs to the Nichiren sect of Buddhism that believes that human salvation lies only in the Lotus Sutra.

Contents

Ashes of Subhash Chandra Bose

According to findings of the G.D. Khosla Commission, appointed by the Government of India in 1970, Subhash Chandra Bose's ashes were placed in the box at Taipei following the cremation of his remains. Bose had died at Taihoku Army Hospital on August 18, 1945. The ashes of Bose came to the temple for the purpose of a funeral ceremony but Rev. Mochizuki, father of the present Chief Monk, agreed to keep them in safe custody. Bose's funeral was held at 8:00 p.m. on September 18, 1945.

Netaji’s associates observe his death anniversary on August 18 at the temple annually. It is customary for Indian officials arriving in Japan to travel to Renkoji, to offer prayers and pay respect to Bose at the pagoda that protects his remains: Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was the first dignitary to visit the site in October 1957. President Dr. Rajendra Prasad followed him a year later. Indira Gandhi visited in 1969. Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India, first visited the temple during his term as Foreign Minister. He later visited it during his official visit to Japan on December 9, 2001. In 2000, the then Indian Minister of External Affairs, Jaswant Singh, visited the temple in November.

The ashes of Bose are placed in a small golden pagoda.

Controversy

The Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry submitted its report to the Indian Government on November 8, 2005. The report was tabled in Parliament on May 17, 2006. The probe said in its report that as Bose did not die in the plane crash, and that the ashes at the Renkoji Temple are not his. However, the Indian Government rejected the findings of the Commission, though no reasons were cited.

References

Renkōji Temple Wikipedia