The centerpiece is a bronze bust of Babasaheb on a marble pedestal, carrying his words “Life should be great rather than long.” Built into the pedestal is a small library of books on his life, the Constitution and Buddhism.
Around it, a 20 ft octagonal gazebo with marble seating gives visitors a quiet place to read, reflect and gather, with Educate · Agitate · Organize inscribed along the frieze.
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A central bronze bust of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar (1891–1956) on a premium marble pedestal.
Bookshelves built into the pedestal, so the monument is also a place to learn.
Stone, marble and wood structure, about 16′6″ tall, with an architectural shingle roof.
Built-in marble benches with cushions for quiet reading and contemplation.
A golden Dhamma Wheel crowns the roof, with lotus motifs on every column.
Landscaped with flowering plants to blend with the Vihara grounds and inspire mindfulness.
3153 Miller Rd, Lithonia, GA 30038 · gavihara.org
The long-term plan for the Vihara is to build three statues honoring great figures of the Buddhist revival. The bust of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, installed through this Jai Bhim Atlanta project, is the first. Statues of Anagarika Dharmapala and Colonel Henry Steel Olcott will follow in the near future, next to Babasaheb's bust.
Bronze bust with gazebo and mini library, led by Jai Bhim Atlanta.
Statue to be built next to Babasaheb's bust.
Statue to be built next to Babasaheb's bust.
The Vihara is also planning to build a new meditation hall (Dharmashala), and the larger Sri Lankan Buddhist community is raising funds for this $700,000–$800,000 project.
The new hall is designed in the classical Sri Lankan Buddhist style: a hip clay-tile roof with brass finials, a wrap-around colonnade of turned white pillars, and a raised stone platform set among mature trees and open lawn. Inside, a hand-carved teak archway with lotus and Dharma motifs will open onto a meditation hall with a gilded seated Buddha and Jataka murals of the Buddha's life. The building will be fully ADA accessible, with a ramp and lift, and will welcome more than 300 people for meditation, teaching and community events.
Georgia Buddhist Vihara
3153 Miller Rd, Lithonia, GA 30038
A pledge is a promise of support, not a payment. Your pledge helps us show the Vihara and our partners that the community stands behind this project, and lets us plan the build with confidence.
Click Make a Pledge and enter your name, email and the amount you would like to commit. It takes under a minute.
Every pledge moves the progress bar toward our $50,000 goal, so the whole community can see the momentum.
When it is time to collect funds, the Jai Bhim Atlanta team will contact you by email with simple payment options. No payment is taken on this site.
“I like the religion that teaches liberty, equality and fraternity.”— DR. BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR
Every pledge, of any size, brings Babasaheb's bust one step closer to Georgia.
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Jai Bhim Atlanta