"Politicians say anything": Buddhist scholar rubbishes Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's criticism of PM Modi

Kushinagar (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 27 (ANI): Dismissing Congress President's Mallikarjun Kahrge's "Buddha is an Avatar of Vishnu" remark, Bhante Mahendra, Former President of International Buddhist Research Institute on Saturday said that there is no such mention of an incarnation in Buddhism.
He emphasized that Buddha, contrary to Hindu beliefs, is not considered an avatar in Buddhism.
Reacting to Kharge's remark, Buddhist researcher Bhante Mahendra said, "These days there is election wave and politicians keep on saying anything. But Lord Buddha is not an avatar, because in Buddhism, there is no concept as such incarnation".
"Around 2500 years earlier, Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini Nepal. He was born from a mother's womb," he added.
Moreover, Bhante Mahendra clarified that Buddhism does not adhere to the concepts of karma kand (ritualistic actions) or avatarvad (belief in divine incarnations), highlighting the distinct philosophical differences between Hinduism and Buddhism.
"In Buddism, Karma kand and Avatarvad is not followed. This is an election time and politicial leaders say these things. There is no such mention of Lord Buddha being an avatar of Vishnu," Mahendra said.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stirred a fresh row with remarks on Buddhism and PM Modi during an interview with News 24 on Thursday.
In the interview, Kharge, who is a follower of Buddhism, delved into the inauguration ceremony of Buddha Vihar in Karnataka's Gulbarga in 2009, which was established by the Siddharth Vihar Trust of which he is the founder-chairman.

"What did you do, whom did you invite for the Pran Pratishtha? Did you give invitations to the leaders of every opposition party? You are doing everything as per your wish, and yet that temple is not even one-third complete. Now there has been some improvement as far as the construction is concerned. Who should have inaugurated it? As per the Hindu customs, who should have carried out the Pran Pratishtha?" Kharge questioned PM Modi for doing Pran Prathistha of Ram Temple.

"For example, I established Buddha Vihar in Gulbarga, then who was called for it? Buddha is considered the 9th incarnation of Lord Vishnu but they (BJP) don't come near Buddha. You know in Uttarakhand it has been imposed that if someone wants to adopt Buddhism they should approach the District Magistrate. That is a religion of this country, that was established in this country, which has been accepted all over the world, but you (PM Modi) do not believe in it. Now they are attacking us. But what did I do at that time, I witnessed it from a distance while the 'pratishtha' was done by Dalai Lama and then president of India Prathibha Patil was also present there," he added. (ANI)