Nepali Visitors to Wutaishan
Arniko
Arniko went to Wu Tai Shan accompanying his mentor and teacher Fag-pa. He built the Sarira Pagoda, many Monasteries and houses for pilgrims there. The great Sarira Pagoda is made a focal point to indicate the directions around the area. He also built Wan-sheng-hu-guo Temple in 1295 for the mother of the Emperor Chen Zhong. The Empress visited there in 1297. She was highly pleased and admired the skillful work of Arniko and awarded him with 10,000 liang (Tola?) of platinum. Arniko lived at the Wu Tai Shan altogether ten years. His genius and virtues are praised in the contemporary books like"Great Virtues of Arniko."
Sahaja shri
Sahaja Shri was born in a Kshatriya family of Nepal. He had studied Therabada and Mahayana concepts of Buddhism .He was devoted to Manjushri. So after four years arduous travel from Nepal he arrived Wu Tai Shan in 1369. He lived in Shou An Temple and paid homage to Manjushri and other Deities around the Mountain and preached Dharma to the people there. Emperor Taizhu appreciated his devotion to Manjushri and dedication to Dharma. Sahaja Shri had written a book "Instruction Words" in three volumes and translated other books also. His books were popular among the Bhikshus and laymen. Sahaja Shri lived in Wu Tai Shan for five years in high appreciation of the people there.
Shri Sariputra (1335-1426)
Shri Sariputra was an eminent monk. He belonged to the royal family of Nepal. At the age of sixteen he decided to join the Buddhist faith. He had great devotion to the triple gems, Buddha Dharma and Sangha. He had visited all the places related to the life of Buddha like Lumbini and other places in Nepal, and Deer Park and other places of pilgrimage in India. He then went to China , reached the Capital in Ming Dynasty in 1414. Emperor Chen Zhu met him in Feng Tian Hall. They had exchanges of opinions on Buddhism. The Emperor was very impressed. Sariputra was regarded as great scholar. He used to conduct religious ceremonies when the Emperors were going to ascend to the throne. The Emperor Chen Zhu gave Shri Sariputra an honourific title of "Perfect enlightenment" He was respected in the Imperial court, communities of Monks and and laymen alike. He commanded high reputation in the Ming Dynasty in China. He obtained Nirvana at the age of 92.He had spent 72years of his life in Monkhood. His relics were enshrined in Zhen Jun Temple in Beijing, Yuan Chao Temple in WuTai Shan and Tai Yuan Temple in Shanxi Provunce. The brief stories of the two eminent Nepali Monks are incorporated in the book of Biographies of the great Buddhist Monks. After this there was a brief pause in the visits from Nepal They were renewed by the visits of Dharmaloka Mahasthavira in 1924, Chittadhar Hridaya Manandhar in 1956 and other devotees including two delegations of Arniko Society in 2002.
