On Sunday, August 10, 2025, the Nagarjuna Institute of Buddhist Studies held a book release ceremony at their lecture hall. The event, attended by about 25 people, celebrated the publication of two books: क्षितिगर्भ बोधिसत्त्व पूर्वप्रणिधान सूत्र and क्षितिस्तोत्रं सुन्दरालङ्कारम्.

The books were released by the chief guest, Venerable Jinpa Gyatso (also known as Gunsagar Bhante), a leading abbot of Padmavarna Mahavihara in Jyathabaha, Lalitpur.

Distinguished special guests were also in attendance, including:

Reverend Mahishwor Raj Bajracharya, a Buddhist scholar and founding chairman of the Nepal Buddhist Council and Sugata Buddhist College.

Professor Dr. Bajra Raj Shakya, a Buddhist scholar, chairman of the Machhindra Jyoti Welfare Fund, and founding chairman of the Lotus Research Center.

Professor Dr. Ranjana Bajracharya, a Buddhist scholar, former head of the Buddhist Department at Padma Kanya College, and chairman of the Mahayana Buddhism course design committee.

Miss Diya Shakya served as the Master of Ceremonies.

The ceremony commenced with the chief guest lighting a butter lamp before a statue of the Buddha and leading an auspicious prayer in Tibetan. Following the release of the two books, which were translated by Mr. Milan Shakya, the chief guest delivered a sermon on the activities of a Bodhisattva. Subsequently, the special guests offered their remarks. Mr. Mahishwor Raj Bajracharya emphasized the importance of translating Buddhist texts into Nepali rather than Nepal Bhasa, citing the broader readership it would attract. rofessor Dr. Bajra Raj Shakya recounted his return from the United States with a strong desire to contribute to the study, practice, and dissemination of Buddhism explaining how by indefagitable effors Late Rev. Min Bahadur Shakya established Nagarjuna Institute of Exact Methods (former version of Nagarjuna Institute of Buddhist Studies Pvt. Ltd.). Similarly Professor Dr. Ranjana Bajracharya acknowledged the significant contributions of the late Director, Reverend Min Bahadur Shakya, not only to her PhD dissertation but also to the establishment of the Buddhist department at Padmakanya College. She specifically highlighted the necessity for Shakya and Bajracharya scholars to pursue PhD dissertations exclusively in Mahayana Buddhism and related fields.

Following the addresses by the distinguished guests, a ceremonial glass casket containing a Svayambhu and a Dharmadhatu mandala was presented to the special guests and the chief guest as a mark of honor. The Svayambhu, which also serves as the logo for the Nagarjuna Institute of Buddhist Studies, symbolizes self-existing awareness (rigpa), luminosity (prabhasvara), or Buddha nature.

The program concluded with a brief introduction to the newly released texts by Mr. Milan Shakya, who then delivered a vote of thanks.

Brief Introduction to the two release texts.

क्षितिगर्भ बोधिसत्त्व पूर्वप्रणिधान सूत्र

The क्षितिगर्भ बोधिसत्त्व पूर्वप्रणिधान सूत्र is a Mahayana Buddhist scripture that focuses on the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha. It recounts his previous lives and the powerful vows he made to rescue all beings from suffering, especially those in the hell realms. The text is also known for its emphasis on filial piety and for explaining the karmic consequences of bad actions, as well as the great rewards of making offerings and doing good deeds.

क्षितिस्तोत्रं सुन्दरालङ्कारम्

The title क्षितिस्तोत्रं सुन्दरालङ्कारम् is the Sanskrit translation of the Tibetan text བསྟོད་པ་ས་གཞིའི་མཛེས་རྒྱན་བཞུགས (Töpa sa zhi's dze gyen bzhug). In English, the title means "Beautiful Adornment of the Earth." It is an eight-verse hymn composed by the 19th-century master, Mipham Rinpoche, in honor of the Bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha. The title, "Kṣitigarbha," itself translates to "Essence of the Earth," and the praise uses the earth's nurturing qualities as a metaphor for the bodhisattva's profound compassion and his foundational support for the spiritual growth of all sentient beings. This text is included within a broader anthology of praises and supplications to various Buddhist deities.