TheTwenty-two vows ortwenty-two pledges are the 22 Buddhist vows administered by Dr.B. R. Ambedkar, therevivalist of Buddhism in India, to his followers. On converting toBuddhism, Ambedkar made 22 vows, and asked his 400,000 supporters to do the same.[1] After receivinglay ordination, Ambedkar gavedhamma diksha to his followers. This ceremony organised on 14 October 1956 inNagpur included 22 vows administered to all new converts afterThree Jewels andFive Precepts. On 16 October 1956, Ambedkar performed another mass religious conversion ceremony atChandrapur.[2]
It is believed byAmbedkarite Buddhists that these vows are the guidelines of the social revolution that motivates human instincts. These vows demonstrate both thesocial movement aspect ofNavayana Buddhism, and demonstrate its core deviation from earliersects of Buddhism. In India, these vows are taken as an oath by individuals or groups of people when they convert to Buddhism.[3][4]
(left) On 14 October 1956, Ambedkar administering 22 vows after renouncing Hinduism at Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur; (right)Deekshabhoomi monument, located inNagpur,Maharashtra whereB. R. Ambedkar converted to Buddhism in 1956 is the largest religious conversion in the world.[5]
The following are the 22 vows administered by Ambedkar to his followers:[1]
I renounce Hinduism which is harmful to humanity and impedes the advancement and development of humanity, and adopt Buddhism as my religion.
I firmly believe the Dhamma of the Buddha is the only true religion.
I believe that by adopting Buddhism I am having a rebirth.
I solemnly declare and affirm that I shall hereafter lead my life according to the principles and teachings of the Buddha and his Dhamma.
The twenty-two vows marble stone at the Deekshabhoomi.
Considering the historical significance of these twenty-two vows, the then president of "Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Deekshabhoomi Memorial Committee", and former Governor of Bihar and KeralaR. S. Gavai and Sadanand Fulzele, the secretary of the organization, have carved these 22 vows on a wide marble stone at the Deekshabhoomi ground and placed the pillar at the first sight of the stupa. At aBuddha Vihara at Wardha, under M. L. Kasare's leadership, a similar grand pillar has been erected.[6][7]
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