Mahabodhi Temple

The Mahabodhi temple complex at Bodh Gaya has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 2002. The inception of the Bodh Gaya committee has resulted in vast improvements being made to the temple and the various structures in its precincts. New Stupas have been erected and existing structures have been repaired. Gilded images in the niches of the temple have helped in rejuvenating some of the lost splendour described by Hsuan Tsang in his records.

Bodh Gaya is the holiest and the most important pilgrim centre for the Buddhists as it was the place where Prince Siddhartha Gautama attained Nirvana or enlightenment and became the Buddha. Born in the lap of luxury he soon realised the impermanence and illusory nature of life and left the palace in search of truth. It is thus an important place not only for Buddhists but to the entire mankind as it stands as a testimony of faith and determination, of the transformation of a mortal into an enlightened being.

The Temple

About 250 years after Buddha’s Enlightenment, Emperor Ashoka who embraced Buddhism visited the site and built the Mahabodhi temple. The temple’s architecture is beautiful and was constructed with the main intent of making it a monument and not a receptacle for the relics of Buddha. The basement of the present temple is 15m in length and breadth and its height is 52m which rises in the form of a slender pyramid tapering off from a square platform. The top of the temple has Chatras which symbolize sovereignty of religion. Four towers gracefully rise on its four corners. There is a huge Buddha image inside the temple in the Bhumisparsha Mudra or ‘Earth touching’ pose. The image is said to be 1700 years old and is made of black stone and built by the Pala Kings of Bengal and is facing East exactly at the place where Buddha is said to have attained Nirvana.

As his teachings spread far and wide and more and more of his followers wanted to see the place, the Buddha too began to encourage such visits. Thus the tradition of pilgrimage in Buddhism began. Originally known as Uruvela, it was slowly replaced by Sambodhi, Vajrasana or Mahabodhi and it was only from the 18^thcentury that the name Bodh Gaya came into use.

Famous pilgrim-visitors

As Buddhism spread there are records of pilgrims coming from all lands to India to visit the Bodh Gaya. In the 11^th century, records show Acharya Dharmakirti from Sumatra making a pilgrimage to the holy sites of Buddha. Fa Hien the first Chinese monk to visit Bodh Gaya had recorded his epic journey which later inspired hundreds to follow in his footsteps, the most famous of them being Huan Tsang who stayed in India from 630 to 644 and recorded for posterity much detailed and accurate information about Bodh Gaya. Another pilgrim Dharmasvamin who was a Tibetan scholar and monk bequeathed much information on Bodh Gaya in 1234. Sri Lankan history has records of many famous monks coming to Bodh Gaya at various times. There was destruction by Muslim armies and slowly only desolation and ruins remained. Several restorations and renovations were carried out later.

The Bodhi Tree

Situated to the west on the back of the main temple there is an ancient Peepal tree (Ficus Religiosa) or Bodhi tree where Buddha attained enlightenment on the full moon day of Baisakh Poornima. The present tree is said to be a descendant of the original tree as it was destroyed a few times in the past by man-made miseries and natural calamities. Seeds from the original sacred tree are said to have been taken and planted in many countries in monasteries and homes of pilgrims to be venerated there.

Around the Mahabodhi temple and Bodhi tree, there are two types of quadrangular stone railings with four bars including the top piece around 0.2m high and they can be distinguished from each other in style and material used. The older set is made of sandstone and is dated approximately 150 BC while the later structure is constructed from coarse granite and is probably of the Gupta period (300-600 AD). The older set has scenes depicted on it like the purchase of the Jetavana Monastery by Anathapindika at Shravasthi, Surya riding a chariot drawn by four horses, Lakshmi bathed by elephants etc. The later set has figures of Stupas, Garudas etc. Lotus motifs are used in these railings

Other attractions in the temple complex

The Diamond Throne or Vajrasana is the seat of Buddha’s enlightenment. It was built by Emperor Ashoka in the 3^rd century BC and is made of red sandstone. The Buddhacharita written by Ashvaghosha refers to this as the Navel of the Earth. Fa Hien the Chinese monk mentions that this is the seat of enlightenment of all the Buddhas, past and present.

The Animesha Lochana Chaitya is situated in the North East of the Maha Bodhi temple and is the place where the Buddha spent the second week in standing meditation posture gazing at the Bodhi tree with motionless eyes for one whole week.

It is said that the Buddha spent the third week in meditation in practicing the walking meditation or Cankamana or ‘Cloister Walk’. The spot where the Buddha placed his feet while walking is marked by a raised platform with lotus flowers.

The Jewel House or Ratanaghara is the place where Buddha spent his fourth week of meditation. It is situated in the north-west of the temple and the Buddha is said to have meditated here reflecting on Pratitya Samutpada or the Law of Dependent Origination. During that period a ray of six colours is said to have emanated from his body and the flag of the Buddhists are designed based on these colours.

Under the sacred Ajapala Nigrodha tree, there is a spot which marks the place where the Buddha spent his fifth week of meditation after his Nirvana and from where he delivered a discourse on the equality of mankind.

At the Muchalinda Sarovar, the Buddha spent his sixth week of meditation. It is said that during this time a severe storm broke out and seeing the Buddha get drenched, the King of Snakes in the lake named Muchalinda came out of his abode to protect the Buddha with his hood against the wind and heavy rains.

The Rajayatna Tree is situated to the south of the temple where the first lay devotees of the Buddha namely Tapassu and Bhallika who were two merchants from Myanmar (Burma) offered rice cake and honey to the Buddha while he sat in meditation and later took refuge in him and his teachings.

A Meditation Park is situated in the south east of the temple and it contains meditation huts, discussion courts, two huge prayer bells, two water fountains beside a lotus pond.

As the entire temple complex is a protected area, steps have been taken to protect the Mahabodhi temple and the Bodhi tree against pollution. On the south side of the temple, one can see an oil lamp house and joss pot consisting of seven glass houses for lighting oil lamps and a brass joss stick pot for incense.

A book shop and a well-stocked library can also be seen in the temple complex.